I have a desktop computer that is connected to the Next G wireless internet by modem. We have a second computer that I want to network to my comp just for the internet. No file sharing. I was told by Bigpond I could connect the 2 with a double ethernet cable (which I've done) and to enable networking internet access on my comp and that the other one would automatically pick up the connection (providing my comp was on and connected to the internet).
Its NOT working!!
I dont have a router.
Does it matter that my comp is running Windows XP and the comp I want to network it to is running Vista?
Does anyone know how to network them both just using the ethernet connection??
Please, can anyone talk me through how to set up the network to the other comp to just share the internet connection? Im not very computer literate but I can follow instructions well..lol.

Thanks heaps....

what you need to do is setup Internet Connection Sharing, below you will find the steps to set this up


How to use Internet Connection Sharing
To use Internet Connection Sharing to share your Internet connection, the host computer must have one network adapter that is configured to connect to the internal network, and one network adapter or modem that is configured to connect to the Internet.


On the host computer
On the host computer, follow these steps to share the Internet connection: 1. Log on to the host computer as Administrator or as Owner.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Click Network and Internet Connections.
4. Click Network Connections.
5. Right-click the connection that you use to connect to the Internet. For example, if you connect to the Internet by using a modem, right-click the connection that you want under Dial-up.
6. Click Properties.
7. Click the Advanced tab.
8. Under Internet Connection Sharing, select the Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection check box.
9. If you are sharing a dial-up Internet connection, select the Establish a dial-up connection whenever a computer on my network attempts to access the Internet check box if you want to permit your computer to automatically connect to the Internet.
10. Click OK. You receive the following message:
When Internet Connection Sharing is enabled, your LAN adapter will be set to use IP
address 192.168.0.1. Your computer may lose connectivity with other computers on
your network. If these other computers have static IP addresses, it is a good idea to set them
to obtain their IP addresses automatically. Are you sure you want to enable Internet
Connection Sharing?
11. Click Yes.
The connection to the Internet is shared to other computers on the local area network (LAN). The network adapter that is connected to the LAN is configured with a static IP address of 192.168.0.1 and a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0


On the client computer
To connect to the Internet by using the shared connection, you must confirm the LAN adapter IP configuration, and then configure the client computer. To confirm the LAN adapter IP configuration, follow these steps: 1. Log on to the client computer as Administrator or as Owner.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Click Network and Internet Connections.
4. Click Network Connections.
5. Right-click Local Area Connection, and then click Properties.
6. Click the General tab, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in the This connection uses the following items list, and then click Properties.
7. In the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box, click Obtain an IP address automatically (if it is not already selected), and then click OK.

Note You can also assign a unique static IP address in the range of 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.254. For example, you can assign the following static IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway: IP Address 192.168.0.2
Subnet mask 255.255.255.0
Default gateway 192.168.0.1


8. In the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, click OK.
9. Quit Control Panel.



To configure the client computer to use the shared Internet connection, follow these steps:1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
2. Click Network and Internet Connections.
3. Click Internet Options.
4. In the Internet Properties dialog box, click the Connections tab.
5. Click the Setup button.

The New Connection Wizard starts.
6. On the Welcome to the New Connection Wizard page, click Next.
7. Click Connect to the Internet, and then click Next.
8. Click Set up my connection manually, and then click Next.
9. Click Connect using a broadband connection that is always on, and then click Next.
10. On the Completing the New Connection Wizard page, click Finish.
11. Quit Control Panel.
When you now start Microsoft Internet Explorer, the client computer will try to connect to the Internet by using the host computer's shared Internet connection.



you can also view the link below to step by step directions

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306126



-Richie