networking 2 PCs with 3 NICs

i've read that i would be able to network 2 computers together, and share an internet connection by using 3 NICs. currently this is how my computers are set up:

comp1 and comp2 both have winxp pro w/sp1
comp1 has 2 NICs, one to broadband and one to comp2
comp2 has 1 NIC connected to comp1

comp1 can access internet fine and everything. but comp2 can not. on both computers, it says a network cable is unplugged.

i've also ran the networking wizard and specified how the comps are setup.

am i doing something wrong or am i missing something?

thanks in advance

edit: just one more question that has nothing to do with windows, what's an i586?

 

If it says the cable is unplugged, it sounds like a cable problem. Check your cables first. Did you make them yourself?

If its not the connections. Go to device manager and remove the network cards from the system, reboot and re-install them.

 

thanks. i checked the cables and yes it was a cable problem. i did make the cable myself (from a standard cat5 cable) and i think i gotta redo it.

 

the cable between two PCs (no hub or switch) needs to be a crossover - transmit and receive lines crossed over

 

In my own experience, it is the connection to the back. A paticular plastic adapter was used to solve my problem. Extension, adapter, whatever the name is, my cable plugged into that, which plugged into the back of the comp. Problem solved. Or partly, as occasionally it becomes slighly out and has to be jiggled back in.

 

Andy has the answer...you'll need a crossover cable if you're going straight from one computer to another. A standard cat5 patch cable will NOT work in this scenario.

I'd recommend getting a DSL/Cable router/switch so you can simply plug the broadband internet connection into the router/switch. Then plug the two computers into the router/switch and you'll have a shared internet connection along with some features the router/switch may provide such as firewall, DHCP and all of them will use Network Address Translastion (NAT) so your individual IP addresses from your computer will not be accessbile from the internet.

 

Phil K - you have a little adapter that re-routes the wiring. They do work but as you noted, can cause problems at times.

Since a made-up crossover cable is the same price as a regular patch cable, less hassle IMO to just get the right cable and not have to mess with the extra piece of plastic.

I've used them as part of a tool kit wnen I needed to convert to crossover from a normal patch cable but nothing I'd want to mess with for a permanent connection. In addition to working loose at odd times, they also add extra length of untwisted cable which introduces some static.