2 Computers = 1 Modem (cable modem)

[Big_Chief]

Ok ill try to explain this best as i can and see if you can help me any as im really at the end of my tether here..

Im currently back in scotland visiting the folks and my dad asked me if i could get the cable modem to work with the computer down stairs (my mums one..), asked around and someone told me to get a crossover cable as there are a few network cards sitting around here..

So off i go and pick up some crossover cable, racked up both sides to go into each other and started up the "set up networking" feature of xp on both computers (ive done this enough times tonight to throw myself into a spasm..)

Now the computers are technically networked together as ive printed from downstairs to the upstair printer and i also got gfx drivers out of the shared folder

BUT i need the internet to work downstairs to fulfill my tasks here and ive tried so many things over the past couple of hours, from giving the comp a static ip address to running through the setup wizard god knows how many times now. Ive set up the host of the ICS computer to "share the internet connection" and ive set up the client to use the gateway provided, but nothing seems to happen atall on the client computer regarding getting internet..

Im wondering what i can do now as i would like to get this done as, well im bored, slept in and no doubt will be up a fair bit longer.. ive used all the ideas i can think of apart from physically swapping round some network cards on the upstair computer (already done it on the downstair one..) but if it is able to connect to each other then surely there shouldnt be a problem atall.

The cable modem goes into a NIC card, and the crossover cable is coming out of the host computers onboard NIC to a NIC card in the downstairs computer. Does the crossover cable has to be a certain way as thats about the only thing ive not tried?
I WILL get this done tonight if it kills me but now im really just needing help with it

help ?

[brad]

Have you tried, on the "Host" Computer: Right Click "My Network Places" / Properties / Right Click your Cable connection / Properties / Advanced Tab / Checkmark in "Allow other Network Computers to connect to the Internet through this Computer"?
brad

[Big_Chief]

yes thats been done alright, was the first thing that i tried

[brad]

It can be so many things. Try .
Let us know if this helps.
brad

[tk4two1]

Another option is to get a router, something like a Linksys router with a built-in 10/100 switch. I know this costs more money, but it eliminates a lot of headaches and give you more protection with its built-in firewall. I have come to the point of completely loathing the XP internet sharing feature.

[compuryan]