How can I network two home computers together, Vista and XP?

Question

Hey I have to two home computers and I wanted to network them together so they could file share, printer share and internet share. I have been readin up alot about this and the best way I found so far is buy a Crossover cable and connect the two computers directly, problem though both computers only have ONE ethernet port, so if I run my DSL into my Vista I have no place to plug in the Cossover cable. I really dont want to add another ethernet port just to file share, printer share and internet share. So could I use an Ethernet splitter??? Would that be to much power for a spiltter to handle?? If so any other ideas, I heard of using hubs and routers but it seems confusing. Please help!

Answer 1

The splitter probably won't work.  The point of a router or hub is to allow you to share one connection.  Further, you don't need the other computer on to access the Internet.

This is what you need to do.  Have your DSL connection run into the router (get a compatible one for your connection) then plug both computers into the router (if you have a wireless one then you won't have to worry about cables).  Select file and printer sharing on each system and that it that.

Answer 2

Get a WiFi hub from Linksys and follow the instructions that come with it on the CD. You can hook up as many computers as you like, either with cable routing through the hub, or on WiFi as long as the computer has WiFi capability.