Make My computers Talk!

openmind's picture

He has: 945 posts

Joined: Aug 2001

k,

I would like to network two computers together in my house, one downstairs and one up. The main reason for this is that I would like the PC upstairs to take advantage of my spanking new cable modem Smiling

The specs are:

Main PC - Downstairs
OS - Win 98
RAM - 128MB
HD free - over 5GB
Pentium II 450 MHZ
Cable Modem through USB port
No Ethernet card or network cards.

Secondary PC - Upstairs
OS - Win 95
RAM 64MB
HD Free - less than 200MB
Old 486 Processor
No Modem/Ethernet card although it has been networked in the past.

My questions are:
1) Can the two PC's be networked together?
2) If Yes how and what will I need and how much will it cost (roughly)?
3) Will the upstairs PC be able to access the cable modem downstairs?
4) What additional software will I need if any?
5) Will I be able to control the PC upstairs from the main PC?
6) Will the PC upstairs be able to access the software on the downstairs PC?
7) Know any good sites to walk me through it?

Sorry for all the questions Smiling but this is a new one for me and I've always got a straight answer in the past!

In anticipation of the answers!

mairving's picture

They have: 2,256 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

1) Can the two PC's be networked together?
Yes, no problem.
2) If Yes how and what will I need and how much will it cost (roughly)?
Well you have a couple of different ways to go. One is through a cable/DSL router. The other is through a wireless cable/DSL router. The wireless router costs a bit more than the other. The regular router would require that you run some network cable through your walls. Look over at Pricegrabber.com for the latest prices. Now if you don't need to access the Internet on both PC's then all you will need is a hub or switch which are $20-30.
3) Will the upstairs PC be able to access the cable modem downstairs?
If you enable sharing, it will.
4) What additional software will I need if any?
None.
5) Will I be able to control the PC upstairs from the main PC?
You won't be able to control it as in turning it on and off.
6) Will the PC upstairs be able to access the software on the downstairs PC?
Only if the software is installed on both PC's. In other words, if you have an Excel file on the downstairs PC, you can access an excel file if you have Excel installed on the upstairs PC.
7) Know any good sites to walk me through it?
Yes, look here or just post back here.

Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states

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