How to use a PC as a gateway for another PC?

[bladeholdin]

I have a spare PC without a network card or access to a CAT cable that I would like to start taking over a few of the duties of my current PC. I currently have the two connected via CAT5, is there a way to set my current PC as a gateway for my new one? Will this have adverse effects on either PC?

 

[utgotye]

I'm curious as to how you think this would work since you have no network card or access to a ethernet cable. How would you even plug it into the other PC? There's nothing to network if this other PC has no ethernet, either on the motherboard or on a separate card and a usb/ethernet adapter won't work because you have no access to an ethernet cable.

 

[InvalidError]

Your first statement says your spare PC has no network card nor accessible cable and your second statement says they are currently connected together over a LAN cable. Which one is it?

The most common way people connect multiple PCs to a single internet connection and each other on the LAN is by using a broadband router.

 

[utgotye]

If your current PC is connected to this other PC by CAT5, how is either PC supposed to get internet access? Do you have multiple ethernet ports/cards in your main PC?

 

[Tom Tancredi]

I have a spare PC without a network card or access to a CAT cable that I would like to start taking over a few of the duties of my current PC. I currently have the two connected via CAT5, is there a way to set my current PC as a gateway for my new one? Will this have adverse effects on either PC?

Simple answer: Get a USB to NIC (Wired or Wireless) for spare computer, then connect it to your wireless.
BTW you need to get with the times, Wireless is highly reliable (802.11N or AC) and more so as one simple bend or twist of CAT5 will cause error rates which causes across all systems the errors to be 'detected' and will affect all systems, but isn't detectable unless your checking monthly with Cable Tester on the accuracy / reliably of the cable.

 

[Math Geek]

to do this you will have to have 2 nic's on the main pc. one that brings in the internet connection and a second that goes to the other pc. then enable internet connection sharing and it will walk you through the rest.

if you don't already have all the needed cards and such, the usb wifi dongle suggested above is so much a better and easier way to make it happen. they run about $30 or more and work very well. i have actually done this in the past way back in the day and it was a huge pain in the @55 especially if you need to port forward or anythign like that to the second pc. many steps to get this done with connection sharing as each nic acts as an acces point which has to be configured as you go down the line.

do yourself a favor and just get a wifi dongle

 

[jsmithepa]

Your first statement says your spare PC has no network card nor accessible cable and your second statement says they are currently connected together over a LAN cable. Which one is it?

I think my brain is getting dumber reading these posts.

 

[bladeholdin]

The issue is, I can't afford to spend any money. My main PC is receiving WiFi and it has an open ethernet slot, I can connect the two PCs but not the router/modem and either PC.

 

[Math Geek]

so you should be able to enable the connection sharing and use the ethernet port to connect the pc's. your connection to the second pc would go this way. router --> into wifi card on pc 1 --> out ethernet port on pc 1 --> into pc 2 by way of ethernet.

i don't know what version of windows you are using but MS has some nice guides in the knowledge base on how to do this. as i said i did this a long time ago to share internet with an xbox 360 back when the wireless adapter was like $80 or so. it took me a while to get all the ports forwarded and such to the xbox but i got it working and it worked nicely once configured.

what windows version are you using, then google that version and "internet connection sharing"