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Step-By-Step: Share Your Net Connection

Stan Miastkowski

If you have multiple PCs, it doesn't make sense for each computer to have its own dedicated Internet link. Fortunately, all of your PCs can share a single connection, by using Windows' built-in Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) software.

To begin, you'll need to link your PCs together in a network. (See "Set Up a Network in a Snap" in our January 2002 issue.) You will also need a working Internet connection.

A dial-up connection is usually acceptable for a network of two or three PCs. Broadband is a necessity for a larger network, or for heavy downloading. ICS can work with a broadband connection, but you should consider purchasing a router ("Wireless Networks That Do More") instead.

ICS is available for Windows 98, Me, 2000, XP Home, and XP Professional. We recommend using an XP-based system as the ICS computer; the example shown here uses XP Home. For information on setting up an ICS PC using other versions of Windows, go to Help and then search for Internet Connection Sharing.

Stan Miastkowski is a PC World contributing editor. Contact him at stan_miastkowski@pcworld.com. Click here for past Step-By-Step columns.
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