Hello. I am having problems connecting to multiple networks. I want to modify the following setup: A vista computer that is currently connected to a wireless network via linksys wireless adaptor. (The wireless router is on a different floor, not possible to connect directly.)An xp computer a few feet away with no connectivity.My hopes were to take an Ethernet crossover cable and connect it to the Ethernet ports on both computers to create a shared internet connection. Only when I connect the cable to the vista computer, the wireless network stops working. I thought there was a way to allow multiple networks on a computer, so why isn't this working?

Hi, First of all, please understand that Microsoft will make every reasonable effort to assist you in troubleshooting home or peer-to-peer networking issues. However, if you use crossover cables when you configure your home or peer-to-peer network, Microsoft does not guarantee that issues will be resolved. Using Crossover Cables in Home or Peer-to-Peer Networkshttp://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;278870 Before creating Internet Connection Sharing (ICS), please make sure that the Ethernet adapter does not have a default gateway. In Windows Vista only one gateway works at the same time. If you have set another Default Gateway in the connection for the Ethernet adapter, the Default Gateway of the computer will be changed when you plug the Ethernet crossover cable and the wireless Internet connection will not work. In the properties of IPv4 protocol for the Ethernet adapter, do not set to obtain IP address automatically, and make sure that the Default Gateway is null. Regarding Default Gateway, please refer the following articles. Default Gateway Configuration for Multihomed Computershttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/157025 The IP routing table: TCP/IPhttp://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc779122.aspx To make a point to point connection and share Internet via the Windows Vista computer, you need to share the network adapter of the Windows Vista computer. How to share network adapter.======================= 1. Click Start. In the Start Search box type "ncpa.cpl" and press Enter. 2. Right-click on the wireless connection for Internet, click "Properties". 3. Click the tab "Share". Enable "Internet Connection Sharing". After sharing the adapter, the IP address of the Local Area Connection will be change to 192.168.0.1. I suggest that you change the IP address to 192.168.0.2 or other addresses (because the address of the router on another floor may be 192.168.0.1). Then, on the Windows XP computer, manually set the IP address. Make sure that the IP addresses of the Windows XP computer and Ethernet adapter on the Windows Vista computer are in the same network section. Then, on the Windows XP computer, set default gateway to the IP address of the Ethernet adapter of the Windows Vista computer. If the above steps do not work, I suggest that you purchase a wireless network adapter for the Windows XP computer as a final solution. Hope it helps

Hello. What exactly do I set the IP addresses to?

Hi, First of all, please let me know your exact requirement. Do you want to just connect the Windows XP computer and the Windows Vista computers, or connect and access Internet from the Windows XP computer via the Windows Vista computer? I would like to explain that regarding Peer to Peer issues, Microsoft does not guarantee that we will resolve this issue. If the solution does not work, you may purchase a wireless adapter for the Windows XP computer as a solid solution. Our policy is introduced in the following KB article. Using Crossover Cables in Home or Peer-to-Peer Networks http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;278870 If you would like to create connection between two computers and access Internet via the Windows Vista computer from the Windows XP computer, you need to create Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). Please note that the steps are just for reference. We cannot guarantee it will work for crossover cable connection Your Windows Vista computer is a multihomed computer that has more than one network adapters. We need to pay attention to the Default Gateway setting. Regarding Default Gateway multihomed computer, please refer the following article. Default Gateway Configuration for Multihomed Computers http://support.microsoft.com/kb/157025/en-us Regarding detailed information for creating a ICS, please refer my last post. Regarding your question, the IP address for Peer to-Peer connection must be in the network section "192.168.0". Please read the following articles. You will find the answer for your question. Description of Internet Connection Sharing http://support.microsoft.com/kb/234815 Windows Vista Help: Using ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/bfd3bd31-82f0-4b9c-9cde-fb92bc2b14771033.mspx Additionally, I suggest that you apply Windows Vista SP1 on the Windows Vista computer. 937168 After you configure Internet Connection Sharing in Windows Vista, the network connection stops working after one-to-two hours http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;937168