Solve : Double guessing my ISP's instructions to use a second PC?

1.	Solve : Double guessing my ISP's instructions to use a second PC?
Answer» I'm a total newbie. I already own my own desktop (Dell). My provider delivers my internet connection through the cable TV system. (I do not own a land line phone system). The cable is split off the TV signal into a cable modem I purchased from my ISP and then to my PC by an Ethernet patch cable. Someone gave me a used PC (HP PAVILION) and for now all I want to do is check it out by disconnecting the Dell and using the cable modem and E/net patch chord to momentarily connect the new HP to the internet but without success. I ran the connection wizards. Network Connections in control panel indicate I am connected. The truth is I'm not. Every attempt to connect fails. My ISP says, they would out of courtesy, let me switch PC's to use the connection a couple of times on the new PC so I could check it out but I have to call them to make the changes each time. In a perfect world that might be manageable but it's not a perfect world. I don't want to lose my original connection to the Dell any longer then I manage the time. I don't want to have to call them and rely on them, I want to be able to switch back and forth at will. I live in a small town where the TV and ISP is the same and it is owned by the city. Is there any other way? Can I piggy back off of my original PC somehow? My ISP suggested I buy a router, plug it all up and call them so they can reset my cable modem to allow this network connection. Is this the only way to do it? I appreciate your time, I THINK you guy's are great and have helped me on many occasions in my newbie world. My knowledge is limited, I learn terms as they are given to me so go slow if you have a suggestion. Tom Quote My ISP suggested I buy a router, plug it all up and call them so they can reset my cable modem to allow this network connection. Is this the only way to do it? It is the best way to do it.So I'm guessing by your comment that there isn't any other way to temporarily circumvent the router. At this time I don't have the extra $ to put down on a router for what may be a one time deal. Well, there's seems to be a contradiction here: Quote I want to be able to switch back and forth at will. Quote what may be a one time deal. Anyway, if you open Device Manager, does it show a properly working Network adapter? If you go to Control Panel and open Network Connections, what do you see there? Is anything shown there to be in disconnected status?The reason you need to call your ISP if you want to switch computers is most likely because the ISP is registering the MAC address of your computer and blocking attempts to connect from a computer with a different MAC address. The MAC address is an unique address embedded into the hardware of each network card installed in your computers. I've never understood why some ISPs feel a need to do this but it is a pretty widespread practice. In fact it is so widespread, that most consumer routers can change their MAC address at will in order to circumvent this practice. Just like routers can change their MAC address you can actually change the MAC address of your computer. If you're interested in knowing how to do this I will need to know what version of Windows you have installed on both computers.1. Your cable modem is connected to your desktop via an ethernet cable. Do you have the option of replacing the ethernet cable with a USB cable to connect the two? 2. What operating systems are your Dell and HP desktops using? Their Microsoft operating systems probably support Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). ICS is used when you want to share the internet connection of one of your desktop computers with the rest of your Local Area Network (LAN) computers. It requires two network connections on the hosting computer; one to the internet, the other to the LAN. This can be two ethernet network adapters (NICs), or one NIC and one USB connection (if your cable modem supports a USB interface?). Not positive about the USB connection for ICS. Never tried that configuration. The shared connection to the internet was traditionally a dial-up, but ICS can be configured for a broadband internet connection (cable). Information on Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) may be FOUND within the Help function provided with the Microsoft operating systems. You can also search the internet for information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Connection_Sharing http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/ics http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310563 http://www.tutorial5.com/content/view/91/79/ http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1dcff3ce-f50f-4a34-ae67-cac31ccd7bc9&displaylang=en 3. While you may think Internet Connection Sharing is exactly what you need, it's a poor substitute for the "router" you should be purchasing. INSTEAD of spending money for a second NIC card, save your dollars and get a "router". The time you spend struggling to setup ICS would be better spent struggling to setup a router. Thanks; soybean, deerpark and dahlarbear. You all put it into perspective and I understand more now than I did before. I really appreciate your help. Happy New Year to you and yours.

Answer»

I'm a total newbie. I already own my own desktop (Dell). My provider delivers my internet connection through the cable TV system. (I do not own a land line phone system). The cable is split off the TV signal into a cable modem I purchased from my ISP and then to my PC by an Ethernet patch cable.

Someone gave me a used PC (HP PAVILION) and for now all I want to do is check it out by disconnecting the Dell and using the cable modem and E/net patch chord to momentarily connect the new HP to the internet but without success.

I ran the connection wizards. Network Connections in control panel indicate I am connected. The truth is I'm not. Every attempt to connect fails.

My ISP says, they would out of courtesy, let me switch PC's to use the connection a couple of times on the new PC so I could check it out but I have to call them to make the changes each time. In a perfect world that might be manageable but it's not a perfect world. I don't want to lose my original connection to the Dell any longer then I manage the time. I don't want to have to call them and rely on them, I want to be able to switch back and forth at will. I live in a small town where the TV and ISP is the same and it is owned by the city.

Is there any other way? Can I piggy back off of my original PC somehow?

My ISP suggested I buy a router, plug it all up and call them so they can reset my cable modem to allow this network connection. Is this the only way to do it?

I appreciate your time, I THINK you guy's are great and have helped me on many occasions in my newbie world. My knowledge is limited, I learn terms as they are given to me so go slow if you have a suggestion.

Tom

Quote

My ISP suggested I buy a router, plug it all up and call them so they can reset my cable modem to allow this network connection. Is this the only way to do it?

It is the best way to do it.So I'm guessing by your comment that there isn't any other way to temporarily circumvent the router. At this time I don't have the extra $ to put down on a router for what may be a one time deal.

Well, there's seems to be a contradiction here:
Quote

I want to be able to switch back and forth at will.

Quote

what may be a one time deal.

Anyway, if you open Device Manager, does it show a properly working Network adapter? If you go to Control Panel and open Network Connections, what do you see there? Is anything shown there to be in disconnected status?The reason you need to call your ISP if you want to switch computers is most likely because the ISP is registering the MAC address of your computer and blocking attempts to connect from a computer with a different MAC address. The MAC address is an unique address embedded into the hardware of each network card installed in your computers.

I've never understood why some ISPs feel a need to do this but it is a pretty widespread practice. In fact it is so widespread, that most consumer routers can change their MAC address at will in order to circumvent this practice.

Just like routers can change their MAC address you can actually change the MAC address of your computer. If you're interested in knowing how to do this I will need to know what version of Windows you have installed on both computers.1. Your cable modem is connected to your desktop via an ethernet cable. Do you have the option of replacing the ethernet cable with a USB cable to connect the two?

2. What operating systems are your Dell and HP desktops using? Their Microsoft operating systems probably support Microsoft Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). ICS is used when you want to share the internet connection of one of your desktop computers with the rest of your Local Area Network (LAN) computers. It requires two network connections on the hosting computer; one to the internet, the other to the LAN. This can be two ethernet network adapters (NICs), or one NIC and one USB connection (if your cable modem supports a USB interface?). Not positive about the USB connection for ICS. Never tried that configuration.

The shared connection to the internet was traditionally a dial-up, but ICS can be configured for a broadband internet connection (cable).

Information on Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) may be FOUND within the Help function provided with the Microsoft operating systems. You can also search the internet for information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Connection_Sharing

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/ics

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310563

http://www.tutorial5.com/content/view/91/79/

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1dcff3ce-f50f-4a34-ae67-cac31ccd7bc9&displaylang=en

3. While you may think Internet Connection Sharing is exactly what you need, it's a poor substitute for the "router" you should be purchasing. INSTEAD of spending money for a second NIC card, save your dollars and get a "router". The time you spend struggling to setup ICS would be better spent struggling to setup a router.
Thanks; soybean, deerpark and dahlarbear.

You all put it into perspective and I understand more now than I did before. I really appreciate your help.

Happy New Year to you and yours.

Solve : Double guessing my ISP's instructions to use a second PC?

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