How to Use Your ISP on Another Computer

If you do not have a router on a network, you can still use one Internet service provider (ISP) connection for several machines. Windows has a service called Internet Connection Sharing. This allows you to use the Internet connection from one machine as a gateway. Other machines use the ISP connection installed on the gateway computer to gain access to the Internet. This service has been included with each Windows operating system since Windows 98. Users with current versions of Windows can implement this technology.

Instructions

1. Click the Windows "Start" button and select "Control Panel." In the Control Panel, double-click the "Network and Internet Connections" or "Network and Sharing Center" icon depending on your version of Windows.

2. Right-click the connection used for the ISP access. This can be a dial-up connection or a DSL or cable modem connection. From the list of menu items, select "Properties."

3. Click the "Advanced" tab. In this tab, check the box labeled "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection." This allows other users to use this computer's ISP connection.

4. Check the box labeled "Establish a dial-up connection whenever a computer on my network attempts to access the Internet" if you are using a dial-up connection. This dials out to the ISP when another computer on your network requests an Internet connection.

5. Click the "OK" button. In the confirmation screen that pops up, click the "Yes" button. After these settings are configured, you need to reboot the machine. After the machine is rebooted, the computer is now ready to share the connection.

Tips & Warnings

• After the settings are made on the host machine, other computers on the network also need to be reboot to access the shared connection.

References

• Microsoft Support: Set Up Internet Connection Sharing