help...(computer help)

[freakygirl]

I have a friend who is on MSN asking me how her and her SO can have both computers online at the same time..

can someone help me!!!!!! please

if it would be easier here is my MSN info.. talk to me there

clerky31@hotmail.com

 

[Guest]

I have a friend who is on MSN asking me how her and her SO can have both computers online at the same time..

can someone help me!!!!!! please

if it would be easier here is my MSN info.. talk to me there

clerky31@hotmail.com

Why don't you ask blkpnther I hear he's a bit of a computer whiz.

 

[DustyWolfe]

Well... Of course they have two phone lines. They can both try dialing up to the same number with same user id and password and see if it lets them in. I would suggest calling MSN about it first though so they don't drop them as customer because of the dual login. Dropping their service is completely legal too. Some companies allow dual login and some don't. The only other option is to get two seperate accounts. If they had cable internet they could by an ethernet card and go that route.
My roommate and I did a dual login for two years before we realized that it was wrong. We got a nasty phone call from her isp so we went with two seperate accounts.

 

[Ice Cold]

If both computers are in the same house and use the same ISP I don't believe you can. If they have seperate accounts it shouldn't be a problem. But every one I can think of only allows you to use one of the names per account at a time.

Hopefully if there is a way someone else can help you more.
Good luck.

 

[freakygirl]

Re: Re: help...(computer help)

Why don't you ask blkpnther I hear he's a bit of a computer whiz.

that would have been funnier had you posted it under your registered name..

 

[Weird Harold]

I have a friend who is on MSN asking me how her and her SO can have both computers online at the same time..

can someone help me!!!!!! please

Install a Networking card in each computer, connect with a "crosssover" cable (so you don't need a router, Enable family networking with "Internet connection sharing" with one computer designated as the internet connection to share.

The "host" computer needs to be on to use the internet, but it does NOT have to be the one using the connection -- it just has to make the connection for the other computer to use.

(Windows ME and later have a Wizard that will set this up in about five minutes once the hardware is in place.)

An alternative solution is to connect those network cards through a router to a cable or DSL modem.

Two computers using the same dialup connection at the same time is going to be very slow. There doesn't seem to be any slowdown at all for two computers using the same broadband connection.

(My daughter's family has used both of these setups with no problems. Both are easy to setup with minimal computer maintainance skills.)

 

[Draco]

Sygate Home Network

Good advice Harold, another alternative is to use the very good program Sygate Home Network. You still need the two NIC's (network interface cards) and the crossover cable. It handles all IP routing for the client/server and dialing etc. MSN and ICQ and general browsing etc work well on such a setup, however I dont recommend gaming on it.


http://www.sygate.com/swat/default.htm

 

[Weird Harold]

Good advice Harold, another alternative is to use the very good program Sygate Home Network. ... MSN and ICQ and general browsing etc work well on such a setup, however I dont recommend gaming on it.

I don't think I would use Windows Family Networking for much more than a shared internet connection. It's file sharing setup is abominable and printer sharing is barely acceptable. The latter might be a result of having a daisy-chained scanner/printer setup, but I don't think so.

If they need to share more than Internet or printer, I agree that a dedicated networking program is probably best.

For roommates on a budget, using the capabilities windows has built-in is both cheap and simple.

 

[BlkPnthr]

While using a crossover cable is one option, I really do recommend buying a router. It makes networking more managable, as well as the fact that it doesn't share bandwidth. Using a router, both people can be on at the same time and it doesn't cut into the bandwidth of either pc. Using crossover cables requires a host computer, and if the host pc isn't exactly up to par, you're going to run into a lot of problems. I used to network my computer with my fiance's pc in this manner, but I found it very annoying if her computer went down, or she had to reboot for whatever reason. On a router, you don't lose your connection to the net when one person reboots (the host), as well as the above stated, you don't cut into the bandwidth.

Draco may not agree with me on the choice of router but I use an SMC barriacde, 4 port router. Comes with the printer port, dialup port, and the 4 lan ports in the front. It's fairly simple to set up as well, for anyone who doesn't really know much about networking.

 

[Weird Harold]

On a router, you don't lose your connection to the net when one person reboots (the host), as well as the above stated, you don't cut into the bandwidth.

One point to consider here -- currently both computers are using dial-up connections. Wouldn't using a router also require a broad-band connection to route too?

Running two computers on a single dialup modem is going to be slow no matter how it's arranged, but with a host computer setup, it's at least possible and economical for roommates on a budget.


There's no doubt that a cable or DSL modem through a router is the BEST way to go. The problem there, is that not everyone can afford or has access to broadband connections.

 

[BlkPnthr]

Agreed, I see what you're saying Harold, but the SMC barricade was designed to offer both dialup and broadband. You don't need a broadband connection to use this router. It can be done with dialup only. I've noticed a significant difference between crossover cabling vs router on dialup. It's still slow obviously, but when you have a host pc on a dialup connection it gets even slower.

 

[freakygirl]

Thank you everyone for the advice

I gave up on helping them last night, when Debbiexxx and her husband (remember his RL name but not his Lit name), Mike tried to help us via MSN messenger. I found out they messed up something and they thought they would have to reformat the computers (both computers are brand new, just purchased in the last week). I told them NOT to reformat but being the people they are, think that's the only way to fix something. *shrugs* not my computer not my problem. I told them to go back to webtv.. they didn't have any problems with it..

This isn't the first thing I've had to help them with.. Friday night was "how to get the scanner to work".. Thursday was "how to get the printer to work" Wednesday was "How to install a game"
Tuesday was (on the phone) "How to remove the computer from the box and set it up"

 

[BlkPnthr]

*Chuckle* It's hard to help someone who isn't in the same city as you Glad you were able to help them out though

 

[freakygirl]

*Chuckle* It's hard to help someone who isn't in the same city as you Glad you were able to help them out though

no.. it's hard to help idiots who know nothing about computers.

I swear there should be some sort of test to tell if you are capable of even owning a computer. The didn't know how to plug in the keyboard and monitor to the tower.. and the tower power source into the wall..

I wanted to yell fucking morons. The cords only fit one way!


it took me.. 3 hours to explain to them how to set it up.. thank god they called me..

 

[BlkPnthr]

*Wince* No comment

 

[Weird Harold]

no.. it's hard to help idiots who know nothing about computers.

I guess this means they don't meet that "minimal computer maintainance skills" qualifier I made in my first post?

Professional computer maintenance people thank God every day for people like them.

 

[freakygirl]

I guess this means they don't meet that "minimal computer maintainance skills" qualifier I made in my first post?

Professional computer maintenance people thank God every day for people like them.

I'm a minimal computer maintainance skilled person.. *serious nod* who is very thankful for professional computer maintenainance people..

I'm slowly learning.. thanks to a few here.. and my good friends at Virtualdr.com... without you guys.. I'd be back on webtv.. because my computer would be outside.. with plants growing out of its broken monitor.

 

[Fly_On_Wall]

do like my freind.

buy a hub, hook one computer to the line comeing in (the better computer), then useing an ethernet cart (in both machins, should come with the hub)

but you need a program installed on the computer to get it to work.
if they are on cable... make sure the company don't find out

 

[freakygirl]

*Wince* No comment

you could have saved yourself a lot of time.. by instead of posting this.. just hitting the cute little back button.

 

[BlkPnthr]

do like my freind.

buy a hub, hook one computer to the line comeing in (the better computer), then useing an ethernet cart (in both machins, should come with the hub)

but you need a program installed on the computer to get it to work.
if they are on cable... make sure the company don't find out

Yep, that's another way, but if you ask Draco or any other techie, a router is the better choice rather than a hub. Also if you call your ISP cable provider, they'll tell you it's not illegal to have more than one connection to the net via broadband, but they only support the first computer. At least here where I live it's not illegal. They don't like me being on a router, but they can't do anything about it.

 

[BlkPnthr]

you could have saved yourself a lot of time.. by instead of posting this.. just hitting the cute little back button.

Yeah, I could have, but I wanted you to know that the post didn't go ignored. Just didn't want to really make any comments as I talk to the people in question.

 

[freakygirl]

Just didn't want to really make any comments as I talk to the people in question.

You talk to the people I'm talking about? huh?

 

[BlkPnthr]

You talk to the people I'm talking about? huh?

You are talking about debbiexxx and her significant other correct?

 

[freakygirl]

You are talking about debbiexxx and her significant other correct?

NO..



Debbiexx and Mike=God sends.. who attempted to help via MSN

D and B(not people from Lit)=morons who shouldn't own a computer


jeez... make it sound like I'm talking bad about one of my best Lit friends.. I see now how shit gets started..

 

[BlkPnthr]

NO..



Debbiexx and Mike=God sends.. who attempted to help via MSN

D and B(not people from Lit)=morons who shouldn't own a computer


jeez... make it sound like I'm talking bad about one of my best Lit friends.. I see now how shit gets started..

Oh....I misunderstood then. My apology