Networking a windows XP machine as a router to OSX

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Njal

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Firstly i appologise if this or something simelar, it seems like it might be a common question but i have been unable to find a simelar thread.

Right i have a G4 iBook 12" with the broadcom Airport Extreme Card, my version is OSX 10.4.3, i wish to set up a windows XP machine as a router to wireless-ly broadcast a network to the iBook, the windows XP machine has SP2 best i can tell, it's updates are up-to-date so i presume so, it has a broadcom 802.11/g WLAN card inside it so my first assumption is that wireless broadcasting is ACTUALLY possible. The windows PC connects to the net via a USB modem.

I have no networking knowledge, if i ever set something up it has been a fluke, i have little networking knoledge, but am not scared to mess about with settings and the like, also the addition of new hardware is not possible, i cannot buy a router i have to make do with what i have

Thanks
 
Hi Njal and welcome to the forum.
It should work!
This is the idea: you should setup your wireless network to run in the ad hoc mode. The ad hoc mode kinda makes your pc work as a wireless access-point. I am not sure how you can do that but double clicking the icon of your wlan in the right buttom corner should be the key. You will need to specify a network name (=ssid)[here e.g. 'test'] and some security features. For now leave anything like WEP, WPA or God knows whatever is available in these days off. Test if your iBook finds the network. For that simply leave any network setting on your iBook on automatical. Make sure your airport card is active. You can do that calling Spotlight (alt+Space) and enter "Internet connection". Go to Airport and define a network name as you setup on your pc.
Now you have a working access point. How to share the modem wan (=Internet) connection on your pc to the mac now? You will have to change some settings on your WinXP pc. Open the network connection. You should find your usb modem, the WLAN and maybe an ethernet connection there. Right click your usb modem wan connection and click on properties. The last tab will allow you to share the connection to a specified local connection. Here you should share it to the WLAN connection. Once you did that, you will have your desired wlan router.
Good luck!
 
Run through the XP internet setup wizard and enable connection sharing, it should then serve DHCP addresses to the OS X box.

Njal said:
Firstly i appologise if this or something simelar, it seems like it might be a common question but i have been unable to find a simelar thread.

Right i have a G4 iBook 12" with the broadcom Airport Extreme Card, my version is OSX 10.4.3, i wish to set up a windows XP machine as a router to wireless-ly broadcast a network to the iBook, the windows XP machine has SP2 best i can tell, it's updates are up-to-date so i presume so, it has a broadcom 802.11/g WLAN card inside it so my first assumption is that wireless broadcasting is ACTUALLY possible. The windows PC connects to the net via a USB modem.

I have no networking knowledge, if i ever set something up it has been a fluke, i have little networking knoledge, but am not scared to mess about with settings and the like, also the addition of new hardware is not possible, i cannot buy a router i have to make do with what i have

Thanks
Click to expand...
 
i must thank you for your help thus far, i have been partially successful, they can see each other exist but not been able to share the connection yet, i shall try again 2moro, once the new year festivities have worn off.
 
Ok i can confirm that the OSX machine can connect to the windows machine and use it as a router, the only problem now is sharing the interent, i have sharing enabled for the default connection, this failed to allow my mac to connect, so i switched the sharing over to the wireless network, this two has failed, i know my problems lie on the windows machine, so if anyone know's how to help on this subject i would appriciate it.

EDIT: I now have a partial connection, iTunes is attempting to update its podcasts and camino tries real hard to connect to google. But eventually both fail. If that means anything.

I have got the Network Diagnostics open on the mac
Airport = Green
Airport Settings = Green
Network Settings = Green
ISP = Intermittent, never seems to stay on or off
Internet = Red
Server = Red
 
How did you make your windows use the ad hoc mode for the wifi? Did you setup a new network connection? If so, did you share your wan to THAT network connection too? Maybe you will need to bridge some connections to finally success. Try it and good luck.
 
I have tried this over and over, at one time I had it all going with a crossover cable via ethernet. I tried Using the wireless in ad hoc mode but it was flaky and the range is horrible. I would just go buy a wireless router, it sucks to spend more money, but it will work and make it so you don't need to have the xp machine on all of the time. You will be able to share files and internet as you just plug your broadband modem into the router itself.
 
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