Enable Internet Connection Sharing In Windows Vista

You have a Windows Vista computer that’s connected to the broadband internet via a ADSL modem or router.This article helps you how to share your Windows Vista computer’s broadband internet connection (turning first computer into a router) with other computer's in your house or office without using additional router's or even a network switch in some cases.The configuration's for sharing broadband internet connection between two or more computer's in Windows Vista is given:

Case 1:Share Between Two Computers

If you want to share your broadband internet connection with only one additional computer on your house or office you’ll need an addition network (LAN) card installed on your computer if your broadband ADSL modem connects to your computer via the onboard or connected network (LAN) card.

If your broadband ADSL modem connects to your computer through a USB cable you probably won’t have to purchase an additional network (LAN) card because one will be available.

Connect the two computers together with a regular CAT5 network cable which is easily obtained from computer hardware shop. If you don’t want to run a wired connection in your network or you want to make the shared broadband internet connection wireless for a laptop, connect the computer sharing it’s internet to a wireless access point via a CAT5 cable and connect to the wireless access point wirelessly with the computers accessing the shared internet connection.

Case 2:Share Between Three or More Computers

If you want to share your broadband internet connection with two or more additional computers (a small office network) in your house or office you’ll need additional network (LAN) card's if your broadband modem is not connected to your Windows Vista computer with internet access through a USB cable. You’ll also need to purchase additional network cards (same as the number of shared connections), a switch, or wireless access point to network the computers you’re sharing the internet connection with.

Connect the computers to the main computer sharing it’s broadband internet via a network switch and CAT5 network cable or a wireless access point and wireless devices installed on each computer accessing the shared internet.

Steps To Enable Internet Connection Sharing in Windows Vista

• Click the Windows Vista Start orb and from the start menu select Control Panel.
• Click on the link Classic View on the left side of the Control Panel window.
• Open the Network and Sharing Center from Control Panel.
• Click Manage Network Connections on the left side of the Network and Sharing Center window.
• Right-click the network connection you want to share and from the context menu then select Properties.
• Select the Sharing tab at the top of the Network Connection Properties window.
• Check off "Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s network connection".
• Click OK to save the changes.
• After this you can connect your computer, switch, or wireless access point to the extra network connection on the computer sharing it’s internet connection via CAT5 network cable.

Important:Note that if you turn off the main computer connected to the broadband modem, all of the other computers connected to it will lose their internet connections as well.