ICS lets you connect one computer to the Internet by whatever means (modem, DSL, ISDN or cable) and share that connection with any other Windows 98/ME computer on the network. Though simple in theory, the first implementation of ICS proved problematic for many users. Windows 98 v.2 improved ICS, and Windows XP makes it even simpler.

Windows XP

1. In Windows XP, click the Start button (bottom left hand corner) and select the Control Panel.


2. If not already in the "Classic view", select the Classic view option (upper left corner of the window - you can switch between the classic view and the category view).


3. Click on the "Network Connections" icon.


4. Right click on the icon under the "LAN or High Speed Networking" option. Select Properties from the menu that appears.


5. You will see that the computer has a "Full Computer Name" and a "Workgroup". Click the "Change" button to change them.


6. Select the "Advanced" tab.


7. Click on the "Allow other network users to connect..." option.


8. Follow the directions in the dialog that appears.

Windows 98

By default, the ICS components are not installed on your computer. You only run ICS on the computer that is actually connected to the Internet:

1. Go to the Control Panel and double-click Add/Remove Programs.


2. Select the Windows Setup tab and open the Internet Tools option.


3. Enable the Internet Connection Sharing component by clicking on the box next to it and then clicking on OK.


4. Once the ICS components are installed, the ICS wizard will pop up. Follow the prompts and keep clicking Next. If your Internet connection is not already configured on this computer, the wizard will open the Internet Connection Wizard (don't get these two wizards confused!) so that you can set up an Internet connection. Simply follow the prompts. When you're done, you'll be returned to the ICS wizard.


5. The ICS wizard will gather some information and prompt you to insert a 3.5-inch diskette. This diskette will then be used to configure the other Windows 98/ME computers on your network for Internet access.

While file and printer sharing are still relatively easy on either operating system, Internet-connection sharing using only software can be a good deal trickier. In most cases, if you are sharing a high-speed connection with several computers in your home (and especially if you are doing it wirelessly) it is easier to purchase a wireless hub/router and let it do the connection sharing for you. Lynksys' or Netgear's wireless hubs/routers are inexpensive, very easy to set up and also have the added benefit of providing a hardware firewall to protect your network.