Setting Up Windows ICS on the Host Computer

Internet connection sharing (ICS) is a Windows feature that comes with operating systems Windows 98SE and later. As we mentioned in Chapter 9, Windows XP initiates Internet connection sharing through the Home Networking Wizard. You can follow the steps in this section for Windows Me as well, which uses ICS in a similar way to 98SE. Windows Me has a Home Networking Wizard that can automate the process, though we'll walk through setting up ICS manually here.

Again, using a router is typically a simpler and more effective way to share Internet access in your home, and the setup won't vary by operating system. You won't tie up a machine that must be left on to share Internet access. And if the machine needs to be restarted (as after a system crash) or otherwise is turned off, everyone loses access to the Net. Not good.

If you are still interested in using the ICS feature of Windows 98SE or Me, here's how to do it. In most cases, the program isn't already installed, so you'll need to grab your Windows CD-ROM and place it in your CD drive.

1. Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel (Figure 9.5).

   Figure 9.5. Open the Control Panel to get started.

   

2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs (Figure 9.6).

   Figure 9.6. Open the Add/Remove Programs applet.

   

3. Select the Windows Setup tab (Figure 9.7).

   Figure 9.7. Click the Windows Setup tab and wait while Windows searches for installed components .

   

4. For Windows 98SE, double-click Internet Tools (Me users should double-click Communications instead) (Figure 9.8).

   Figure 9.8. Open Internet Tools.

   

5. Select Internet Connection Sharing and click OK twice to close the open dialog boxes (Figure 9.9).

   Figure 9.9. Enable Internet Connection Sharing.

   

In Windows 98 SE, the Internet Connection Sharing Wizard launches. In Windows Me, the Home Networking Wizard launches. Follow the on-screen prompts to apply Internet Connection Sharing.

After you finish with the appropriate wizard for starting up ICS, you can later turn ICS on and off using the Internet Options Control Panel.

1. Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel.

2. Open Internet Options (Figure 9.10).

   Figure 9.10. Double-click the Internet Options icon.

   

3. Choose the Connections tab to bring it forward (Figure 9.11).

   Figure 9.11. Select Connections.

   

4. Under Local Area Network (LAN) settings, click Sharing (Figure 9.12).

   Figure 9.12. Click the Sharing button.

   

5. Under Settings, select or deselect "Enable Internet Connection Sharing" depending on whether you want to turn ICS on or off (Figure 9.13).

   Figure 9.13. Enable or disable Internet Connection Sharing.

   

Note that if you use Internet Explorer, you can access this same menu by selecting Tools, Internet Options, and start with Step 3.

Now, one of your computers is set up to share its connection. The only thing left to do is show your other computers how to connect through the PC running ICS.