Creating a private network within another

[Amp34]

I have just got a Laptop so want to network it (via a crossover cable) to my main PC without opening up my PC to the rest of the network (main PC is connected to a router [for the internet] and thus other PC's). The main PC is using Vista Ultimate and the Laptop Vista Business. The PC has two connections, one to the internet and router and the other to the laptop but I can't work out how to change the permissions of one of the networks without changing the permission of the other.

I am also having problems getting the internet on the Laptop through the PC, every time I click "allow other network users to connect through ths computer" it comes up with "An error has occured while internet connection sharing was being enabled... The dependency service or group failed to start." Any ideas why that might be?

Thanks

 

[Amp34]

Ideally I would, but the router is a shared one between me and my housemates and there isn't a spare slot for my laptop. The router is also not in my room and there is only one network port in my room (which is used by my main PC).

I have done it before, with another PC running XP, it did it fine, without the error message.

I also want to share all the files on my main PC with my laptop, so I can transfer easily etc., without others having access to the files.

and the answer to this part, is that its not possible. Your files are either shared, or their not. If your worried about the security of the laptop being exposed to the internet, there are ways to do this. But this setup isnt it.

Damn, I thought that may be the case. It's not for security of the laptop, I don't particularly want all the files on my main PC available to all my housemates, but I still want them available to me when the laptop s connected directly to the PC.

Hopefully that makes it a bit clearer as to why I want to do it that way instead of the easier way.

 

[Amp34]

I just tried the "Bridge Connection" and it still won't work unfortunately. It may well be connected to the net as it seems to be downloading updates (although it hasn't got past 0% yet so..) but it won't load up a webpage and when the cable is plugged into the laptop it comes up with two connections, which the network diagnosis program says needs to be only one.

EDIT: It will ping 192.168.1.1 (the router) but won't load it in windows and it won't ping or load any external pages (such as google or BBC)

EDIT2: The two connections thing happens even if I connect the laptop directly to the router. I can't actually seem to access the internet on the laptop, so it's probably a problem at the laptop end not the bridge. Any suggestions as to why it would make two connections every time?

 

[Amp34]

im not a fan of network bridges, personally i think you need to purchase a 10/100 switch. You should be able to get a 4 port one quite cheap. Just plug your lead for your room into that and you then get 4 ports to use

much neater and effecient than faffing around briding connections

then just set up security permissions on the shares as outlined above so that only authorised persons can get on.

I did wonder if you could just get another switch. Thanks, i'll look into that.

I think I sorted out the issue of the double connections and managed to get the laptop to connect to the internet through the PC but only once. It seems a bit hit and miss at the moment as to what it will do when it's plugged in.