Here's my situation:
I have 2 computers running Windows 7, a desktop and a laptop. The desktop is the "main" computer, and is connected to the internet via cable modem. The desktop has 2 network cards. One is connected to the cable modem. The other is connected, via crossover cable, to my laptop.
A couple years ago, when I first got the laptop, I set up ICS somehow and everything was working great. I was able to share my desktop's internet connection and I was able to see the shared directories I had set up on my desktop.
I had disconnected my laptop several months ago, and it has been dormant in it's carrying case since then. I just took it out today, and I plugged in the cable to connect it to my desktop. For some reason, I no longer have internet access. The network icon in the tray shows the yellow "!" symbol saying "no internet access". I have no idea what happened, and I don't remember how I had set it up in the first place. I tried for hours searching forums online, finding dozens of different setups and "fixes" to ICS issues. I tried setting the IP to 192.168.137.1 on both machines, since it was never clear in these posts exactly which connection to set to what.
I am terribly confused and there is a pressing matter that I NEED to get this connection working (here, at home) in order to tend to. I don't understand why this is so complicated, and why I cannot simply click a button to enable sharing between two systems running the exact same version of Windows. It is incredibly frustrating to me, and I'm about to lose my mind.
I need help. What ARE the correct steps to enable ICS between 2 Windows 7 computers via crossover cable and double network card on the main system??
I have 2 computers running Windows 7, a desktop and a laptop. The desktop is the "main" computer, and is connected to the internet via cable modem. The desktop has 2 network cards. One is connected to the cable modem. The other is connected, via crossover cable, to my laptop.
A couple years ago, when I first got the laptop, I set up ICS somehow and everything was working great. I was able to share my desktop's internet connection and I was able to see the shared directories I had set up on my desktop.
I had disconnected my laptop several months ago, and it has been dormant in it's carrying case since then. I just took it out today, and I plugged in the cable to connect it to my desktop. For some reason, I no longer have internet access. The network icon in the tray shows the yellow "!" symbol saying "no internet access". I have no idea what happened, and I don't remember how I had set it up in the first place. I tried for hours searching forums online, finding dozens of different setups and "fixes" to ICS issues. I tried setting the IP to 192.168.137.1 on both machines, since it was never clear in these posts exactly which connection to set to what.
I am terribly confused and there is a pressing matter that I NEED to get this connection working (here, at home) in order to tend to. I don't understand why this is so complicated, and why I cannot simply click a button to enable sharing between two systems running the exact same version of Windows. It is incredibly frustrating to me, and I'm about to lose my mind.
I need help. What ARE the correct steps to enable ICS between 2 Windows 7 computers via crossover cable and double network card on the main system??