switch connection types between xp & 8.1

This is kind of complicated. My xp computer was (and still is) subscribed to DSL service (Windstream), hardwired to a Sagemcom 4300 modem and linked through a Linksys broadband router with a wireless connection to a second xp computer.

Having bought a third computer with 8.1 OS I needed to first get 8.1 up and running (with the end of xp looming) which I managed to do by simply removing the hard wire Linksys cable from xp and plugging in into the 8.1 Ethernet port. Lo and behold instant DSL connection on 8.1 without any configuration anywhere...don't ask me why it just works and pretty good I must say. :-D So I was able to get things reasonably in order on 8.1 that way, and if I had to go back to xp online I just switched my Ethernet cable back temporarily. But that's not a permanently acceptable situation. What I need to do is make 8.1 permanently Ethernet hard wired and both xp's wireless.

I first tried to install an extra Trendnet PCI wireless adapter card in the xp that used to be hardwired, but xp would not boot back up after I plugged in the card. (It tried but went into an endless boot loop). I don't know why but suspect it has something to do with xp being previously hardwire configured to the 4300 modem and Lyncsys. I now need advice and counsel on how to switch my connection types between xp and 8.1 without screwing up either one so that 8.1 is hardwired and both xp's are wireless sharing the connection. :confused

 

Any USB wireless adapter should immediately resolve this. Generally with XP it's best simply to let Windows configure the connection rather than using any supplied software.

 

USB adapter? Actually it's a PCI adapter card. I don't know if that makes a difference, and as I recall I could not just plug in the (PCI express) card before on xp and had to use the install procedure provided by Trendnet. It actually did install years ago but will not now on the same computer. I have another one installed on a second xp at this time that's sharing the connection.

Anyway I'm not sure that answers the question of wanting to permanently hard wire 8.1 even if I can make xp wireless with a PCI card or USB adapter, without having to reconfigure the 4300 modem or Lynksys???

 

USB wireless adapters are cheap and available everywhere. No reconfiguration of your router or modem is necessary, the adapter will automatically pick up the Linksys SSID and all you have to do is enter the wireless key. I'm suggesting you get one simply because your PCI card isn't working.

 

Yes thanks, I understand. Nevertheless that would only be temporary at best for me because I'm very uncomfortable with leaving 8.1 with a questionable connection that was not initially configured there (even though the "plug in" I tried does work well at this time), as well as a wireless configuration on xp not made there also if you know what I mean. Don't know about you but I've found that when things go wrong or crash it's always better if you can get back to an original secure setting or condition. I really want to establish that connection on all computers even if I have to reconfigure them with new settings and/or codes. Any other ideas? :major

 

I'm not familiar with the actual hardware you are using but I'm puzzled as to why you chose to connect your 8.1 to the modem rather than to the router? That's what the router is there for, to allocate IP addresses to authenticated devices and to handle all incoming/outgoing traffic between connected devices and the modem. The modem's only function is to connect you to your ISP.

I'm just not understanding your concerns though. These connections, whether wired or wireless, do not normally need any configuring other than to make sure wireless devices are using the same security protocol as the router, which, if they connect, they are.

 

I'm sure you're right about the only purpose of the router (to allocate, etc) but I've always understood sharing the internet connection, hardware facilities, files, in terms of a mother computer with everything in my "office" on it and communicating to work group or sister computers, not sister computers designating to the boss if you will. So it seems logical if not absolutely necessary to me that everything originates from the main man in my office including the primary internet connector. If I'm not technically right about that (though what I want is technically kosher), humor me if only to make me feel better. Anyway, read on because here's am update.

After I posted last (to which you responded (thank you), I tried different experiments. As you know I could not get my xp boss to boot up with the PCI card in order to make xp boss wireless. I happen to have another PCI slot that was being occupied with another card which card I switched into the slot that didn't work with the wireless card for some reason. Then I plugged the PCI card into the now new vacant slot, and XP boss then booted up, detected everything and I was able to set up xp boss on the wireless network so that now I have 8.1 as boss and xp 1 & 2 wireless. So it appears that problem is solved. But I'm sure I'll be back for other things because I have a long way to go to get 8.1 boss to full strength with everything still on old xp boss needing to be moved. Thanks to you and all who followed my thread.

PS The second PCI slot in xp boss works well with the other card I plugged in, and for whatever reason I still don't know xp boss did not fail to boot before. I must say though, I would like to know WHY xp boss refused to boot before. :-D

 

Your conception of how things should be is understandable but misplaced. Fact is that multiple computers sharing a single internet connection are all of equal standing. No one machine is or can be 'boss' in any meaningful sense.

I'm not at all sure what security or other issues may be raised by connecting one machine directly to the modem and the other two indirectly via a router and I'm hoping one of the networking experts here might pop in and elucidate, if only for my benefit. At the very least it makes creation of a home network for all three machines impossible and, if the router has a hardware firewall and the modem does not it would mean your 'boss' machine as you call it is missing the first line of defence.

Anyway, it has obviously worked to your satisfaction for a long time so unless someone strongly advises otherwise I guess you will stick with it, but I wouldn't - I'd connect it to the router and network all three.

 

I can't prove it but I suspect that a computer connected directly to a modem, such as the OP has, will have the same IP as the modem. How could it be anything else - modems don't have DHCP? That, plus the fact there is no hardware firewall in a modem, exposes such a PC to direct attack from the internet.

 

It seems everyone here is more right than I am, because the way I wanted to do the networking did not work out after all as I thought. I found that out since I had to reboot 8.1 for other reasons of updating my files there from xp and when I went back to xp the way I had it networked it could not find the connection. Also computer 2 xp will not connect with the connection it used to so I will have to use different networking (if possible) with the Lynksys router so that I can share the 4300 connection with 8.1, xp1, and xp2. In other words I would like to still use both xp OS on line as well as 8.1. Am I right to think that I could run all three computers on their own OS using the router to distribute as Earthling says it should be done? In any case it appears I will have to do a lot more reconfiguring which I was trying to avoid because it's a b...., pardon my English.

Thanks to plodr for jumping in...I can use all the help I can get. :wave

 

I know you want someone else to confirm my advice or otherwise, that's fine. However once all three systems are connected to the Linksys router each will have internet access but will not be able to access files on the other two. For that you need to ensure that all three machines are in the same workgroup, and to share the folders on each machine that you want the others to be able to access. In the 8.1 machine you should leave the HomeGroup and use user accounts and passwords for your network. That can be done in Network and Sharing Center.

You might want also to reconsider the wisdom of allowing the two XP machines internet access after April 8.

 

Making all three machines in the same workgroup and or 8.1 leaving, network & sharing center, etc must be another terrible job. Don't know if I'm up to it.

Yes about xp after April 8, which is why I got a new HP machine with 8.1 in the first place. But I have seen much advice about still using xp afterwards so long as one has good security and firewall protection, and that many companies will still provide updates for their software for years to come unlike Microsoft. This is why I'm considering still using both xp's (on a limited basis) as well as off line for various data retrieval purposes and off line chores.

 

As long as you aren't in a tearing hurry I will try to help you through this, and as what needs doing is pretty standard stuff I'm sure others will be able to help too.

First things first - are all systems now connected to the router and able to access the internet? And do they all have a firewall on and an AV installed and updated?

 

Not exactly all systems are now connected. When I discovered what I was trying to do would not be what I thought, I disconnected the networking card I configured to work in xp #1 which was originally the main computer in my office. So in order for me to use XP computer #1 or 8.1 computer on line at this time I have to switch the Ethernet cable from my Lynksys physically for either one respectively. Furthermore XP computer #2 now can still share the connection but now tries to boot on the 8.1 system (obviously because I had tried to connect before with that hookup that did not work as I expected). I'm sure xp #2 still has the xp system and original data as before but until I find out what has changed with regard to how it connects I'm not prepared to say I can go back to what I had before to try what you have in mind. However I think I can say all three computers can still use or share the connection. Can I get back to you after I've restored all three to they were (if your offer still stands?).

 

This has me scratching my head. Do you mean it is actually booting into 8.1? Or what?

Of course the offer stands. We will do this at your pace

 

Earthling and plodr I'm back. Finished doing most of my data transfer from XP to 8.1 and resolved at least 1 question about XP #2 trying to boot into 8.1. Let me first explain the latter.

When I said that (3-21-14 16:53) I was trying to do too many things at the same time....my head was swimming with issues and to add to those issues the 8.1 boot interface display was similar to the Zorin OS I had installed on XP #2 in my mind I was thinking it was 8.1. Of course I was wrong. What I was seeing on XP #2 was the Zorin dual boot choice interface, so XP #2 was not actually trying to boot into 8.1 after all. Sorry I made you scratch your head unnecessarily.

Back to sharing the DSL connection with all three computers (8.1, XP #1 and XP #2, and BTW XP #2 is actually XPMCE, not XP pro like #1 if that makes any difference). Present bottom line is they all do now share my DSL connection so I have internet on all three at this time. Referring to what we were all discussing, (i.e. how to properly share the connection) I'm not really sure if I have not already done what both you and plodr would approve if I had failed to correctly describe what I had. After all when I originally installed my Linksys and Ethernet cards I followed the procedures and steps as they were recommended. So maybe I already have what you think I should?

Only problem at this time is that on # 1 taskbar I have a message "A network connection is unplugged" as well as "wireless connection three" icon. And sometimes I have to "repair" #1 connection to get it back even though the icon displays on the task bar as "signal strength excellent". I'm thinking the confusion is because I've uninstalled and reinstalled all the hardware so many times. So perhaps what I really have to do now is undo everything, reinstall and reconfigure? However what I'm afraid of is I can't do that in the original manner because the Linksys install CD no longer works and Lynksys won't provide tech help. I would hate to take everything off line only to discover I can't any one or all of them back in any way I had and/or what you and plodr think I should have. Still willing to help? I'm not certain what needs to be done is pretty standard as you say. :-D

 

Relax! You are virtually there now. The cable unplugged message is simply because both adapters, wifi and Ethernet are still active, but the Ethernet one can't find a connection. To disable the adapter it's Start > Connect to > Show all connections and right click the Local Area Connection > Disable. Your error message won't appear again and it will probably fix the need to repair the wireless connection too, as that might be the system being confused as to which connection you want it to use, Ethernet or wifi.

 

I tried that before (and it worked) after searching for answers and finding exactly what you recommend. However there was another message on the task bar "A DUPLICATE NAME EXISTS ON THE NETWORK". So I searched for an answer for that also and found a page about how to change the name of the (duplicate) computer. I don't recall that I used that method because in the name field a technical name was showing and not anything I ever called any of the three computers so I was not sure of what name field to use and/or what name I should rename. (BTW I don't recall ever assigning any name to 8.1...all I ever did for 8.1 was to plug in the router to connect and that worked). But even though I don't recall trying to change any names using that method, in the process of my looking for and trying things the cable unplugged message returned. It has not yet returned this time so my present status is without the unplugged message on #1 task bar but still with duplicate name message. This is why I was thinking I would have to undo everything and start from scratch, especially if you still think I'm not configured the best way for all three puters.

 

You don't say whether two of the three computers actually did have/do have the same name but assuming they did, and you have changed one of them, then rebooting all three systems should clear the message.

I'm not aware that there is now anything wrong with your network setup. Both XPs are connecting wirelessly to the router, and 8.1 is connecting to the router by Ethernet. As long as the router is using wireless security that's it!

 

As I recall I did use the same name for both XP's which now I realize was a mistake. This is why I searched for the solution for duplicate computer names. But I did not try to change any names because I did not understand the way the name field(s) are displayed and/or which name I need to change. As I indicated the name showing in system change is the "full computer name" and not any name I assigned to the XP's. So I was not sure what name I needed to enter in that COMPUTER NAME.

 

Update to my last reply. I took a chance and changed the name of XP #1 in the system name field that showed "full computer name" (but nothing anywhere in Linksys router fields). But when restarting I still get the duplicate name error, even though XP #1 is still connected and I don't yet get the "unplugged" message. Could any of this be related to my initially configuring the Linksys router with XP #1 but never with 8.1?

 

It's nothing to do with the router. If you are still getting the message after rebooting all three systems then two do still have the same name. How about 8.1, did you give that the same name too?

 

With regard to 8.1 I never gave it a name with regard to the internet connection that I can recall. I just plugged in the router and 8.1 detected the connection....I have left it that way ever since.

But I never rebooted XP 2 because there was never any such error on that computer task bar. Only XP #1 had the duplicate name message so that's why I went into the system and changed the name there and rebooted it.

 

For avoidance of doubt this is where you change the name in XP

 

I did ask you to reboot all three. Oh and the name has nothing at all to do with the internet connection. It's the name by which a computer will be called on your local area network.

 

Yes, that's where I changed the name of XP #1 and rebooted it. I did that 2 times just to be sure I was not choosing a name I might have forgotten. But as I said I never went to XP #2 because there was never any error message there, and #2 also connects via the ethernet card I have installed there (same model of Trendnet wireless adapter card I plugged into #1 PCI adapter slot).

 

So you're saying if I go and reboot #2 as well after changing the name in #1 that will clear the duplicate message in #1?

 

Please reboot all three

 

OK, did that, all three. Still have the duplicate message on XP #1.

 

Then there must still be two with the same name. How about posting some pics of all three showing the names, or at least telling us what they now are?

 

I'd rather not mention any of my computer names for security reasons, but I checked what all 3 computer names were. I found that 8.1 was actually named the same as XP #2 spelling wise but in 2 parts, for example MICROSOFT & MICRO SOFT. So i changed the computer name of #2 and rebooted all three.

I still have the duplicate error message on #1 and #2 is still well connected with no error messages.

 

Try rebooting the router. If that doesn't clear the error I'm stumped.

 

What I did was to reboot this time by shutting down everything including the router and modem and then turning them back on. Unless I'm mistaken that should qualify to reboot the router? So if you're stumped maybe I should find a way to uninstall everything and reinstall from scratch?

 

I'm not sure quite what you mean by that. None of the connections to the router require any installation. Can you be more specific?

If anyone else might have any thoughts about this error then please jump in. The error is "a duplicate name exists on the network" but the three computers do have different names.

 

Signing off for this evening. Hope someone has a flash of inspiration

 

It seems to me when I first got the Linksys router there was connection needed to the DSL modem at least, if not for ethernet connection issues. But if only for ethernet reasons then maybe I should clear all ethernet configurations, reinstall the cards and reconfigure XP 1 & 2. Wouldn't that also clear and reinstall all registered computer names where ever they are? If I'm not being technically accurate what I mean to say is to reinstall everything to do with how all computers are recognized on the network. Frankly I would hate to have to reinstall the router anyway because it's such a bi--h without use of a good CD. As I mentioned Linksys refused to provide tech support to reinstall the router without payment. Not that I blame them but that's an inconvenience to say the least with the advance of new technologies and products. I see you're signing off for this evening (morning in UK?), thanks for staying this long.

 

Another update which I hope will be the last. I searched for other answers besides just changing the computer name(s). I found one post that referred to the same name not only on just the computers but on the computer workgroups as well. I remembered something about naming a workgroup by the same name as a computer while doing all this connection business. And I had named 8.1 computer by that same workgroup name. So I went back into the 8.1 system and changed its name to something other than that workgroup name. Upon rebooting both 8.1 and XP #1 after that name change on 8.1 there was no duplicate message. Hope that does it and it stays that way.

Thanks all for your help and efforts. Have a restful Sunday.

 

Well done and thanks for the update. You are good to go now and can set up file and printer sharing across all three if you want it, but think about April 8 and those XP machines!