Cable Gateway Router

[scarecrowdr]

Hi Good peeps,need your help please-------Two PCs, both useing XP Pro..
Both approximatly 4ft apart....NTL Cable Modem with the Ethernet conected to Main PC..I want Both On at same time so I can Share Files and Transfer Files from either one to the other.....(FORGET the Microsoft simple file shareing!!! NOT as simple as it's made out...Not this way any way). Took me 5 weeks to try n get it to work n Failed...5 of us FAILED to get it to work.. So. Would the "Belkin 4 port Cable/ADSL Gateway Router" be the Best way for me..If so, Is it easy to set up?
There will only be ME that's useing both PCs..
Or would I be better off useing an "8 port Auto Switch". <<Will this un let me have Both PCs on at same time then when I click the File/Folder Transfer button, will it Auto switch to other PC n Transfer.....(or have I got that wrong)....This Networking n (supposedly) simple file transfering is not as Simple to my Simple Brain!!!!...Me Thinks the Gateway Router is the Best Way....i Will Sit Patiantly here awaiting your Helpfull replies....Thanks All.

[Jeneral22]

Go with a router. The only other way to share the internet connection would be to put two NIC cards in one of the computers and use it as a router. A cable router is about $50 and then you can connect both computers to it with CAT5 cable or you could spend extra for Wireless Routers and Wireless Cards for each PC.

anyway once you get both hooked up run the networking wizard on one PC and configure your network.

The routers are pretty simple to configure. Look for one with a hardware firewall if you think you need it. Most come with it anyway...

Best of luck,
Jeneral22

[scarecrowdr]

THANKS Jeneral22....It looks like that is the Best Way to go...