ICS to Windows XP with Crossover Cable

Hi - I have been researching online and cannot find anyone with the same situation as I have. Previously I had 2 XP computers networked for sharing an internet connection from a wireless broadband USB modem. I do NOT have a router or hub or anything like that. The modem will not work with any of these. The connection worked just fine with a crossover cable between the two computers, sharing files and most importantly, the Internet.

We had to replace the host computer (the one with the modem) with a new Windows 7 desktop.

I cannot get the Windows 7 machine to recognize the XP machine at all. I have made all of the changes that were recommended in the advanced sharing settings. In the Network and Sharing Center it is reporting an Unidentified Public Network. I cannot click no Public Network to change it to Home, there is no link. When I run the diagnostics, it is telling me that the Local Area Connection doesn't have a valid IP configuration.

I cannot find any wizard or any other way to set up a home/office network. The only options are wi-fi or router.

I have also tried to follow the advice from other posts. One said to run ping but without intructions on how to do that. Another said to run gpedit.msc, but that is not found.

Another post suggested that I just get a wi-fi card. I would love to do wi-fi, but can I do that with my configuration. My Windows 7 machine is a deskop, not a laptop. Can this be installed.

Please, please help. If I can't get this to work, then I will need to return the new computer and find an older Windows XP machine.

Thanks much,
Sandy

This tutorial should help you set up ICS.

Internet Sharing using Cross-Over cable

This might help with the unidentified network problem.
http://pocketpccentral.net/blog/2009...blem-resolved/

thanks much - I did actually get the ICS by just reconfiguring that connection to share (yes - I hadn't done that yet, but I had to maintain the old connection in order to send this post).

But I am still not getting any sort of file sharing. The computers are still not talking to each other or recognizing each other. Your second link is not on target, since it involves the IP address of a router, and I am not using a router. But that is less critical in my situation, as long as I have the internet connection.

Thanks again!