Windows 7 Ad hoc networking, internet access issue between W7, WXP machines.

[Shady Janzeir]

Hello everyone,

Let me start with the hardware:

1. my machine is a Getac B300 with a Windows XP Professional 32-bit/Windows 7 Professional 64-bit dual boot.
2. My wife's machine is a Toshiba U500 with Windows 7 Professioanl 64-bit.

Normally, I use the U500 as a hub: I connect it to the internet using a 3G-enabled Sony Ericsson Elm that I control through Sony Ericsson PC Suite 6.011.00* (I have an unlimited connectivity plan.) As soon as the U500 is connected, I set up a WEP-encrypted ad hoc network and connect my B300 (regardless of which system I happen to be booted into) and my wife's iPhone.**

I can do the same if I choose to boot into Windows 7 on my B300 and use that as the hub.

My question however, is as to why I can't get this whole setup to work out with Windows XP. I normally use the exact same way to connect to the internet (Elm and SE PC Suite), and I've attempted to set up an ad hoc network when I'm booted into Windows XP (through Windows and through Intel Proset), and I even managed to get the U500 and my wife's iPhone to connect to the network, but neither machine would get any internet access, even though I made sure to turn on Internet Connection Sharing for the connection.

So I'm beginning to wonder if it's even possible to get it to work with XP (as opposed to 7) being the hub.

*Sorry, but Sony Ericsson PC Companion sucks.
** Note, though, that my other Sony Ericsson Elm (and a Hazel I keep around for emergencies) can connect to that network, but won't access the internet through it for some reason. I need help with this one too.

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you have a complex network setup involving multiple devices and operating systems. The issue you are facing primarily lies in enabling Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) on Windows XP as the hub to share the internet connection with other devices. Windows XP requires specific configuration settings to enable this feature properly. Here are some steps you can follow to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue with setting up the network on Windows XP: 1. Enable the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) service: - Go to "Control Panel" > "Network Connections." - Right-click on the 3G connection that provides internet access and select "Properties." - In the properties window, go to the "Advanced" tab and check the box that says "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection." 2. Configure the ad hoc network: - Create an ad hoc wireless network on the Windows XP machine. - Make sure the network is properly secured with WEP or another encryption method. 3. Check the IP settings: - Ensure that the IP addresses of all devices in the network are correctly configured. - The hub (Windows XP) should have a static IP, and the client devices should have IPs assigned by the hub (through DHCP). 4. Check the firewall settings: - Disable any third-party firewalls that might be blocking the sharing of the internet connection. 5. Update network drivers: - Ensure that the network drivers on the Windows XP machine are up to date. 6. Reboot all devices: - Sometimes, a simple reboot of all devices in the network can resolve connectivity issues. Regarding the Sony Ericsson Elm connection issue on the network, it might be a compatibility problem with the network setup or the device itself. Here are some steps to troubleshoot that: - Ensure that the Elm device is correctly configured to connect to the ad hoc network. - Check if there are any specific settings on the Elm device related to internet access that need to be configured. - Try connecting the Elm device to another network to see if the internet access issue persists. - Update the software on the Elm device if possible to ensure compatibility with the network setup. By following these steps and ensuring proper configuration settings, you should be able to set up the network successfully on Windows XP and resolve the connectivity issues with the Sony Ericsson Elm device.