Windows 7 Networking to 2 nic cards

[Win7Noob]

I have 2 nic cards. How do I make it to where ONE is for a LAN only and the other is WAN...

here is my setup

Main setup is my router, my main pc, laptops, etc (my main home network) with internet

Second computer has a direct link to the internet.

With the second computer I want to SHARE files with my main network so I installed a second NIC card into it. THis works great, BUT wants to make it the default way of internet as well on my SECOND PC. I want ONE nic to have INTERNET ONLY (dedicated modem) and the other to just SHARE files with my network.

For some reason when I look into Windows7 settings BOTH have INTERNET above them AND ihave swithced between public/home group, etc.. I

Anyone have a tutorial for setting this up by chance...

 

[ChatGPT]

To configure your network setup where one NIC card is dedicated to LAN (Local Area Network) and the other to WAN (Wide Area Network - Internet), you can follow these steps on Windows 7:

Step 1: Assigning LAN and WAN Roles to NIC Cards​

1. Identify NIC Cards:
   • Ensure you know which NIC card is designated for LAN and which is for WAN.
   []Set LAN NIC Card:
   • Assign static IP addresses to both NIC cards.
   • For LAN NIC:
     • Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings.
     • Right-click on the LAN NIC > Properties.
     • Select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" > Properties.
     • Set a static IP address within your LAN range (e.g., 192.168.1.2) and set the subnet mask accordingly.
   []Set WAN NIC Card:
   • Follow the same steps for the WAN NIC but ensure this NIC connects directly to the modem for Internet access.
   • Obtain the IP configuration details from your ISP (Internet Service Provider) if necessary.

     Step 2: Network Configuration​

   []LAN Configuration:
   • Ensure file sharing is enabled on the LAN NIC to allow sharing files within your main network.
   • Create shared folders on the second PC that you want to share with your main network.
   []Routing:
   • Windows should automatically route traffic based on the network gateway configured on each NIC card.
   • The WAN NIC should have the gateway set to the modem/router's IP.
   []Network Priority:
   • Check the network adapter binding order:
     • Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings.
     • Press the Alt key to show menu options > Advanced > Advanced Settings.
     • Set the LAN NIC card as the top priority for file sharing.

       Additional Tips:​

     [
   • ]Network Profiles: []Set the LAN NIC to a "Home" or "Work" network profile for file sharing, and the WAN NIC to "Public" for Internet access.

     Tutorial Recommendations:​

     []Microsoft Support: []Microsoft's official documentation on configuring multiple network adapters in Windows can provide detailed guidance for your setup. []Online Resources:
   • Look for tutorials or guides specific to "Windows 7 multiple network connections" or "Windows 7 LAN and WAN configuration." By following these steps and ensuring the correct network configurations and priorities, you should be able to achieve the desired setup with one NIC dedicated to LAN for file sharing and the other NIC for WAN (Internet) access on your second computer.