how to setup win98 to connect to a cable modem

[geros1]

hi.
I have a laptop with win98 on it and there is already in my apartment an internet connection with a cable modem for a desktop pc. How can I setup my laptop in order to connect it with the cable modem and surf the internet? (I dont care to connect the laptop to the other desktop pc).
I have a cable cat5 to connect the laptop to the modem.
thank you in advance

 

[Mike2287]

Do you want both computers to be connected?

 

[geros1]

At the same time no. The desktop pc is using a wireless connection to the cable modem and my laptop a cable cat5.
I don't care to establish a network between the two computers. I would like to be able to surf the internet with my laptop and cable cat5 when the desktop is turned off, and also to surf the internet with the desktop and the wireless connection when the laptop is turned off.
The wireless connection for the desktop is already done by another person. I just would like to setup my win98 laptop.
Can anybody help?

 

[msbald]

Geros1,
I have never seen a cable modem w/ a built in wireless connection. If that IS the case you could get a wireless nic for your laptop and connect that way.
A more standard setup is a wireless access point (router) with a cat5 cable to the cable modem. Many of these have a built in switch (ie 4 port router). If you plug your cat5 into any port other than the WAN port (that should go to the cable modem)and:
1. the router is configured to supply ip address via DHCP 2. the wirelessly connected desktop is working
3. your lan connector is set to auto recieve dhcp and dns info
VIOLA, you are surfing.

If you have a wireless accesspoint w/ only on port on it (the WAN port to the cable modem) or a cable modem with built in wireless (??) then see if you can trade your cat5 cable for a discount on a wireless NIC. I like the USB ones because you can use them on most any computer (laptop or desktop) but you could also get a pcmcia/cardbus one.