connecting mac x to network

Instead of using the Wizard, try entering the settings manually in the Ethernet tab of the network preferences panel. (Pull down the Apple Menu to Preference. You will have to set the Ethernet to Manual (not Manual with DHCP).

By the way, how are you connected to the internet? Are you using a cable provider? You may have to recycle the power on the cable modem when you switch computers. Alternatively, some ISP's record the hardware address of the first computer to connect to the cable modem and won't let you switch computers easily.

If you are going to switch computers on a regular basis, you really should but a cable/dsl router which you can get for $20 or so on sale, $40 if you want a wireless one.

I assume you tried using the Network Setup Assistant that appears when you select the Assist Me button with the Network Panel in System Preferences.

This application is hidden in the /System/Library/Core Services folder
Open the Network Diagnostics application and see how far it can take you then run the other Network Setup Assistant application

The error indicates that either the subnet is incorrect (double check on the Windows PC that it is not 255.255.0.0) and that the IP you are giving the Mac is not the same as the Windows PC

1. Are you connecting via ethernet cable to your PC and using the "shared internet connection" on your PC
or
2. Are you connecting into a router box which is directly connected to the DSL modem

If the situation is 1. then you will need to set the gateway the the IP of the Windows PC .. not the router (you should be able to leave out the DNS servers)

If the situation is 2. then in the Network Preferences pane try setting the Configure IPv4 to Using DHCP and it will scan for a DNS.DHCP server.

> I assume you tried using the Network Setup Assistant that appears when you select the Assist Me button with the Network Panel in System Preferences

Yes, right. I was translating from an Italian version of Mac Os X. Thanks for pointing me to the right name.

> The error indicates that either the subnet is incorrect (double check on the Windows PC that it is not 255.255.0.0)

No. the subnet mask is 255.255.255.0. Confirmed.

> and that the IP you are giving the Mac is not the same as the Windows PC

I'm giving exactly the same IP (192.167.141.86). There can be no conflict as I'm using the PC's network cable to connect my Mac.

> Are you connecting via ethernet cable to your PC and using the "shared internet connection" on your PC

Yes

> If the situation is 1. then you will need to set the gateway the the IP of the Windows PC .. not the router (you should be able to leave out the DNS servers)

Then should I solve the problem by indicating as the "router" in the Mac Assistant the same IP of the PC? That is should I use 192.167.141.86 as the router number? Is this that you mean?

If you have internet connection sharing set up on the PC, and your Mac is plugged into the PC which in turn is plugged into your modem, then you should set the Mac ethernet connection to DHCP and it should pick up an IP from PC.

No, I have plugged the ethernet cable into the Mac so that it is now directly connected to a LAN

That's an entirely different story. How is the LAN connected to the internet?

Have you tried just setting the Mac to DHCP?

> Have you tried just setting the Mac to DHCP?

I just followed the instructions there were presented to me when I tried to run Safari. I got a message saying that the PC was not connected to the net then the Network Setup Assistant showed up. I filled the information in but I got the error message from which this question started.

This is a university LAN, no idea how this is connected to the internet. I now that all computers connected to that LAN need a fix IP address. So I guess I cannot use DHCP.

My experience with university networks, is that when you first register with the university for service, they ask you for the machine address of the your computer. They then assign an IP address based on the machine address. Do you remember if that is what you did when you registered? Obviously the machine address of the PC and the Mac will be different.

If in fact that is how the university assigns IP addresses, your best option is to buy a cheap router like a Linksys BEFSR-41. This has the software capability of "spoofing" a machine address (called a "MAC" address). You could then connect the BEFSR-41 to the university network and tell it to impersonate your PC by spoofing its MAC address. Then connect both your PC and your Mac by ethernet to two of the four ports on the back of the router. The router will allow you to share the internet connection and use it with both computers at once.

I have a fixed IP that they assigned to me and I can use with all the PCs I have (a desktop and 2 laptops) as I don't need to have them connected to the network at the same time. I simply unplug the ethernet cable and them plug it into one of my other PCs (they are all Win XP PCs and I personally set all their network parameters with the same values).

So I think that I don't need a router but simply an easy-to-follow procedure that, starting from the network connection parameters I use with my win PC, will allow me to surf the net with the Mac OS PC. Don't you think so?

Ok, I'm going to try your suggestion tomorrow morning (10AM GMT+1). Do you have other tips I should know before trying?

Once they work, lock the settings ;)

Sorry for not coming back. Your suggestion worked very well. Thanks.