I am trying to get 2 computers to go through a Cable Modem. They both work hooked up individually but not together through the Linksys 8+1. They are both plugged into a Linksys 8+1 Workgroup GigaSwitch EtherFast 10/100/1000 and that device is plugged into the cable modem. Is the 8+1 also known as a router?

One computer is running Win98 and the other WinXP. The person on the Win98 doesn't want to upgrade to a more modern operating system. Win98 doesn't have much in the way of networking troubleshooting tools because its so old.

How would one go about troubleshooting this to get it to work?

One possibility would be when you set up the network on the Win XP computer, if offers to make a network setup disk. Make that disk and use it when setting up the Win 98 computer.

Otherwise about your router, I do not have any knowledge about that.

It's just a hub/switch not a router. You'll have a kickass fast home network but it won't do the internet sharing.

I am trying to get 2 computers to go through a Cable Modem. They both work hooked up individually but not together through the Linksys 8+1. They are both plugged into a Linksys 8+1 Workgroup GigaSwitch EtherFast 10/100/1000 and that device is plugged into the cable modem. Is the 8+1 also known as a router?

One computer is running Win98 and the other WinXP. The person on the Win98 doesn't want to upgrade to a more modern operating system. Win98 doesn't have much in the way of networking troubleshooting tools because its so old.

How would one go about troubleshooting this to get it to work?

What NeedKarma, said. Your cable modem supplies a single IP address. So whichever PC boots first is going to get the IP from the cable modem and the other won't be able to. That's what broadband routers are for. Get a broadband router (there are many on the market) and the 2 machines will be able to share. The cable modem gets plugged into the WAN port of the router and your 2 PCs into the switchports of the router.

I thought this Linksys 8+1 was a router, but I guess its not and instead a hub/switch. The person that gave it to me said when they were using it on their computer they had to leave their computer always ON and this way the other computers worked through it. Is there a software solution whereas I can do something similar, or must I get a router instead of this Hub/Switch? They said that this Linksys was all that they used, but they weren't very familiar with it because someone else had set it up for them.

I thought this Linksys 8+1 was a router, but I guess its not and instead a hub/switch. The person that gave it to me said when they were using it on their computer they had to leave their computer always ON and this way the other computers worked through it. Is there a software solution whereas I can do something similar, or must I get a router instead of this Hub/Switch? They said that this Linksys was all that they used, but they werent very familiar with it because someone else had set it up for them.

Its clearly not a router. Its possible that their Internet provider allowed multiple IPs, but more likely they were using some proxy server software to share the connection. Given how inexpensive routers are these days, I would not recommend another solution. Since you don't need wireless you can find a wired rounter for under $30. Even if you want to invest in wireless for future expansion you still wouldn't need to spend more than $50.

I'm going back to the Linksys Wireless G Broadband Router with Speedbooster but using it with WIRES.

While I can't get the WIRELESS part of the wireless router to work, I am able to use the wireless router in a wired manner. I will plug both computers into it using wires. I guess the wireless part of it malfunctioned. I took my computer to a local computer store and the laptop was able to connect without problems. The tech there said sometimes something in the wireless routers cause the wireless portion to not work, but one can still use it as a non-wireless (or wired) router.

Thanks for all your help and guidance.

I have the same router and it works fine. I use it with both wired and wireless connections. Have you called Linksys tech support? They have 24/7 toll free support. I've had to call on a few occasions and their support has been excellent.