Windows XP network bridge tutorial (media bridge)

network media bridge with Windows XP for your home network

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Bridging Networks With Windows XP - setup

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The first thing we need to do is install both an Ethernet adapter and a Wireless Ethernet
network adapter into our Windows XP computer. Be sure you can get out to the internet
using your ethernet connection. This will make sure everything is working later too. For our
wireless side, put your network card in ADHOC mode and set a wireless channel to
communicate on. Do the same with the other wireless computers.

Next, Set up the bridge between the two networks, highlight both of your network adapters.
Right click on one and select ‘bridge networks’ as shown in this picture.

Your system will grind away for a minute or so with this picture displayed. Resist the
temptation of clicking on things till the system stops grinding.

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Windows XP network bridge tutorial (media bridge)

When the bridge setup is complete, your network connections will look like this. NOTE THE
NEW NETWORK BRIDGE ICON.

When your wireless client computers are rebooted, they will get an IP address from your
router on your ETHERNET lan. The XP software based network bridge has turned your
wireless network into the same network as your wired network!! COOL!!

Finished

Things are a little different

Your network adapters no longer have anything in their network properties. For the most
part, all of the info is in the properties of the network bridge. If you want to change any of
your network properies, you will have to do it through the Network Bridge Properties.

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Windows XP network bridge tutorial (media bridge)

User Comments 126 comments

network media bridge with Windows XP for your home network
post new comment
XP as Network Bridge by Tommy Puckett - 10/27/2001 8:16:00 PM
Re: XP as Network Bridge by Keith - 11/2/2001 12:40:00 AM
Re: XP as Network Bridge by LinkSysUser - 12/28/2002 4:43:00 AM
Re: XP as Network Bridge by frustrated - 5/18/2003 1:35:00 PM
Re: XP as Network Bridge by Sascha - 11/16/2004 6:02:00 AM
Re: XP as Network Bridge by RussW - 1/1/2005 11:06:00 AM
Re: XP as Network Bridge by hehe - 6/11/2005 5:37:00 PM
Re: XP as Network Bridge by Connor Bowllan - 12/3/2005 7:30:00 PM
Re: XP as Network Bridge by caleb - 4/19/2006 7:07:00 PM
networking by shawn - 1/13/2002 1:39:00 AM
Re: networking by Charles Sutton - 1/23/2002 1:27:00 AM
Bridging win xp prof & win98se by Calvin Hor - 3/18/2002 2:10:00 AM
Re: Bridging win xp prof & win98se by XtC - 5/9/2002 8:17:00 AM
Re: Bridging win xp prof & win98se by david - 3/7/2003 11:39:00 PM
Re: Bridging win xp prof & win98se by kshin - 2/14/2004 2:23:00 AM
Bridge in win2000 Server by Germán - 5/7/2002 2:25:00 PM
Re: Bridge in win2000 Server by Aaron - 7/19/2002 4:34:00 AM
Re: Bridge in win2000 Server by Beastie - 8/13/2002 6:11:00 PM
Re: Bridge in win2000 Server by Josh - 7/6/2004 12:36:00 PM
Re: Bridge in win2000 Server by JWRoux - 10/18/2005 10:19:00 AM
Can you Bridge with wires? (instead of wireless) by Spencer Hyde - 6/18/2002 2:16:00 PM
Re: Can you Bridge with wires? (instead of wireless) by Kamikaasje - 6/18/2002 6:37:00 PM
Re: Can you Bridge with wires? (instead of wireless) by Matt - 10/18/2003 7:15:00 AM
XP With Bridge = FASTER ? by SEaN - 7/16/2002 3:29:00 AM
Re: XP With Bridge = FASTER ? by Josiah Carlson - 7/29/2002 5:43:00 AM
XP wireless bridge Orinoco by Manuel - 8/9/2002 4:40:00 PM
Re: XP wireless bridge Orinoco by Hans - 9/29/2002 4:53:00 AM
Re: XP wireless bridge Orinoco by bob - 10/14/2002 1:07:00 AM
Re: XP wireless bridge Orinoco by Jason Straight - 12/19/2003 8:04:00 PM
Re: XP wireless bridge Orinoco by Rene Bartosh - 4/8/2006 6:43:00 PM
RE: Networking by Theoden Zarkov - 9/26/2002 1:40:00 PM
A mess of a network by Caveboy - 9/29/2002 11:11:00 PM
Re: A mess of a network by alan - 10/1/2002 1:31:00 AM
Re: A mess of a network by kurtray - 11/5/2002 5:33:00 PM
Connect 2 PC and Cable modem by Edward - 9/30/2002 4:33:00 PM
Re: Connect 2 PC and Cable modem by Peter - 2/22/2005 9:22:00 AM
Screwed TCP/IP routing. by Karma - 11/26/2002 3:12:00 AM
Bridging LAN & WLAN by Marc - 12/18/2002 5:13:00 PM
Re: Bridging LAN & WLAN by deviant - 2/1/2003 8:12:00 AM
Re: Bridging LAN & WLAN by Little Boy - 9/13/2003 5:28:00 AM
Re: Bridging LAN & WLAN *SOLUTION* by Mikey - 11/7/2003 7:40:00 AM

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Windows XP network bridge tutorial (media bridge)

Re: Bridging LAN & WLAN *SOLUTION* by Bastel - 12/12/2003 4:39:00 AM

Re: Bridging LAN & WLAN *SOLUTION* by Djmarkus - 6/18/2004 3:27:00 AM
Re: Bridging LAN & WLAN *SOLUTION* by Chris - 7/1/2004 3:15:00 PM
Re: Bridging LAN & WLAN *SOLUTION* THANK YOU thank You Glorious
Thank You by Coenraad - 10/12/2004 1:10:00 AM
cant see other computer by pha - 2/7/2003 4:57:00 AM
Re: cant see other computer by mexredknee - 3/5/2003 4:16:00 AM
Re: cant see other computer by rick - 9/1/2003 5:07:00 PM
WinXPpro bridge to win98ME by AliTeK - 3/17/2003 4:00:00 AM
Re: WinXPpro bridge to win98ME by sardjardi - 11/25/2004 5:21:00 PM
Internet connection sharing? by RomeoJava - 3/28/2003 6:28:00 AM
help by LAURA - 4/15/2003 12:42:00 PM
problem in using two wireless ethernet simultaneously by Ganesh - 5/2/2003 8:02:00 PM
Re: problem in using two wireless ethernet simultaneously by Peter - 2/22/2005 9:30:00 AM
I think I need help... by loipenluder - 5/4/2003 12:23:00 PM
Networking via UTP by Dylon - 5/7/2003 7:36:00 PM
Help with internet sharing. by sha - 5/29/2003 5:36:00 AM
Bridging 2 networks with different IP ranges by Colin McCarthy - 7/17/2003 7:56:00 AM
Re: Bridging 2 networks with different IP ranges by cyphus - 9/23/2004 9:56:00 AM
Win 2003 Bridged Network by Smit Shah - 8/20/2003 11:47:00 PM
Bridge for Firewire? by MLim - 9/3/2003 2:11:00 PM
network connection with different ip by daneshvar - 9/7/2003 7:58:00 AM
loosing wlan contact when bridging by Fredrik - 10/15/2003 4:11:00 PM
Re: loosing wlan contact when bridging by Bryn - 5/25/2004 7:31:00 PM
Re: loosing wlan contact when bridging by Dave Ashcroft - 6/19/2004 8:55:00 AM
Re: loosing wlan contact when bridging by Ernesto Figueroa - 3/14/2005 10:38:00 AM
Re: loosing wlan contact when bridging by Tommy - 4/15/2005 7:29:00 PM
Re: loosing wlan contact when bridging by brian - 1/28/2006 10:18:00 PM
How to automaticly do bridging by joel - 10/21/2003 2:31:00 PM
internet Connection on WLAN and LAN Simulatiously !! by Tim - 11/30/2003 2:46:00 PM
Re: internet Connection on WLAN and LAN Simulatiously !! by Pete - 9/22/2004 3:54:00 PM
No connection with 98 (1st ed). Any idea? by TaZuKo - 12/17/2003 4:33:00 PM
Re: No connection with 98 (1st ed). Any idea? by Mogo - 11/17/2005 2:27:00 PM
Xp bridge by Armando Araiza - 12/20/2003 2:39:00 PM
XP Bridge problems by Ruben - 12/21/2003 12:51:00 AM
ps2 bridge? by jim - 12/28/2003 1:43:00 PM
Re: ps2 bridge? by Andy - 4/27/2004 10:46:00 PM
Re: ps2 bridge? by chase - 8/2/2004 11:48:00 AM
Re: ps2 bridge? by scott - 10/9/2004 1:08:00 PM
Re: ps2 bridge? by Andy J - 5/8/2005 5:18:00 PM
Re: ps2 bridge? by Beaker - 3/20/2006 7:48:00 PM
Re: ps2 bridge? by Someone - 8/11/2006 12:23:00 PM
XP Soft Bbridge by ltheONEl - 12/29/2003 3:46:00 PM

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Windows XP network bridge tutorial (media bridge)

Thank You by Andy - 5/10/2004

windows XP firewall configuration by Shaun - 5/10/2004 12:36:00 PM
router-server-switch-network with 3pcs (1wont work) by Thomas - 6/4/2004 5:37:00 AM
Please Help ASAP! by Scott Shelton - 6/24/2004 3:14:00 PM
Internet sharing by JE2004 - 9/3/2004 3:55:00 PM
Loosing my mind over Network Bridge by Henrik - 9/4/2004 6:45:00 AM
Re: Loosing my mind over Network Bridge by Julian - 11/1/2004 8:25:00 AM
Friend's Wireless by Dave - 10/5/2004 11:56:00 PM
help by Adam - 10/29/2004 8:43:00 PM
My wireless and LAN mess by Dave z - 12/25/2004 11:26:00 PM
Re: My wireless and LAN mess by Vijay - 2/1/2005 3:16:00 PM
Cable+oldCisco340+2NICs? by TarHeelGG - 2/2/2005 8:29:00 PM
Cable+oldCisco340+2NICs? by TarHeelGG - 2/2/2005 8:34:00 PM
Cant ping bridge?? by frustrated - 2/5/2005 11:26:00 PM
Bridging through a wireless? by Noltz - 2/7/2005 8:48:00 PM
Re: Bridging through a wireless? by Sam Wakeil - 2/15/2005 12:05:00 PM
Having difficulty ... by Keith - 2/24/2005 11:29:00 AM
Re: Having difficulty ... by JayDubbya - 5/28/2005 1:01:00 AM
Bridge loose Internet connection. by m1001101 - 3/12/2005 7:07:00 AM
Bridging with Active directory by mahipal - 3/16/2005 5:11:00 PM
Win2003 Server and two networks by Pete - 5/18/2005 4:51:00 AM
Re: Win2003 Server and two networks by JayDubbya - 5/28/2005 1:04:00 AM
Re: Win2003 Server and two networks by ah - 8/9/2005 9:33:00 PM
Connect two networks with a bridge by Larsa - 7/11/2005 4:27:00 AM
Re: Connect two networks with a bridge by tobben - 8/18/2005 6:59:00 PM
Please help me by seenu - 8/28/2005 1:01:00 AM
Wireless/Wired bridge confusion by Casey - 8/30/2005 4:58:00 PM
Re: Wireless/Wired bridge confusion by rsa - 10/4/2005 1:00:00 AM
Re: Wireless/Wired bridge confusion by lol - 10/13/2005 10:21:00 AM
DHCP problem by zuan - 10/15/2005 3:00:00 AM
Wireless Bridging by David Thorn - 11/6/2005 5:05:00 AM
Only One Connection by Andy - 11/10/2005 6:42:00 PM
Thanks a million by Sal C - 11/18/2005 9:43:00 PM
Network bridging with the ps2 by Bodhi - 12/14/2005 3:39:00 PM
bridging with PC to PC and Wireless by Rusdi - 12/14/2005 11:51:00 PM
bridging with xp by joan - 1/19/2006 8:24:00 AM
THE answer to bridging LAN + WLAN by Anonymous - 2/10/2006 4:45:00 AM
XP Bridge to CDMA wireless card by Jesse - 3/7/2006 12:32:00 AM
Networking xp home with server 2003 by Lance - 8/7/2006 1:57:00 PM
Party-Line Networking by HaX80r - 10/5/2006 10:06:00 PM
Thank you! by BadISPUser - 11/4/2006 8:23:00 AM

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 Windows XP network bridge tutorial (media bridge)

Posted by BadISPUser
11/4/2006 8:23:00 AM.
Thank you!
Such a simple feature, but I never would have noticed it.
This article saved the day for me!
reply

Bridging WiFi and Ethernet by teh_pwnerer - 12/31/2006 11:35:00 AM

Posted by teh_pwnerer
12/31/2006 11:35:00 AM.
Bridging WiFi and Ethernet
Is it possible for the WiFi to provide the internet connection
to the Ethernet? I have an XBOX 360 and it requires
ethernet to access the web, but when i try the bridge all the
ip's work and the internet stops on the host PC with the
bridge, and the guest xbox...

So i was wondering if it only worked WiFi]Ethernet

and not Ethernet]WiFi

thanks.
reply

need help bridging 2 networks without internet sharing by bladerunner - 2/28/2007 11:44:00
AM
Posted by bladerunner
2/28/2007 11:44:00 AM.
need help bridging 2 networks without internet sharing
I have 2 wireless network routers in my home. One
computer has xp, d-link 524 wireless broadband router so I
can send movies to 2 xboxes. The other has xp, linksys
wireless broadband router and one xbox.(1st is mine, the
second is my son-in-law's) We are trying to bridge the two
so we can share movies, music, and system link games. We
can't get broadband where I live so it's not an option yet. I
have a spare linksys adapter #wga54g we are trying to use
as an access point to bridge the two so we can see each
others networks. Is there a way to do this without buying
and pulling 100 ft of cable? I have installed an extra lan
card on my pc and plugged the wireless adapter in, but I
can't seem to get them both to work correctly at the same
time.
reply

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