Hey Daniel Thanks for the great advise on ic/ppp settings. I had my old win 98 machine that I do my maths work on and it had a modem, so i thought id give it a bash with your instructions in your emails. I had to consult a website http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/ics98, turns out that I had to install netBEUI and install ICS from the win 98 add new programs menu, but once that was done, my linux acer and my linux dell both had good connections. I had to remove the static IP address in my Vista machines network card settings, but once i had, it connected too. So thank you for all your help, and to the other members of WLUG who helped me out. Now I have to find an old PCMCIA network card for my old Dell 133 Laptop, or a serial network connection if there is such a thing Cheers all Glenn.