I’ve only found two ways to successfully use Mac OS X’s crippled (but built-in) internet sharing with client machines running Windows XP. The first is to set up an open network, but that is unacceptable. To set up a network that supports Windoze machines, here’s what you have to do:
- In Mac OS X, enable Internet Sharing to computers using Airport
- In AirPort Options, select 128-bit WEP encryption and enter a 13-character password
- In Windows, add a new wireless network
- Enter the SSID and select WEP encryption with Shared Network Authentication (not Open)
- Uncheck “The key is provided automatically” and enter the 13-character password
- In the Authentication tab, be sure that “Enable IEEE 802.1x authentication” is unchecked
Connect!