New iMAC - want to connect PC Laptop to Internet via iMAC Airport

Question

Hello - I have a new IMAC and the Internet connection to the IMAC is fine but I'm having trouble establishing a wireless network.
The store told me that I could use the Airport built into the MAC as a wireless router so that my PC laptop can access the Internet as well. My PC laptop is running Windows 2000 - and I have used it with a wireless router previously.
I can see the iMAC wireless network connection in my laptop's available network; however, I'm unable to connect to it.
Also, my IMAC system properties for Airport indicate that the wireless network is unavailable.
I've not selected any security settings - unless there's some default settings that I'm not aware of.
Advice or suggestions please???

Answer 1

The store told me that I could use the Airport built into the MAC as a wireless router so that my PC laptop can access the Internet as well.
That's correct. You will be using your Mac OS X's Internet Sharing feature to share your iMac's wired Internet connection wirelessly, using the iMac's AirPort, to your PC laptop. However, you will not be able to use wireless security, as the only option available (WEP), for Internet Sharing, will only work with other Macs.
To setup for Internet Sharing (Wired to Wireless):
Enable Software Firewall - iMac
System Preferences > Sharing > Firewall
- Click Stop to start the software firewall
Setup the Network
Cable Modem > (Ethernet cable) > [Ethernet port] iMac > (wireless) > PC laptop
Setup Port Order - iMac
System Preferences > Network > Show > Network Port Configurations
- Verify that "AirPort" and "Built-In Ethernet" are enabled.
- Verify that "Built-In Ethernet" is at the top of the list, followed by "AirPort".
- Click "Apply Now."
Configure the Internet Connection - iMac
System Preferences > Network > Show > Built-In Ethernet > TCP/IP
- Configure IPv4: Using DHCP
- Configure IPv6: Automatically or Off
Enable Internet Sharing - iMac
System Preferences > Sharing > Internet
- Share your connection from: Built-in Ethernet
- To computers using: AirPort (checked) (Note: Uncheck all other entries in the list.)
- AirPort Options
-- Network Name: <anything you want>
-- Channel: Automatic
-- Click OK
- Click Start