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Can I have one computer on my Windows home network excluded from the Internet?

Started by buster, July 24, 2025, 02:16:20 PM

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buster

There should be a fairly easy solution to this with a few mouse clicks, but I haven't found it yet.

My desktop Win10 computer that is connected to the TV is used by us to run movies or whatever that I've acquired. These movies are stored on a Win11 computer in a different room. So this old but good computer is perfect for the job it does, but cannot be upgraaded to Win 11.

I can remove email programs and browsers without serious inconvenience. Most threats would come I would think through these two pieces of software. So here are the two questions.

1. Can I easily prevent my TV computer from interacting with the Internet?

2. Would this make using a Win 10 computer connected only to the home network relatively safe to continue using?

I know we have a number of readers who understand networking far better than I do. And using Linux in this situation, connecting to a Windows machine, has always, for me, been an extremely unpleasant task.
Father Time remains undefeated.

ssfc72

My thinking is that you should be able to block the Win10 computer from the internet, by changing a setting in your router?

I don't have any experience doing that but I could try doing a google search about how to do it. There are probably lots of Youtube videos about doing that.

I found this Youtube Link         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvQbhQQI_cE
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buster

Thanks Bill. I found a method too on YouTube, as you suggested, that gives the computer a fixed IP address and then apparently you can lock this particular computer via the modem/router from Internet access.

I have a while to do this. Haven't had any replies on whether this makes the computer safe from most things. Something could come from the home network I suppose.

I only need this until the ancient desktop dies.But at the moment it does its job perfectly.

Triple Core Phenoms were initially released in 2008, but in my case it works with a fair video card. It handles movies, browsing the Internet, and Win 10 pretty well. Cabled into home network. SSD. Right beside the TV and used with portable keyboard and mouse.
Father Time remains undefeated.