How can i connect 2 computers together?

Question

what leads into what ports etc.....

Answer 1

The only proper way to set it up is to buy a router! Both pcs must have network interface ports or cards. You will need cat5 straight thru cables also.

Answer 2

The most common method is to connect the computers via Ethernet cables to a switch. You can also use a crossover cable to go directly from the network ports on each computer.

You also have to turn off the Windows firewall and add identical user accounts with dentical passwords on each system.

Answer 3

ensure both computers have network cards that take UTP Cat 5 e (but you need a crossover cable, go to a computer shop and ask for one).

Once you have the cable connect one end to one computer and the other to the other. Now fire the computers up. Hopefully they are both running windows XP. Give each computer a manual ip address in the same range, say 192.168.78.1 and 192.168.78.2, dont worry about any other entries. reboot and voila the computers can communicate. Good Luck.

Answer 4

after me spending the last 2 hours trying to perfect it... a bloody lot of effort is required...

You need 2 x ethernet ports (these are generally found on the motherboard, but you can buy network cards quite cheaply) and a cross over UTP cable...

this will cost about 20-30 quid... and from there run the windows networking small office or home wizard,

Answer 5

you can use a router to connect them both to a network, or you can use a crossover cable, that if of course if you have a network card connected to both computers. these are really simple to do really if you have ever connected a router. if you don't have a router but you do have the network cards in both computers you can either buy or make a crossover CAT 5 cable its really easy to do if you have the equipment, if not you can always buy one pretty much anywhere. Hope that helps

Answer 6

well, an archaic way is too connect them via a parallel cable, yes, connected to the parallel port, :P but you need special software that came with win 98, I don't know if it still comes with Xp. another way without buying a hub, switch or router, is to connect them via a crossover rj-45 cable (a network cable), connect them via your ethernet cards and assign an ip manually, make sure you have the same gateway and just increment one on the other pc's ip. eg:
pc1: 192.168.1.2
gateway 192.168.1.2
pc2 192.168.1.3
gateway 192.168.1.2

Let us know if it works.

Answer 7

Get a router (wired or wireless). But if you're unsure, go into a PC store (PC World in the UK or Staples in the UK) and ask for some advice from them. They are often happy to help. If they dont know, speak to an IT Consultant.

Answer 8

if you have a network you can swap files between each computer through the shared files folder or ive heard about a dual sides usb male end cable you just plug both computers in and you can swap files it costs about 30 dollars

Answer 9

easiest way is a crossover network cable, that you can buy at a computer accessory store, or at office depot.

Answer 10

Patch cable or a router. Either one.

John
A+ Certified