How do I connect 2 computers together by ethernet cable.?

Question

I have 1 laptop operating on Windows Vista and another computer on Windows XP. I want to be able to share the files. How can I connect them together on a network using ethernet cable?

Answer 1

A router will also work. Then set it up in your settings.

Answer 2

You can! You just need a crossed-over Ethernet cable - ask your local retailer about this. Set-up a fixed IP network (e.g. the Vista computer at 192.168.0.1 and the XP machine at 192.168.0.2, or vice-versa) and open, in Windows Explorer, \\Machine_IP\SharedDocs - where "Machine_IP" is the IP address of a machine. This is the Shared Docs folder, shared by default with the network. Also, if one of the machines has a modem (or a secondary network card attached to a cable modem), you can share the Internet connection between the computers! Note: see the Windows Help to find out how do you set up the fixed IP thing; I'm not good at teaching this :)

Answer 3

The first thing you need to do is set compatible IP addresses for them...

1. Open 'Network Connections';
2. Right-click on the 'Local Area Connection' icon;
3. Click on 'Properties...';
4. Double-click on the 'Internet Protocol TCP/IP' entry;
5. Tick 'Use the following IP address';
6. Enter the following values respectively...
IP address: 192.168.0.
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: *Used for connecting to other networks and the Internet
Prefered/Alternate DNS server: *Used to find out the IP for domain names i.e. www.google.co.uk
7. Click OK;
8. And again;
9. Do the same to the Vista PC, but use a different unique number above 1.

The next thing you need to do is physically connect the machines together...

For this you'll either need a Cat 5 'Crossover' cable or two Cat 5 patch cables and a 100Mbps Ethernet hub or switch (switches are faster)

Next, to communicate between them, you need to set up some file shares (shared folders accessible through network connections)...

If it hasn't already been done, open an Explorer window and click on 'Tools' in the menu bar and click on 'Folder Options...'.

Then click on the 'View' tab and scroll down to the bottom of the 'Advanced settings' list and uncheck 'Use simple file sharing'.

This will let you use the full range of NTFS security features :)

1. Create a folder on a drive or pick a folder you wish to share;
2. Right-click on it and select 'Sharing and Security...'
3. Select 'Share this folder';
4. Give it a nice name in 'Share name:'
5. Enter a comment (if you really want to);
6. Next, choose 'Permissions'
7. Remove 'Everyone';
8. Add your account;
9. Select 'Change from below';
10. Add 'Administrators';
11. Select 'Full Control'
12. Click OK;
13. And again;
14 Imagine it would be the same on the Vista machine, too.

Then, you need to add a 'File and Print Sharing' exception to your firewall (if any) - This depends on your firewall software if installed :)

HTH

Good luck :)

Answer 4

You will need a crossed ethernet cable, not a standard straight wired one in order to connect them back to back. With that crossed cable you will then need to assign a fixed static IP address (AKA: manually configured IP) they will also need to be in the same workgroup.

The easiest solution would be to use a router enabled with DHCP. Each PC would plug into the router using a standard straight through wired ethernet cable. The IP addressing would be sorted out by the router and all you should need to worry about then is just setting up the folder sharing on each PC.

Right click on the folder or drive you wish to share and select the sharing option. Tick the box to enable sharing, give it a share name and then apply the settings.

Fairly easy if your windows settings are pretty much default.

Answer 5

Yes you can, get an ethernet cable with both ends (male connections) and plug and play(Using a small Switch/Hub)..If you don't see each computer trying turning off the firewall and make sure you have right clicked on the folders you want to share and select 'share'

Answer 6

1. either 2 ethernet cables into a home hub or
2. one ethernet cable that has 'cross wiring', you can get one from pc store,
put the files you want to share into the shared file folder and off you go....good luck

Answer 7

If you want to connect them straight (without a HUB or SWITCH between them) you should buy/make a cross-link (aka crossover) cat-5/cat-6 Ethernet cable.
PC1<=cross-link cable=>PC2
Other way to use a hub with 2 Ethernet cables linking the machines and the hub.
PC1 <---> hub <---> PC2
10base-T/100base-TX/1000base-TX/T4 speed modes
see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet_crossover_cable
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet_hub

good luck!

Answer 8

If you just have two computers you want to connect and you don't want to use a hub, switch or router, you can build a crossover cable (google for diagrams)
its simple and does the trick.

Answer 9

Once you have put the cable in bothe pc's go to the connection wizard if you have them in two different rooms call one livingroom and the otherone bedroom or whatever rooms their in remember do the wizard on both systems after rebooting they should both see each other if they don't right click on your C drive and share it you will then see it on other comp.

Answer 10

you will have to use what is called a "crossover cable" or a LAN hub and set up a network. The cable is the easiest way.

Answer 11

connect them, and you can go to My Network Places and you should see the other computer. You could also purchase a router/switch and run both computers to the router and share your internet connection.