How to set up a home network between 2 computers using cable?

Question

How to set up a home network between 2 computers using cable... these pcs are linked to a wireless router individually...
but need to share files between 2 pcs ....

Answer 1

If they're on the same wireless router, then they're on the same network. You can share files with one another across this network with no additional connections needed.

Create a new folder.
Right click on the folder and Go to properties.
Click on the sharing tab.
Click on the choice that says - I understand, just enable #$(%*& file sharing.

You should then be able to share that folder.

Right Click on My Computer
Go to Properties.
Click on Computer Name

This tells you the name of your computer on the network.

From the OTHER computer

Start - Run

\\ (two backslashes - above the enter key)
and the your other computers name

\\computername

Hit enter

You should be able to see the computer and the share.

If you're prompted for a password, you need to enable the guest account on both PCs - by right clicking My computer - going to manage - going to users - right clicking on guest, and enabling it. I would also set a password (the same) on each of the guest accounts.

Do the start - run - \\computername again.
Then enter your password - checking the save option.

You've just shared a folder.

Being behind a firewall/router that is connecting you to the internet, enabling and passwording the guest account is no more of a security risk than enabling file sharing is.

Best of luck

Answer 2

This is a pretty big job. What you need to get going is the Windows networking wizard. Set it up using the same settings on both PCs and hopefully everything will go smoothly after that.
Are you using the same version or similar versions of windows on both PCs? Because Windows networking has been pretty much the same since Windows 2000, but if you have any windows 9X machines it will be a more manual set up.

Answer 3

You have to turn on file sharing on each computer. Create a folder on each. Then right-click on the folder and go to sharing and security. You have to set the sharing options here. There's an option to click here to share this folder. Click that and hit ok. You should be able to transfer files between the two PCs that way.

Answer 4

just a lan cable and 1 extra lancard. (providing that the 2 pcs have their own LAN card) 2 LAN Card for 1 pc because 1 is for the ISP or the modem for internet and 1 is for connecting to the other pc so that they can communicate

Answer 5

if two computers are close to each other, use crosswire cable this cable is available even in wal-mart shop..it is the cheapest way to connect two computers. You can use the above instructions in-order to share files between two computer.

Answer 6

You don't have to creat a folder to enable file and printer sharing between your two compuers. What Arron is saying is so insecure and will leave you wide open for others hacking into your network and using your Internet conneciton! Don't do that!

Don't use a crossover cable because this will slow down your network connection. Both will have to share the conection and only one computer can send or recieve at a time. It is not bidirectional as connecting through the Router is.

Now, are you using security on your Rouer? If not, you should be, as otherwise anyone can access and use your Internet service and receive access to your entire network.

Setting up security in your Router is not difficult, I will explain in a moment, but first there is a couple of things you need to know as well.

First, both computers must be on the same Workgroup, the Workgroup must have the exact same name on both computer, or every computer (node) you wish to hook up to your network.

The easiest method of setting up a home Wireless Network, is to run the Wireless Network Wizard if you are using Windows XP, or go into your Network and Sharing Center and configure things there if you are using Windows Vista.

Both methods are rather simple, but it is imperative you have identical Workgroup Name for each computer. The name of your Workgroup is not the same as the name of your computers, in which each computer needs to have a different one. This identifies your computers across the network, as well as the IP Address does. Instead of using the IP Address when accessing shares on your network, you use the computer name and then append the path to the share when browsing to a connected computer, or you can open your Network resourses via "My Network Places" in Windows XP, and Network in Windows Vista.

To examine and set a Workgroup Name, open Control Panel, then double click System. Go to the Computer Name tab and (in WinXP) you will see both the computer name, which is at the top, and towards the middle is the Workgroup Name. Don't keep it the default name, as everyone knows that name and it is simple to then hook up to it and hack in. So, changing the Workgroup Name is an important step in safeguarding your internal home network. You just click the Change button and then type in the name you wish.

In Windows XP you run the Wireless Network Wizard and just fill in the information at each dialog box. You can do the first computer, then at the end you can put the configuration information onto a thumb drive and use that to configure other network items. However, in order to use this method each items must have the capability of USB. If not, use it for the items which do and then manually configure the others.

You only have two computers, so manual is fine. Just remember to type in the proper Workgroup Name when that page comes or you will have the default applied.

Before you run the Wireless Setup Wizard, or use the Network and Sharing Center in Windows Vista, first configure you Routers security.

Go into the Routers browser configuration pages by typing the IP Adress of our Router. You will find this in your setup package directions. You will most likely have a choice between using WEP, WPA, or WPA2, each is more secure than the next, so WPA2 is more secure than WPA, (but if you do not have WPA2, WPA is fine) and WPA is far stronger and safer than WEP.

However, all of your devices and some software, such as your Firewall, must be compatable with WPA. Currently, many more items are compatible with WPA than a year ago. I had to forgo my Panda Firewall to use WPA a few months until Panda fixed the compatibility issue with their security suite.

Anyway, just ensure each object is compatable with WPA. All items are compatable with WEP, so if for any reason you are unable to acertain that your Firewall, systems and other nodes are compatible, go ahead and use WEP, as any security is better than none.

Once you have made a decision on which encryption format you will use, you can go into the Routers browser configuration pages and set the encryption. It is simple to do.

Now, your routers configuration pages has either a blank adminstrative password, or used Admin, and you need to change this to secure your Router from hacking.

You will also need to change the SSID of your network. Usually the SSID is the name of your Router, such as Linksys, with a serial number appended at the end. However, hackers are well aware of this and take advantage. So, just give your network a descriptive SSID that is meaningful to you.

WPA uses Shared Key technology, which means you can enter a very descriptive name as your password instead of just using a series of meanglyness numbers and letters. However, ensure it is long, and contains numbers and upper and lower case letters. This ensures it will be difficult to hack.

So, once in your Routers configuration pages, do these things:

1. Change your Admin password, and place it is a safe place, as if you forget it you will be locked out of your Routers configuration pages.

Usually, you can click on a link next to an item for "More information". Mine says, "What's this", or "More information". A window appears which explains the feature and how to configure it.

2. Change your SSID to something meaningful to you. Such as the name of your favorite pet as a child, your favorite food, or your favorite great grand parent, anything you can easily remember but an hacker would have difficulty figuring out. Don't bother hiding your SSID. It is simple for hackers to discover it and it just makes it more difficult for you to work with it. It does not increase security regardless of what others would like to say.

3. Turn on any other features not on by default that you think you would need. Just click on each option and read the information about it. If the Firewall is not activated, be sure to active it.

4. Finally, go into your security page and set up your encryption and password. It is simple. If you use WPA, select PSK-Pre-Shared Key, as your method, then type in your password, make it long, memorable, and use upper, lower case letters and numbers.

Once you have configured this security, both of your computers will no longer have access to the Internet untill you enter the password on each of them.

On Windows XP run the Wireless Network Wizard and on Windows Vista select "Set up a Connection or Network Wizard.

On Routers and systems which support the Windows Connect Now technology, this entire procedure is very simple. In Windows Vista you do it all from the Network and Sharing Center. You can even configure your Wireless Router from within the Vista Network and Sharing Center. It is very simple.

While running either Wizard you will put in your encryption password, or will do so afterwards, when you go into your Available Wireless Networks, click on your SSID, then enter the password twice then click Connect.

In the Available Wireless Networks page you will see your neighbors Networks too. On these Networks you will either see a lock icon or not. The lock icon represents a security enabled network, with encryption on and in order to connect the user must supply the password. Without this security password anyone could click on your network and gain access. There are a couple of steps involved which I iwll not decribe here, but it is very easy. Any "hidden" SSID are easily made viewable with the correct tools which are easily found on the Internet.

You know what, instead of my trying to give you step by step instuction here in Yahoo! Answers, go get this book, if you have Windows Vista:

Windows Vista Inside Out, by Ed Bott, Carl Sienchert and Craig Stinson. It has every step you need to configure your network for Windows Vista.

If you do not have Windows Vista, get this book:

Absolute Begginer's Guide to Home Networking, by Mark Edward Soper.

For the Inside Out book refer to chapter 12-Setting up a small network. It has everything you need to know and gives step by step instuctions for doing it.

For the Absolute Begginner's book you get simular steps and are also given more information on how to install other items to your network.

Both books are great, but the Inside Out book as a wealth of other information regarding running Windows Vista. There is a simular book for Windows XP, but for hooking up the network with Windows XP I reccomend the Beginner's book.

I also reccomend both Inside Out books for anyone who wants more information and instuctions for using Windows, either XP or Vista. The Windows XP Insde Out book is much larger than the Vista Inside Out book, and both can be used in conjunction with each other. A great deal of information on Windows XP and Windows Vista is still very simular, and so the Windows XP book can provide a more indepth look at certain issues that the Windows Vista book is more breif in explaining. I can't reccomend these books any higher, they are a must for anyone who wishes to really use their OS to the best of its ability. These books offer great tips, tricks, information and troubleshooting steps and points to more information and resources elsewhere. They are must have books in my opion. They both also provide a CD which has the entire book on ebook and much more extras too.

Good luck and have a great day!