Can I connect a PC and a laptop using a Ethernet cable and play LAN games and file sharing??

Question

If yes, how can I set it up??? I need as detailed as possible answer.

Both the PC and the laptop is Windows XP.

Answer 1

For two computers the easiest is a crossover cable. If in the future you want to add a third or share an Internet connection then I would go ahead and spring for a hub, switch or gateway that has a built in switch and connect them using a standard "straight through" Ethernet cable.

You could also do the same using wireless depending on distance, obstacles in the house and devices using the same frequency as the wireless ...like cordless phones microwaves etc, it will usually still work but the transfer rates might drop down to a slower speed. If you were transferring huge amounts of data the performance would be much less with the wireless even though the advertised speeds look close. For most people...sharing an Internet connection or transferring normal files you would not notice the performance difference of wireless.

Answer 2

TC is right, but after you get the crossover cable, (do a google search) you will need to go to my network places and run through the wizard that says "setup a home or small office network" on the upper left hand side of the window. make sure file and printer sharing is turned on, (it is by default in the wizard)

Answer 3

As the others have said, you will need a crossover cable. If you want to play on a LAN with multiple users, you'll need a hub or switch.

Check out my source of information for more info.

Answer 4

Hi, This is very simple thing. You need a small Network Switch, Network twisted cable. First you need setup your network ip to same group. go-to Control panel, network, double click and select tcp/ip then right click on tcp/ip and select properties. then select obtain ip Automatically and select obtain DNS server address automatically.after that press ok and close the window. Then you go to desk top and right click on my computer. Select properties. then under the system change setting workgroup as a WORKGROUP on both computers. this should be same on both computers. after that apply and pressing ok close this window. now power on your network switch and connect cables to the computer and network switch. then you restart both the computers and search for the network. This process will be easy for Win7 and I just explain simile to both options. I think now you should be able to connect all computers together. Also keep your mind you can play games over the network, only network enable games only. you can play and share the games only network SUPPORT games only. I thing this information may support for you to resolved your problem.

Answer 5

You can if you use a crossover cable. Because your not going through a switch, you need a different type of cable. Once you get a crossover cable, you can go to "my network places" and see the other computer.