How To Connect Two Windows Computers On LAN Using An Ethernet Crossover Cable

3/11/12
How to Connect Two Windows Computers On LAN Using an Ethernet Crossover Cable
Make Tech Easier Uncomplicating the complicated, making life easier
By Soumen Halder | M arch 6, 2010 |
Do you have multiple computers at your home or workplace? It becomes extremely difficult to manage multiple computers and operating systems simultaneously. If you need to transfer files, folders, videos, music, documents from one computer to another frequently, you can use the following three options: Using a USB stick or an external hard drive. Using Internet and File sync services like Dropbox. Connecting both the computers in a home network. The first two options have certain disadvantages. Using a USB drive is way too slow and you can not move large files or directories among multiple computers easily. In that case, you have to use external hard drives which unfortunately are costlier. Using the Internet and file sync services like Dropbox seems like a good idea, but what if the internet connection fails? You cant afford to wait for all files to get uploaded and then download them to the other computer. The best option is connecting the computers in a home network. This procedure is fast, efficient, reliable and you need just an ethernet crossover cable to do the job.
Create a home network using an Ethernet cable

Things you will need: 1. A network card installed in both computers. 2. Supported and installed network drivers. 3. A crossover ethernet cable as shown below
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Following are the steps involved to configure both computers and connect them using a crossover ethernet cable: 1. Turn off both computers and connect one end of the ethernet cable to the network card slot of computer1. Then connect the other end of the ethernet cable to the network card slot of computer2. The network card slot is located at the back side of computer CPU and looks somewhat similar to the following screenshot:
image credit 2. After both the ends of the ethernet cable is connected, turn on both the computers one by one. It doesnt matter which one you start with. 3. Now you have to assign a unique Workgroup to each computer. The following step is applicable for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. If your operating system is Windows XP: From the Start menu, right click on M y Computer and select Properties.
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Click the Change button and assign this computer to a unique Workgroup. As for example: my desktop computer runs on Windows XP and I have assigned it to a Workgroup called Workgroup.
If your operating system is Windows Vista / Windows 7: From the Start menu, right click on Computer and select Properties. This will open the system properties Control Panel window as shown below
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Click Change settings and assign the same Workgroup which you assigned to the earlier computer.
Note: The computer name field can be given anything as your choice, but please keep in mind that both computers should be under the same Workgroup name or else this tutorial wont work at all. 4. Restart both the computers one by one. It doesnt matter which one you start first as Windows will automatically detect and apply the network settings. Now you are ready to share files and folders between the two computers, which are connected in a network. 5. On computer 1 which runs Windows XP, click Start menu and go to M y Network Places. You will see a new icon of your second computer in the M y Network Places folder. Any document which you share in computer 2, can be found on this folder in computer 1.
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6. On computer 2 which runs Windows Vista, click Network from the start menu and you will see a new icon of your first computer. Any file which is shared on computer 1, can be found from this folder in computer 2.
If you dont see the networked shared folders in both computers, you might get a prompt to turn on Network sharing. Click the security popup in Network and Sharing center and select Turn on Network Discovery and File sharing. Then select M ake the network a private network and restart both the computers again.
Now both of your computers are connected in a network and you can simply copy/paste files, folders and documents in those shared folders. Hence you can move the files or folders between your computers instantly. Have you set up a small home network using an ethernet crossover cable? Let us know your ideas in the comments section.
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Image credit: RegNatarajan Soumen is the founder/author for Ampercent, a tech blog that writes on computer tricks, free online tools & software guides. You can find him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. What is PubSubHubbub and How to Implement It In WordPress Random Post [M ac] Resize Images Automatically Using Automator Like 5 people liked this.
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Works perfectly.. Thanks a lot M ate...
09/20/2011 05:01 AM
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Nikhil Navle
i cant find Local Area Connection in adapter setting while connecting my two laptops using LAN cable. plz help
08/21/2011 09:47 AM Like
Benice9
doesnt work never has I now own 5 patch cables all useless
08/16/2011 01:58 PM Like
Ameetgdeshpande
I tried exactly the same...! comp1 : XP and Comp2 : Win 7 ,,,, Folder doesnt appear in M y Network Places and even it shows as Un Identified network.
07/04/2011 03:11 AM 6 Likes Like
Prince_sekyi2002
interesting, i try doing thise some time ago but it did not wark.please tell me after shearing fills will you need to set an ip address...
04/07/2011 10:34 AM 1 Like Like
Rushil
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Isn't working with me. I have a cross over cable and 2 comps running windows 7.. Did exactly as u told :-(
03/04/2011 10:29 PM Like
Damien Oh
Did you disable any firewall?
03/13/2011 06:58 AM in reply to Rushil Like
Mr Dragon7
it says require a password when i try to connect to the other system Help!
01/23/2011 10:15 PM 1 Like Like
Nmsuresh15189
turn off password protected sharing.....by clicking network and sharing option
02/04/2011 04:06 AM in reply to Mr Dragon7 Like
Andel
Thanks for nice explanation.Did all you say-computer 1 can copy/past shared folders and files, but computer 2 can only see both computers as part of workgroup (ping address as well...) no file sharing though - I got message "Access denied..." Both pc are xp home
01/04/2011 04:57 AM 1 Like Like
Soumen
@Andel: Could not understand your question completely, but make sure you have turned off password protected file sharing from network options. If that setting is on , you will have to enter the user account credentials of the target computer, when trying to access a shared file.
01/04/2011 05:20 AM in reply to Andel 1 Like Like
Chotuzwas
how to share internet btw two pc i hav laptop [windows 7] and desktop [windows xp]
07/27/2010 01:20 AM 14 Likes Like
aziz
what about connecting three or more computers to same network.....??
3/11/12
do i have to use hub or a router

07/16/2010 04:04 PM Like
Soumen
Yes, You have to use a Network hub or a Router to connect more than two computers in a Home network.
07/17/2010 02:43 AM in reply to aziz 1 Like Like
50 ft Ethernet Cable, 50 ft Ethernet Cable

I wanna find more info about this, anybody could?
04/27/2010 01:51 PM Like
Pratheesh
cooolllllllllllllll thanx very easy and simple explanation..........it works......
03/26/2010 11:20 AM Like
phoenixskywalker
Nice post. But yuo don't really need to switch off the computer just to plug in the ethernet cable and the changing of workgroups. well for me, all I do is to give each system ip addresses on the same range (eg 192.168.1.1 for Computer A and 192.168.1.2 for Computer B) give it a few secs without rebooting and there shared files and folders will appear om each others network places.
03/09/2010 05:53 AM 1 Like Like
Soumen
@Neha: Yes. If you want to share files across computers you have to keep them in the shared folders. If you want to copy a file from computer 1 to computer 2, just drop it into the shared folder of computer1.
03/07/2010 04:02 AM 1 Like Like
Neha Jain
Well Windows really makes life to difficult by too much abstraction.. I did the same thing on my linux machines quite a few days back and really life is fun, much more comprehensible and far less to be remembered. Tell me one thing, though to now share your things on both the computers you keep the files in your shared folder? Hey ppl have a look at my post on simply networking.. http://randomphilosophyideas.b...
03/06/2010 09:01 PM Like
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3/11/12

Make Tech Easier Uncomplicating the complicated, making life easier

Create a home network using an Ethernet cable

Comments for this page are closed.

Sort by newest first

do i have to use hub or a router

50 ft Ethernet Cable, 50 ft Ethernet Cable

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Show more reactions Trackback URL http://maketecheasier.com/connect-two-windows-computer-on-lan/2010/03/06/trackback

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