Network 2 laptops via ethernet- help??

Twizzel

Twizzel

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I'm trying to network my 2 laptops via an ethernet crossover cable but no network is appearing when I go on network and sharing centre. Can anyone talk me though how to do it as I'm tearing my hair out! 1 laptop is on Win7 and the other on Vista. They both appear to be on the same workgroup but just aren't talking to eachother. I want to share photos on them- one is my main computer on the stand and the other is a viewing station.

Thanks in advance
 
Connect them both to your router. It will be much, much easier....
 
How do you connect to the internet?
 
Sorry if this is a stupid question but have you enabled sharing on the folder with the photos in?
 
Yes I can select to share with homegroup or specific people, but how do I add the other laptop to the homegroup/specify it? It doesn't seem to be discoverable despite being connected via ethernet crossover.
 
Just buy a router. You can pick up a second hand DG834G or similar for under £20 delivered on eBay.

PLug both machines in and you should be good to go.

(You'll still need to enable file sharing but the job should be a LOT easier)
 
Sorry but I don't see the point of spending money on a router. A crossover cable will do the same thing.
I can't help you with your network unfortunately, it's been a very long time since I used windows, so without having it in front of me, I cant tell you where to go.

You definitely don't need a router though.
 
It may be possible to do without a router of some description, but it is a lot easier with a cheap router as you can then do it wirelessly at events too...

Homegroup requires everyone to be running Win 7. You won't share stuff via homegroups. You should be able to share via folder sharing. Really, a cheap old router will be the easiest to setup and maintain.
 
Does a router have to be connected to the internet though? How do I share via folder sharing?

What I don't understand is why when I connect the crossover cable nothing happens, it should come up as an unknown network but it's almost like the cable isn't there... there is no difference with or without it.
 
Twizzel said:
Does a router have to be connected to the internet though? How do I share via folder sharing?

What I don't understand is why when I connect the crossover cable nothing happens, it should come up as an unknown network but it's almost like the cable isn't there... there is no difference with or without it.
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Because the two machines won't know what network details each other is on. You either need to specify network details on both or use a cheap router that will give each machine the details. Doesn't need to be internet connected.
 
Twizzel said:
Does a router have to be connected to the internet though?
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No. It will need to be setup to giver out DHCP addresses, but they all normally come configured to just do that.

Twizzel said:
How do I share via folder sharing?
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Either use the shared folders on the PC (they are normally automatically shared - on windows 7 they are in C:\Users\Public) or share a particular folder by navigating to the folder, right click, properties, sharing...

Twizzel said:
What I don't understand is why when I connect the crossover cable nothing happens, it should come up as an unknown network but it's almost like the cable isn't there... there is no difference with or without it.
Click to expand...
Without the router in place, the computers don't get told their network addresses. Without their network addresses, they don't know how to talk to each other. Putting the router into the circuit allows them to get their addresses automatically.

You can configure it so you don't need the router, but that means going in and manually assigning addresses which can get you royally screwed up if you put the wrong digit in somewhere and don't know what all the settings mean.

Something like this would probably do you fine: http://www.ebuyer.com/343320-tp-link-150mbps-wireless-n-mini-pocket-ap-router-tl-wr702n

In fact, I may well get one of those myself!!
 
arad85 said:
get you royally screwed up if you put the wrong digit in somewhere and don't know what all the settings mean.
Click to expand...

OTOH, manually assigned addresses only require 2 minutes to set up and a network cable. You don't even need a crossover cable, just a straight Ethernet cable that costs a couple of quid, if the Ethernet port on at least one of the computers is auto-sensing,

It's cheap, robust, requires no extra power and should the cable fail, it's easy to replace.

Connect cables between the two computers.

Network properties, manually assign IP Address.

Computer 1

IP address 192.168.100.1
Subnet mask 255.255.255.0


Computer 2

IP address 192.168.100.2
Subnet mask 255.255.255.0

You don't need to set a default gateway as this miniLAN is going nowhere.

Connect to the IP address of the computer at the other end of the cable using your favourite protocol.

Once you're done, switch back to 'Obtain an IP address automatically' on both computers.

Instructions for setting manual IP address various flavours of Windoze here

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/19249/how-to-assign-a-static-ip-address-in-xp-vista-or-windows-7/
 
Musicman said:
OTOH, manually assigned addresses only require 2 minutes to set up and a network cable.

....
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This is all 100% true. However, if you plug the PC in elsewhere, you have to unset these things or scratch your head wondering why they don't work properly (if you get the net mask wrong but the IP address right for example, they computers won't see each other reliably). For the sake of £20, I don't think it's worth it personally.
 
One bonus of using Macs is that you can store any number of Network 'Locations' which keep sets of network settings together, so you can easily switch between your various manual and auto settings for each network you connect to.

I have one Location for a direct gigabit Ethernet connection between my Mac Pro desktop and my MacBook Pro laptop. A lot quicker than using the WiFi or the lowly old 100Mbit hub I have at home.

Makes a job like this as easy as pie :)
 
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Look at the dos cmd netsh , it can be used to config the network from the cmd prompt, then create a couple of bat files on each laptop, use one to set to manual, and one to set to dhcp, then use those to configure the laptop for each different scenario. When your using manual remember to access shares or the laptop by ip rather than name as you won't have any DNS.
Once setup will work first time every time and save carrying extra cables, router and power.
 
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Dogfish_magnet said:
Look at the dos cmd netsh , it can be used to config the network from the cmd prompt, then create a couple of bat files on each laptop, use one to set to manual, and one to set to dhcp, then use those to configure the laptop for each different scenario. When your using manual remember to access shares or the laptop by ip rather than name as you won't have any DNS.
Once setup will work first time every time and save carrying extra cables, router and power.
Click to expand...

If you're going to use the same ip you could specify the names in the hosts file.

But then that may not work back at home/office. Least a router will have built in dns if you wanted to use machine names in the share connections.

I guess you could use manual details on the same subnet but outside of the home network dhcp range then you wouldn't need to keep changing them.
 
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Dogfish_magnet said:
save carrying extra cables, router and power.
Click to expand...
The router I linked to can be powered off a USB port on one PC and would let you connect anything with wireless to the network (oh... can you send that to my mobile... for example).
 
Arghhh so can anyone actually tell me why when I plug the ethernet crossover cable in, neither computer recognises each other? It should come up as an unidentified network, in network and sharing centre but it doesn't. Any ideas? If I can crack why this is, I think both laptops will talk to eachother.
 
Twizzel said:
Arghhh so can anyone actually tell me why when I plug the ethernet crossover cable in, neither computer recognises each other?
Click to expand...

Assuming you haven't set things up statically... yes: Please see:

arad85 said:
Without the router in place, the computers don't get told their network addresses. Without their network addresses, they don't know how to talk to each other.
Click to expand...

If you have set things up statically (with IP addresses), what addresses have you used and what netmask & gateway have you setup?
 
Twizzel said:
Arghhh so can anyone actually tell me why when I plug the ethernet crossover cable in, neither computer recognises each other? It should come up as an unidentified network, in network and sharing centre but it doesn't. Any ideas? If I can crack why this is, I think both laptops will talk to eachother.
Click to expand...

I have done several times, they will both need manual details set.
 
If someone has somewhere online I have a PDF / word doc which I can send or upload which should help.....

Rachael, I have emailed you a copy.

Also if anyone wants to change / correct it feel free to do so.

Ste
 
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