Ad-hoc network help

I just got to college and I brought both a desktop and a cheap laptop. There's no wireless internet in the dorms, so I'm trying to set up an ad-hoc wireless network between my desktop (XP pro) and my laptop (Vista) so that I can use wireless on the laptop at least in my room. Whenever I create an ad-hoc network on one, though, it's not visible on the other (same for both). Can anyone suggest anything?
Also, I tried the wizard flash drive thing in XP.

 

In order that Vista see XP, you must install the LLTD in the XP computer.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...1d-ee46-481e-ba11-37f485fa34ea&displaylang=en

 

It still doesn't seem to work...
thanks for your help, though

 

Please tell me what wireless adapters are you using in both computers.

 

the laptop has whatever the standard receiver for a Dell Inspiron 1525 would be, and the PC has a Linksys WMP11 version 2.7

 

Umm..I don't think u will be able to have a "wireless ad-hoc" network; but using an ethernet cable between computers will work. I could be wrong but I don't think u could make it into a " wireless ad-hoc" network.

 

Wireless Ad-hoc w/ internet sharing is possible

XP and Vista doesnt seem to be playing along nicely for you

 

So in this situation, it's possible to get "wireless" with just an ethernet cable coming out the wall?

With no router?

Edit: I guess it is possible. LINK

 

What he is doing is setting up ICS with the wireless and bridging over to the Wired connection (ISP/university). He may need to install the LLTD on the XP so Vista can see it.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=4F01A31D-EE46-481E-BA11-37F485FA34EA&displaylang=en

 

Yes, I know how to do a wireless ad-hoc network and ICS - I've installed LLTD (the first poster linked to it) and followed all the directions for setting up a network, just neither of my computers are capable of seeing the other's network.

 

Just get a cheap router and avoid all the headache of leaving a system on ect.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156038

Only 30$, free 3 day shipping, reliable, can decently cover over 100ft, does wireless G, and all the major securities like WEP (which sux) and WPA. Just set it up to attain IP by DHCP instead of an actual connection and you're good to go.

 

we're technically not allowed to have wireless routers, although I don't know what the repercussions would be. I feel like this is something that should work fairly easily, but for some reason it won't.

 

Yea I know...I just thought I'd share the link for anyone else who might be viewing this thread and didn't know this was possible to do "wirelessly" like myself.

Okay...can u see the .Vista machine from the XP desktop. Do a Start-->Run and type ncpa.cpl and hit enter. On the left pane click "My Network Places" and then "View Workgroup Computers". You should see the .Vista machine. If not the problem is not necessarily the ICS.<--- Edit: thinking on this...just realized this wouldn't work..seeing that both computers aren't connected to the network at the same time!

Make sure the computers are in the same WORKGROUP

Ensure that network discovery and file sharing on the .Vista laptop is ON.

Edit: And I think you should connect the desktop as the host machine and have the .Vista laptop as the client.

 

Technically not allowed to have wireless routers at all? Or just technically not allowed to have wireless routers connected in to the network?

 

I've tried to set up ad-hoc networks on both computers, and the other computer is never able to see the network. I'm not sure if that's related to workgroups or not, but I guess I'll check that.

 

Technically I'm not supposed to have a wireless router either. But I have a masked SSID running WPA2 encryption with MAC filtering. 3 weeks in and no one's complained. My Resident Life Associate said the policy came from too many students running unsecured wireless networks that allowed wardrivers in. Well we pretty much ruled that out of happening .

 

See...You're smart...now if everyone had done that..it wouldn't have been an issue in the first place!

 

You can't set up ad-hoc on your laptop and expect it to go out on the internet. It doesn't work that way. Someone may advise you to set up ICS, but it will work if you have hub or switch bcause ICS is basically perform NAT on your internet connection.

To answer your question about the network, I do believ that your school doesn't allow NAT inside the network. It is a common practice on every network becuase your mini NAT can ruin the network as a whole.

 

I don't really follow what your saying. My understanding (atleast from Microsoft's descriptions) is that that's what you can do with an ad-hoc network.

 

What are you Ad-hoc settings on your wireless adapter?

 

You can connect ad-hoc between the computer, which means from node to node. For example, if you want to share file between your laptop and your friend laptop, you use ad-hoc with the same SSID to access resurce such as file sharing.

You can use ad-hoc for internet connection too if you have the machine that connects to the internet configures as ICS. ICS will perform NAT for you and you can connect your laptop to ICS computer using ad-hoc. The problem is your school network may prevent you from using NAT. Now, can you see my point?

 

Well, I'll deal with that if I ever get there. For now, I'm still unable to even connect the computers.

As for settings, I'm not sure what they are as I took down the network when it didn't work. I made sure that all the settings I could find were the same on each computer, though.

And they're in the same workgroup.

 

Here is the pic of Ad-hoc settings, also the ICS and TCP/IP settings.

 

To the OP, and everyone else...as I was saying in my first post. You will not be able to set up a "wireless" ad-hoc network. Not unless the desktop has a wireless card installed. LINK again!

If u don't want to get an internal or external wireless card for the desktop, the only other option is to get an ethernet cable to connect the two computers to each other.

 

Of course, the OP doesn't have a wireless card in the desktop?

 

I don't think so...if so I don't see what the problem would be..at least if he followed that link.

 

Very good link BTW.

 

I found the link long before making this thread. When asked, I also posted the kind of wireless card I had in the laptop and the kind in the DESKTOP. I'm not a moron. Lack of a wireless card is clearly not the issue.

 

Lol, ok, did you see post 23?

 

Ooops...my bad..I missed ur post# 5.

 

Have you read this?

http://www.digitgeek.com/how-to-connect-two-computers-using-a-direct-wi-fi-ad-hoc-connection/

or this?

http://www.conniq.com/WinXPNetworking_wifi_direct_connection.htm

Although both are for XP systems, you might be able to use them as guides to help get things working. Something else regarding Vista: do you have public or private selected for the network setting?