connecting 2 laptops w/o internet

it has been a long time since i have done this (i was probably 15 or so at the time playing warcraft 2...so really loooong time). how would i go about connecting 2 laptops to play multiplayer without internet

looking to connect a sager 8662 with an hp pavillion (dont remember which type).

 

Ad hoc network. Both need wifi cards, then one emits a signal the other connects to it. You have xp or vista?

 

Ethernet crossover cable

 

You can also use 2 Linksys WGA600N adapters (they plug into your Ethernet port but communicate via Wireless to your Router) which are specifically designed for head-head gaming between systems or console units like a PS3.

 

both laptops will be running vista...sorry should have added that.

thank you for the responses so far...if i could get the steps it would take to connect them with the wifi that would be great.

 

i would just plug one into the other?

 

Yep. To my knowledge, the newer network cards do not need a crossover cable, as it can be done by the device. I have had luck with standard patch cables. You will need to jump on Google to get the exact instructions as to pinging and connecting to the other laptop. Ad-hoc is great but will not be as speedy as Cat 5/6. GL

 

Yep, one end to the other, and then setup a network. Simple cheap and efficient.

 

here is some more help:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/76174f4a-7522-425a-9424-324dd299265e1033.mspx

wireless without router:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/0e158c21-4c70-4235-879d-0c9133218e561033.mspx

 

Really? Thanks for the info! Back in the in the days I used to connect my notebook to my friend's using cross over ethernet cable to play Counter Strike.

 

if you have a network already just setup the network as needed, otherwise I would get a cross over cable, they are just a few $$$ at walmart or you can make your own.

 

thanks for the info....very good stuff

 

It used to be the case that you needed a special ethernet cross-over cable in order to connect two computers directly to each other. However, that situation was cumbersome and created a lot of headaches; further, accidentally connecting a computer to a network using a mislabeled cross-over cable would cause further headaches.

Each of the issues involved was eventually solved, ending with the development of Auto MDIX by HP. When Auto MDIX is implemented in a device, it's irrelevant whether the cable is straight or cross-over, or whether the other end is connected to a network or another computer - the Auto MDIX implementation will automatically configure the network adapter so that it works correctly with whatever cable is attached.

There are, of course, still some devices that do not have Auto MDIX implemented, but those devices are few and getting fewer. It is most likely the case that your ethernet adapter has Auto MDIX implemented, in which case you don't need a special cross-over cable; however, if it's not working correctly, you need to make sure that your adapter's speed and duplex settings are set to "auto."