Networking between 2 laptops via ethernet cable

Hi there

I'm attempting to network 2 laptops via each one's ethernet port using a cross-over cable.

One is a Packard Bell Easynote and the other is an Acer Aspire 9302, the PB has a VIA Rhine II ethernet adpator and the Acer has an Nvidia one.

The PB is running Vista Ultimate, and the Acer is running Vista Home Premium.

But I have no idea of how to do this, please could someone direct me to some straightforward and complete instructions on how to link the 2 laptops together.

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305621

cheers ...

 

qhn, I'm not sure if that will work. According to that KB, the connection is serial, parallel, or infrared.

ravenmorpheus, I think you can simply connect the two pcs, and place them on a static IP address.

If the 2 computers are not in the same network then they will not be able to connect to each other. On machine 1, check to see if you are using DHCP. DHCP will not work in a cross over connection and you will need to set a static IP address. Change the IP address settings on either one (or both) machines to use similar IP numbering schemes:

IP Scheme: Make sure the first three octets are the same and the last octet is different

Example:

Computer 1: 192.168.1.100
Computer 2: 192.198.1.101

The subnet mask entry must also be identical on both machines.

Example: 255.255.255.0


The Domain or Workgroup must also match between the two machines.

A default gateway is not needed. Also make sure that if you have a firewall you either disable it or you allow exceptions accordingly.

You may have to reboot after doing this.

EDIT: Or you can try this... http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/da25b51f-8c3d-e025-74aa-1fa3f29f6cdd1033.mspx

 

Cool thanks for that.

 

Is there something similar for Wifi, just two notebooks together via wifi?

 

Yes you set up an adhoc network. When you set up a new connection there's an option for setting up an adhoc network, follow the wizard from then on.

 

Cool, can you also disable that when not using it with out deleting it, in Vista? Strange question, but in Vista I can't even re enable a disabled Wifi cause I just can't find it (new OS I haven't played enought with yet).

 

Yes all you have to do is turn your wireless off. It is only a network between computers that connect to the network and you can set a password.

Go to start menu, right click on the network option on the right side of the start menu, choose properties from the context menu that appears, this'll bring up the network and sharing center.

To manage a wireless connection click on the manage wireless networks option from the list on the left.

Or to set up an adhoc network select the set up a connection from the list on the left side of the window, and then choose the setup adhoc network option and follow the wizard. When the network isn't in use it is disabled because it needs more than one user to connect to it as it's a network between more than one wireless computer - peer to peer rather than going through a server as far as I know.