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How to connect two computers using a direct Wi-Fi (Ad Hoc) connection

Following our tutorial to connect two computers together via LAN using a crossover ethernet cable, we now consider the other way to connect two computers together to enable simple file and resource sharing. This method is applicable only if you have wireless adapters or Wi-Fi cards installed in both PCs.

To follow the wireless way, you just need a Wi-Fi card in each computer. This method is also known as Adhoc wireless networking. If you are using a laptop, chances are you already have Wi-Fi adapters built in.

We refer to the two computers as PC1 and PC2.

We configure both the computers as given below,

PC1:

1. Just right-click “My Computer” and click Properties.
2. Select the “Computer Name” tab and click the “Change” button.
3. Change the computer name to whatever you want, here we name it PC1. Change the workgroup to WG. (The workgroup name should be the same in both computers)
4. Click OK.

Go to Start > My Computer > My Network Places > Network Connections.
Right click on your wireless adapter and select Properties. Go to the Wireless Network Tab and click on the Advanced button. Select Computer to Computer (Ad hoc) networking option.
If you get a window with an SSID box, you can specify the network name in it, in our example we use XNET.

Now go to your Wireless Adapter >> Properties >> Wireless Networks and click Add Preferred Networks.

Enter the settings as follows:

Network name (SSID) : XNET
Network Authentication : Open
Data Encryption : Disabled
Also, do tick the - This is a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network, wireless access points are not used option if it isn’t already done.

To automatically connect to the network, select the Connection tab and tick on the Connect automatically when in range option.

Now, to configure the TCP/IP connection settings,
1. Goto “Control Panel” >> “Network connections”
2. Right-click on your Wireless Adapter and click “Properties”. In the “General” tab, select “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)”. Click the “Properties” button.
3. Set the Values
IP Address - 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask - 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway - 192.168.0.2
4. Click OK and you are done for PC1.

PC2:

1. Just right-click “My Computer” and click Properties.
2. Select the “Computer Name” tab and click the “Change” button.
3. Change the computer name to PC2. Change the workgroup to WG. (The workgroup name should be the same in both computers)
4. Click OK.

Go to Start > My Computer > My Network Places > Network Connections.
Right click on your wireless adapter and select Properties. Go to the Wireless Network Tab and click on the Advanced button. Select Computer to Computer (Ad hoc) networking option.
If you get a window with an SSID box, you can specify the network name in it, in our example we use XNET.

Now go to your Wireless Adapter >> Properties >> Wireless Networks and click Add Preferred Networks.

Enter the settings as follows:

Network name (SSID) : XNET
Network Authentication : Open
Data Encryption : Disabled
Also, do tick the - This is a computer-to-computer (ad hoc) network, wireless access points are not used option if it isn’t already done.

To automatically connect to the network, select the Connection tab and tick on the Connect automatically when in range option.

Now, to configure the TCP/IP connection settings,
1. Goto “Control Panel” >> “Network connections”
2. Right-click on your Wireless Adapter and click “Properties”. In the “General” tab, select “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)”. Click the “Properties” button.
3. Set the Values
IP Address - 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask - 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway - 192.168.0.1
4. Click OK and you are all set with PC2 as well.

You are almost done now.
Just open the Wireless network settings and click on View Available Wireless Networks. Select your network and you are connected.

Note :
1. The settings mentioned may vary in case of different adapters. But most of them should be similar to the above settings.
2. Your adapter should be compatible with WZC - Windows Zero Configuration.



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Written by Pathik Shah on August 16th, 2008 | Category: Tutorials |

14 responses so far, Leave a comment

  1. 1

    Hamdani

    August 17, 2008 at 2:29 am

    Good article. I was wondering weather there is a way to surf the internet using multiple connection? If there is, how can we set it up.

  2. 2

    Pathik Shah

    August 17, 2008 at 11:20 am

    To connect multiple computers and share a internet connection using Wi-Fi, you would need to use a Wi-Fi router connected to a broadband connection and have all devices connect to that. The procedure is slightly more complicated than the one we explained above. You can search for it on the internet. If time permits, we will be coming up with a tut on that shortly.

  3. 3

    Dean

    August 17, 2008 at 11:23 am

    Hey John, great article. I’m looking to connect my laptop computer, which is running Vista, to my desktop, which is running XP. Is there any way that’s possible? Or do the two participating computers have to have the same OS? There have also been radical interface changes in Vista that make it difficult for a Vista user like me to follow these types of tuts. :-)

  4. 4

    Pathik Shah

    August 17, 2008 at 11:28 am

    Nope, you can connect computers with different OSes too using this method. The procedure in Vista is very similar to the one in XP, only easier.

  5. 5

    K

    August 19, 2008 at 4:20 am

    Now try to explain how to do this on Lenovo crap, they have proprietary software that takes over these settings and make it a million times harder to modyfy anything, even worse than Vista. You know on a Mac you just click on the AirPort icon on the top right corner and click Create Network… ONE friggin’ step.

  6. 6

    VENJOE

    August 19, 2008 at 11:31 am

    Hi, i`ve been trying to mak this happen for a long time, thanks, but now i have a question, if i have internet in my desktop how do i get it to my laptop via this connection, is it possible, i appreciate your answers..

  7. 7

    john

    September 4, 2008 at 1:22 am

    hey i just wanted 2 ask u that once i’ve connected two computers using a Wi-Fi…will i still be able to connect to the internet properly on each computer???? i mean will it affect my internet in any way???
    bcoz im suspecting that this might change my internet settings!!!???
    niwae great tuorial…!!!!!

  8. 8

    jen

    September 25, 2008 at 8:43 am

    Hi I followed these steps and they are both now connected to this “XNET” network, however in “workgroup” they don’t see each other, I have enabled file sharing with certain folders but two computers don’t see each other. How do you fix this? Thanks.

  9. 9

    Allan Reich

    September 29, 2008 at 6:03 am

    I set up a wireless ad-hoc network as described by your article “How to connect two computers using a direct Wi-Fi (Ad Hoc) connection”. I had the 1st PC using Vista Home Edition and 2nd PC using Windows XP. finally got it working (lotsa troubles), then shut it all down and tried to restart but the Network was not powered up, even though both PCs wireless cards showed acive. I tried shutting down the wireless adapters, enabling and disabling to no avail. I tried creating another ad-hoc network but it still showed no power. Is there a technique in Vista for starting the network? I tried just connecting but still no power! A second question .. after creating a network named say ABC, is there a vehicle to actually delete ABC? I have about 8 solid hours in on this and am extremely frustrated .. this is my first run-in with Vista, but I am stuck with the machine because of special apps that need to be run once this all works

  10. 10

    mitch

    October 3, 2008 at 3:23 am

    hi,i have one pc with a wireless internet connection,is there any (cheap) way to connect it to my kids pc.my main pc has usb bluetooth fitted. can i connect the two with either another bluetooth device or with a cable.i’m a single parent on disability,so cost is a huge factor. thanks for your time.
    cheers mitch
    p.s great site.

  11. 11

    ValenTino

    October 8, 2008 at 9:09 am

    Thanks. Its help me lot.

  12. 12

    KULDEEP KULKARNI

    October 12, 2008 at 3:03 am

    thank u !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    this information is very important and please send me the information about how to share internet on two wi-fi connected laptop ??????????

  13. 13

    Sal

    November 7, 2008 at 11:31 am

    Another option is to use WiPeer (http://www.wipeer.com) that will do most of the work for you automatically.

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