How To Create a LAN connection between 2 PCs
In this tutorial we see how to connect to computers together to share files and resources. We can go about it either the wired way or the wireless one. But the wireless way is pretty expensive. So in this tut, we consider the wired way.
To do it the wired way, we need either 2 normal ethernet cables and a Hub / Switch. OR a crossover ethernet cable. We choose the 2nd way as it is more cost effective.
To create a LAN network using a crossover cable, we just need a crossover (Cross crimped RJ45 / CAT5) cable and a LAN (Ethernet) card in both computers. Most computer motherboards have onboard ethernet these days.
We refer to the 2 computers as PC1 and PC2.
First of all, we connect the cross crimped ethernet cable in the LAN RJ45 ports of both the computers.
Now we start with configuring the computers.
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.
Now, to configure the TCP/IP connection settings,
1. Goto “Control Panel” >> “Network connections”
2. Right-click on your LAN connection 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.
Now, to configure the TCP/IP connection settings,
1. Goto “Control Panel” >> “Network connections”
2. Right-click on your LAN connection 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 done for PC2 as well.
If you have done the above part correctly, the computers will have detected each other. If they don’t, just restart both the computers.
You can access the other computer in “My network Places”. You can also play multi-player games using this connection. For easier access you can map a drive on the network to a local drive by “Tools” >> “Map network drive”.
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GameTraveler
July 25, 2008 at 8:00 am
Doesn’t windows typically just assign a default address if connected to a network, and a DHCP server is not available?
With a crossover cable and 2 PCs, entering in the IP address information may not really be needed.
salvador sandaga
August 12, 2008 at 5:08 am
thank you for that? how about if 2 to 3 computers, what is the configuration of the third or fourth computer i hope you can help me thanks,
sam
phillipines
vikky
September 1, 2008 at 9:37 am
thank you
cruel
September 6, 2008 at 10:23 pm
@sam
if u r going to connect 3 or more pC’s just make use of a hub or a router.
jude
September 22, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Am connecting more than 3 computers together how do i go about it.
John Dale
October 30, 2008 at 12:13 am
My two desktop computers connected to each other through LAN setting but I do not know how to get on the internet through the second one. When I tried the AOL Braodband, it would not work. How do I get on the internet with the second computer.
Thanks for taking the trouble to explain.
fatai
November 16, 2008 at 1:00 am
am much more grateful for your support on this page you’ve created for people.
more grease to your elbow.
taimoor
December 14, 2008 at 10:14 pm
thanks man ;
great work
Abhishek
January 15, 2009 at 11:14 am
Hi I am BSNL broadband user I am using ADSl Router+ Wifi
modem to connect net. Now I am purchase New laptop now I connect net through wifi but at same time I could not connect through LAN on my Pc. so How do I connect on Pc as well as on my laptop using wifi and LAN it is possible????
sam
January 18, 2009 at 11:21 am
My computer is noting booting up and is hung in a blue screen. I am having my toshiba restore cd but my cd drive is not working. My laptop is having a LAN bootup option. Can I use another laptop to cretae a lan and then try booting up??
deviljin
February 10, 2009 at 11:56 am
i m pleased to get the answer of my question
salvador sandaga
June 30, 2009 at 5:39 am
thanks