HELP. Need to connect 2 identical computers

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I have 2 identical computers running AMD 2600+ on ASUS motherboards with
built in LAN 10/100. I would like to connect the two so they can both use the
internet and printer which are connected to one of the computers. I also
require the ability to share files.

Is it possible to link the two computers directly using a cat 5 ethernet
cable? I would prefer not to have to buy a router if it can be one without
it. Probably worth mentioning that my cable modem is linked via usb as is my
printer.

If it is posible, what is the proceedure for setting it up in windows xp
home edition?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Chris
 
Christopher said:
I have 2 identical computers running AMD 2600+ on ASUS motherboards
with built in LAN 10/100. I would like to connect the two so they can
both use the internet and printer which are connected to one of the
computers. I also require the ability to share files.

Is it possible to link the two computers directly using a cat 5
ethernet cable? I would prefer not to have to buy a router if it can
be one without it. Probably worth mentioning that my cable modem is
linked via usb as is my printer.

If it is posible, what is the proceedure for setting it up in windows
xp home edition?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Chris
Click to expand...

Personally, for the small expense of a router I would buy one instead
(assuming your cable modem also has an ethernet port - much better than
usb for your broadband). However, if you don't want to do that you need
to use a crossover cat5e cable. Here are links to help you:

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics - ICS
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/clientwiz.htm - XP
ICS - Client Setup Using the Network Setup Wizard
http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm
http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/myths.htm

Malke
 
Thanks for that. Another problem I am having though is with the network cards
themselves.

when i go into network connections it displays two devices. One is my usb
modem, the other is the onboard network card which has the drivers fully
installed. the problem is that the network card is displaying a red cross
saying "network cable unplugged". This message does not change, even when i
plug my ethernet cable into both computers. the same message appears on both
machines. i would assume that it is a good quality cable as it was supplied
with my aol modem in case i wanted to us that instead of the usb. it is
clearly labelled 'cat 5 ethernet cable'.

any clue to whats wrong?
 
Christopher said:
Thanks for that. Another problem I am having though is with the
network cards themselves.

when i go into network connections it displays two devices. One is my
usb modem, the other is the onboard network card which has the drivers
fully installed. the problem is that the network card is displaying a
red cross saying "network cable unplugged". This message does not
change, even when i plug my ethernet cable into both computers. the
same message appears on both machines. i would assume that it is a
good quality cable as it was supplied with my aol modem in case i
wanted to us that instead of the usb. it is clearly labelled 'cat 5
ethernet cable'.
Click to expand...

As I said in my first post to you, if you want to connect
computer-to-computer, you will need to use a crossover ethernet cable,
not a straight-through one. The ethernet cable you got from AOL is a
straight-through one.

Malke
 
Back
Top