connecting a laptop to a desktop PC?

H

houssam_ballout

New Member
Hello all, I am trying to connect 2 pcs, a laptop with a desktop one andboth are running windows XP, what do I need to do in advance, I have baught a cross-connect cable
thanks
 
I'm pretty sure windows comes with everything you need. Just connect the two computers and run some wizard... Personally, I find it easier to use a hub/switch, but that all costs a bit more.
 
I'd recommend a router.
They are very affordable now, plus a wireless access point will give you a lot of flexability with your laptop. You will be able to plug in with a lan cable or you can connect wirelessly.
 
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look on a small home network there is virtually no need for a router. unless you either use the router to connect to the internet or you have a big house. on a home network all the router will do is amplify and repeat the data being sent across the network.

XP is pretty simple with networking so just plug the cable in and run the wizard, dont bother with the advanced settings
 
if your connecting two computer together, there is no need for a router. Although its easier, its not the cheaper route. All you need to do is connect the computers together, create an IP on both of them, and set one as the gateway. Then it should work.
 
I recommend buying a router to anyone EVEN if they only have one PC. Not only does it offer a lot of flexibility for future purchases, but, it works great in helping to secure your PC from spyware and such. Routers are dirt cheap now and if you analyze the cost/benefit ratio, it's a no brainer.
 
randruff said:
I recommend buying a router to anyone EVEN if they only have one PC. Not only does it offer a lot of flexibility for future purchases, but, it works great in helping to secure your PC from spyware and such. Routers are dirt cheap now and if you analyze the cost/benefit ratio, it's a no brainer.
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I recommend a router for easy setup, easy troubleshooting and easy security.
It won't necessarily stop spyware, however it will act as an external firewall and hide your machine from view on the internet by keeping it behind the gateway.
 
A router doesnt offer any extra security that you can get from installing a anti virus software with a built in firewall. And since routers are standerdiesed these days a hacker can easily get past the basic firewall on a router, unless you know what your doing and manualy configure it. Spend the money on a decent firewall pogram like Norton.
 
Depends on the subnet mask. With the default of 255.255.255.0, the first three octets have to be the same, and the last different.

E.g. 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.77 are fine, but 192.168.1.1 won't be able to connect.

If you set them all to 'automatically acquire IP address', you should normally be fine
 
childsy_1985 said:
A router doesnt offer any extra security that you can get from installing a anti virus software with a built in firewall. And since routers are standerdiesed these days a hacker can easily get past the basic firewall on a router, unless you know what your doing and manualy configure it. Spend the money on a decent firewall pogram like Norton.
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Routers are hardware firewalls, not software. They cant get viruses and they cant get turned off as easily as software. Hardware firewalls are much more effective than software
 
childsy_1985 said:
A router doesnt offer any extra security that you can get from installing a anti virus software with a built in firewall. And since routers are standerdiesed these days a hacker can easily get past the basic firewall on a router, unless you know what your doing and manualy configure it. Spend the money on a decent firewall pogram like Norton.
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No offense, but you don't know the first thing about getting around a firewall...and recommeding Norton...thats the icing on the cake.

Many virus', trojans and spyware can change your anti-virus/firewall software and currupt it's libraries. Once connected to your network, a hacker has free reign on all machines. Firewalls block incoming traffic from the outside, not the inside...so someone connected to your network will NOT be stopped by your firewall, nor will you even be prompted if they access your machine (even if the software is fully functional). don't give bad advice simply based on the fact that you're too cheap to purchase a router, so it must be a useless tool. They exist for a reason.
 
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