How to Connect Two Computers

For the family or small business, having your computers connected can be a great way to share data, resources, and more. This article will show you how to connect two computers using various operating systems. Note: these instructions create a private network of only two devices. For an expanded understanding of the private network concept, visit How to Set up a Private Network after reading this article.

Method One: Ethernet

1. 1
   Plug in an ethernet cable. To connect two computers that don't have access to a shared network, you can use an Ethernet cable to make a direct connection between the two computer's Ethernet ports.
• Some computers require a special cable called "crossover cable." This is a specialized cable that is wired in reverse. Ethernet ports have both inputs and outputs, and the crossover cable is switched so that the output from one computer connects to the input of the other.
• Many current computers do not need a crossover cable: they use Auto-Medium Dependent Interface Crossover (Auto-MDIX), and will automatically configure the Ethernet port.
• Most Macintosh computers built recently do not need a crossover cable.
• If you're not sure, check your documentation to see what your system needs. If that's not available, just use a crossover cable: an auto-sensing Ethernet port will work with a crossover cable just as well as with a standard cable.

Method Two: Windows Vista, 7, or 8

1. 1
   Connect the two computers using a crossover cable. At least one of the computers being connected should be using Windows Vista, 7, or 8.
2. 2
   Open the Network and Sharing Center. If you're connecting a Windows 7 and Windows Vista computer together, use Windows 7 to perform these tasks.
   • Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel. In the search box, type "network," and then click on Network and Sharing Center.
3. 3
   Select your network. In the network map, shown at the top of the Network and Sharing Center, double click on the Unidentified network icon.
   • If you have more than a single network, the icon will be named Multiple networks.
4. 4
   Enable network discovery. If network discovery and file sharing are turned off, in Network, click the info bar containing this message: Network discovery and file sharing are turned off. Network computers and devices are not visible. Click to change..., and then click Turn on network discovery and file sharing. If you're asked for an admin password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation, as required.
• Note: if one of the computers is running Windows XP, it may take a while for it to appear in the Network window. You may need to configure the XP computer as described below.

Method Three: Windows XP

1. 1
   Open the Control Panel. From the Start menu, select Control Panel or Settings, and then Control Panel.
2. 2
   Double-click System, and then select the Computer Name tab. Enter the name of each computer and the name of the workgroup
   • The name of each computer should be unique, but the workgroup name must be identical for both.
3. 3
   Set up the network connection. From the Control Panel, double-click Network Connections, and then connect the computer using the crossover cable.
   • If either machine's status is shown as "Disconnected", the cable is either not firmly seated or bad.
4. 4
   Enable file sharing. Right-click the icon for the network connection, and then select Properties. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Windows Firewall Settings.
• In the Windows Firewall Settings window, click the Exceptions tab, and make sure that Printer and File Sharing is selected.
• It may take some time for the computer to obtain IP addresses and appear in the Network Connections window.
• Note: if you're connecting two Windows XP computers, you'll need to do the above steps for both computers.

Source : www.wikihow.com