How to connect two computers via Ethernet

At many instances you want to connect two computers, for sharing files or playing LAN games or for copying huge amount of data etc. Here are some simple steps to achieve this.

Note: The steps mentioned below are not for internet sharing.

Prerequisites:

1. LAN card in both the computers. Now-a-days most of the computers/laptops have this.
2. A cross-over Ethernet/LAN cable. A cross-over cable is constructed by reversing (crossing over) the order of wires inside so that it can connect two computers directly.
3. Connect both the computers/laptops with the cross-over Ethernet cable properly.

Steps:

1. Go to start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections. There you will see your network adapters.
2. Right Click on the adapter icon and click Properties. The following screen should come:

3. Now scroll down to "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)". See below:

4. Now click the Properties tab and you will see the following window:

5. Press the "Use the following IP address" radio button and then type the IP address as shown below:

6. It is done, now press Ok to complete the process.

Now, in the other computer/laptop follow the same procedure and give the IP address as "192.168.1.2". The Subnet mask will remain the same.

After doing this both the computers should get connected and you will see the icon of two computers blinking in the right most bottom of the desktop; provided the "show icon in notification area when connected" check box is checked in the "Local Area Connection Properties" window as shown in the second figure.


Tips:

1. To share folders just right click on any folder and click "Sharing and Security" and check the "Share this folder on the network"check box.
2. To view the shared folder from the other computer go to start -> My Network Places or to My Computer and click My Network Places tab on the left side. Then click "View Work Group Computers" which is also on the left side, and you can see the other computer's icon on your screen. I think then you can do it on your own :-)
3. Else you can type \\192.168.1.1 or \\192.168.1.2 in start -> run, from the other computer.

Please write your comments if you have any problem in doing this...