How to Connect 2 PCs With a Crossover Wire

Connecting two personal computers with a crossover wire allows you to share programs, files and games between the two systems without having to copy files or using a portable storage device like an external hard drive. Computers connected via a crossover wire do not have to share an Internet connection or be connected to a wireless router or hub.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Crossover LAN Wire (also known as an Ethernet Crossover Cable)

How to Connect Two PCs Running Windows 98 or XP

1. Turn on both computers and plug the crossover wire into the ethernet ports of both computers.

2. Click the Start button on the first computer. Open the Control Panel and double-click "Network Connections." Click "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" and "Properties."

3. Select "Use the Following IP Address." Type "192.168.1.1" in the IP Address box. Type "25.255.255.0" in the Subnet Mask box. Click "OK" to exit network connections.

4. Click the Start button and right-click on "My Computer." Click "Properties." Click the Computer Name tab.

5. Click "Change." Type in "Computer One" in the computer name box. Click "Workgroup" and type in a name for the computer network that you are creating. Click "OK" and restart the computer.

6. Repeat the steps for the second computer with two changes: For this computer's IP Address, type in "192.168.1.2," and type "Computer Two" in the computer name box.

How to Connect Two PCs Running Vista

1. Turn on both computers and plug the crossover wire into the ethernet ports of both computers.

2. Click the Start button. Click "Connect To" and "View Network Computers." Open the Network and Sharing Center.

3. Open "Manage Network Connections" and go to the LAN (local area network) section. Click "Properties." Check "Internet Protocol Version 4" and click "Properties."

4. Select "Use the Following IP Address." Type "192.168.1.1" in the IP Address box. Type "25.255.255.0" in the Subnet Mask box. Click "OK" to exit network connections.

5. Click the Start button and right-click on "My Computer." Click "Properties." Click the "Computer Name" tab.

6. Click "Change." Type in "Computer One" in the computer name box. Click "Workgroup" and type in a name for the computer network that you are creating. Click "OK" and restart the computer.

7. Repeat the steps for the second computer with two changes: For this computer's IP Address, type in "192.168.1.2," and type "Computer Two" in the computer name box.

Tips & Warnings

• This same procedure can also be used to connect a PC and a laptop or two laptops.

• Only use a crossover LAN wire or an ethernet crossover cable to connect two PCs. Any other type of cable is unable to handle the amount of data that will cross between the two systems and will result in serious damage to the computers' motherboards.