Is there a way to hook 2 computers together with out using a router?

Question

I have an old computer that I use for gaming only but could get on line with it too but have to disconnect the new computer i.e. power from modem, ethernet cable and the cable in to back of modem then reverse process to get on line with other. Don't really want to buy a Router if I don't have to. Thanks.

Answer 1

yes all you need to do is connect an ethernet cable to each one and as long as the are running the same system then it should work.

Answer 2

Hi There,

There is a way to do that ; it's called "peer-to-peer networking".



You will need a USB wireless access point (WAP) for each computer.



You install the "WAP" into each computer then you choose the computer with the internet connection to be the "Host computer" and set up a peer-to-peer network on it.



The network wizard will 'walk you through' the set-up and allow you to load the network settings on a flash drive which you run on the other computer.



After running the setup on the second computer; plug the flash drive back into the host computer and complete the setup



After doing that both computers have to be rebooted to set-up the registry properly. That is an important step in the process.



I suggest searching your computer's "Help and Support" for "peer to peer networking for a step by step procedure. Print it out or write it down for reference while setting up your network. Be sure and check "allow internet sharing" on the host computer. You also can select "file and printer sharing" also if you have the need.



My suggestion would be to just buy a wireless g router for the first computer and a USB wireless access point for your second computer. That is much easier to set up, more secure and only about $20- more cost. I had three computers on a peer to peer and although it works every week ot two I would have to set it up all over again. Since getting a wireless router have had no more trouble.

The router does exactly what it was designed to do ( work better than a peer to peer network).



Hope this helps, (get the router and a USB wireless access point)

Al

Answer 3

get a second network card, bridge the two togther on the main machine and enable internet connection sharing. Join them together with an ethernet cable and you are online. there are many tutorials online that explain the finer aspects of doing that. the only draw back is that you have to have the machine with 2 network interface cards in it ON to be able to connect to the internet. but yes it can be done. It's how I started out. Now my network has 7 machines and 2 wireless outers on it..