Need help setting up home network

[Priest77]

Thanks in advance, I know next to nothing about networking so here goes:

I have two computers PCs, one running Windows 2000, the other XP. I also have a Linksys 4-port router. Both are connected to the internet through the router, but how do I set these PCs up so I can play some some games one-on-one with my roomate?

Again, thanks.

Priest

 

[Red Squirrel]

It depends on the game, there's not really anything to set up. You just need to know the IP or the host name of each PC. Host the game on one computer, and then enter the host or IP to connect from the other PC. Your host is your "computer name" which is whatever you set when you installed windows (which can also be changed by right clicking on "my computer" and clicking the identification tab and changing it where it says "to rename this computer...".

I hope this helps and good luck.

 

[Priest77]

Shouldn't I be able to "see" the other PC in Network Places though? I followed an online guide and this is not happening.

 

[owensdj]

Priest77, make sure they both have the same workgroup name and a unique computer name. Set your TCP/IP protocol on both machines to Enable NetBIOS. You should then be able to see them in the Network Places under Computers Near Me. This has nothing to do with being able to play games one-on-one with your roommate, but it will let you do file and printer sharing between the two computers.

To use the two computers to play games together, you just need to know the private IP address of each machine. You would host the game on one machine and then put in the IP address of the host machine as the game server address. You can find out the IP address by going to the Command Prompt and typing IPCONFIG and then pressing the ENTER key.