Question about LAN

[Stg-Flame]

This is probably an elementary question, but I am trying to connect my laptop to my desktop via a LAN cable. My desktop isn't seeing the laptop, but my laptop can see my desktop. Both are running Windows 7 and I've disabled UAC on both systems.

Is there a comprehensive guide to connecting devices on a LAN? I can build a desktop and a laptop with no issues, but when I have to connect the two devices with a single wire, all hell breaks loose.

Thanks for any information.

 

[postmortemIA]

you really want to put the router between them, something that gives them IP addresses... and use windows 7 homegroups. also direct connection requires special "cross over" cable

 

[BrightCandle]

The magic ingredient in your case is probably the cable, but you will also need to set the IP on each manually. Just set one to 192.168.0.1 and the other to .......2 and the subnet mask on each to 255.255.255.0. That should have them seeing each other.

 

[serpretetsky]

I don't know what you mean by "my laptop can see my desktop", but if there is any sort of communication happening that means your cable is fine.

What are you trying to achieve? file/printer sharing? Playing some video game?

Most machines will automatically assign themselves a link local addres in the 169.254.x.x range subnet 255.255.0.0. If both your machines have done that, then they are officially on the same network. Since, once again, you said you can "see [the] desktop", then this probably has automatically occured already.

Like others have suggested, you can change to static ip's like 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2 so that you know exactly which computer is which and you have control over it. Strictly speaking, if both machines have already settled into link local ip's, this isn't necessary.

http://www.wikihow.com/Connect-Two-Computers

 

[Railgun]

I don't know what you mean by "my laptop can see my desktop", but if there is any sort of communication happening that means your cable is fine.

Not strictly true.

Same goes with fiber.

 

[ch33zw1z]

connect them together, run ipconfig /all on both, post the results.

 

[JackMDS]

Permission and Security issues with Vista/Win7, check the following settings.


All users that are allowed to share need to have account on all the computers that they are allowed to connect to.

Everyone is an account, it means a group of all of the users that already have an account and been established as users.


Permission & Security Win 7


Using the Everyone feature saves the need of configuring permission to each of the established users, it does not mean Everyone that feel that they would like to login.
Users that do not have an account on the computer are Not part of the Everyone Group.


If security on the LAN is Not needed and users are Not established, then switching On the Guest account provides semi-open configuration.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Turn-the-guest-account-on-or-off

---------------------
Point to the a Folder that meant to to be share. Right click and choose properties.
In the properties
Click on the Security tab shown in the pic bellow to the right) and check that the users and their permission (shown in the pic bellow center and left) are correctly configured. Then do the same to the Permission tab.
This screen shot is from Win 7, Vista's menus are similar.

http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/Permission-Security.jpg

In both the Security panel, and the Permission panel you have to highlight each


User/Group and examine that the Permission Controls are checked correctly.
When everything is OK, Reboot the Network (Router, and computer).

* Note . The Groups and Users shown in the screen-shoot are just an example. Your list will look the way your system is configured.

 

[serpretetsky]

Not strictly true.

Same goes with fiber.

I meant in the context of requiring a cross-over cable vs regular, not the quality of the cable. If you choose the wrong cable, it will simply not work.

 

[Stg-Flame]

Thanks for all the responses. Using the router as the figurative middle man worked as both my computers are able to communicate freely.

And thanks to both serpretetsky and JackMDS for all the links. They were just what I was looking for.

 

[azazel1024]

I meant in the context of requiring a cross-over cable vs regular, not the quality of the cable. If you choose the wrong cable, it will simply not work.

No, most/almost all gigabit ethernet controllers use auto-MDX, so you do not need a cross over cable. There are a FEW that don't, but it is very, very, very tiny number.

I've used regular cables between a number of different gigabit adapters with no issues. I haven't used a cross over cable in about 10 years, when 10/100 adapters were the shiznitz.

 

[serpretetsky]

delete this post.