Network numpty, can this be done???

[TableLeg]

I have 2x computers at home.

This is my main one and runs Windows 7 x64.
The second computer is my kids. We have loads of games that can be played over LAN and internet. I would like to be able to play against them.

I only have 1x network connection on my computer.

Currently both pc's are connected directly to our router.

Can anybody please give me some advice as to how I would go about seeing if I can get this to work?

On a similar question, is it possible for me to share a game stored on my HDD with the other (my kids computer)?
example: I have FSX installed on my computer, could I therefore set up the pc's so that the kids could run FSX on their computer by accessing my HDD?

I really struggle with networking and would really appreciate any help.

 

[zigzag3143]

I have 2x computers at home.

This is my main one and runs Windows 7 x64.
The second computer is my kids. We have loads of games that can be played over LAN and internet. I would like to be able to play against them.

I only have 1x network connection on my computer.

Currently both pc's are connected directly to our router.

Can anybody please give me some advice as to how I would go about seeing if I can get this to work?

On a similar question, is it possible for me to share a game stored on my HDD with the other (my kids computer)?
example: I have FSX installed on my computer, could I therefore set up the pc's so that the kids could run FSX on their computer by accessing my HDD?

I really struggle with networking and would really appreciate any help.

Is the Kids computer running win 7 or prior?

 

[TableLeg]

Sorry I should have said. My kids PC is running XP 32.

 

[mickey megabyte]

yes - you should be able to play together easily through your lan.

the way it works is one of you is the host - it's better to have the more powerful machine as the host - then the other player connects to the host.

on the powerful machine, goto the multiplayer menu of your game, and set yourself up as host.

then on the other computer, goto the multiplayer menu, and look for the 'connect to host' (or similar) option.

each game will have a slightly different way of doing this - but that's the general idea.

about sharing a game - it'll depend on the game, but this probably will not work - you'll need to install the game on both machines.

 

[TableLeg]

Thanks for the replies.

So I would be able to play games between computers even though both are connected directly to the router?

Or would I need to connect the computers together directly?

 

[mickey megabyte]

leave them connected to the router.

in simple terms, the router organises and runs your network for you.

 

[TableLeg]

Thanks again,

I will give it a try and see how I get on, but I suspect I will be back here soon enough asking for some more help

 

[mickey megabyte]

we're here to help.

 

[TableLeg]

OK so here is where I am.

I want to be the game host on my own computer and have my kids computer join mine, but at the moment I can only get it to work the other way around.

If I create the game they cannot find me, but if they create the game I can find them.

Any idea why this is and how to make it work the other way around???

 

[TableLeg]

Could it be to do with my Firewall settings perhaps?

 

[mickey megabyte]

erm, i'm not sure, but it may be a firewall problem.

temporarily disable the windows firewall on your 7 machine, and see if your kids can connect.

if so, we can help you change your firewall settings permanently.

*edit* you guessed the answer whilst i was posting.

 

[TableLeg]

Thanks again for the reply.

I managed to get it to work. I just played around with the firewall settings.

I will have a better look at it tomorrow, and retest to see if it still works.