DO I need internet access

[alphanumeric]

No problem, glad I could help. I've never setup an ad hoc connection but I have read how to do it at one point. Doing it over wireless might make it interesting. I may have to brush up on that, it has me wondering how you get both adapters on the same wireless channel?

 

[heaumanepunk]

both adapters have a way of setting the channel the ad hoc is running through,but they work well even if they are not on the same channel, and of course I am talking about multiplayer games. Ive tried sharing from the same channel but it still didnt work. this what it says

Ad-Hoc channel 802.11 b/g.

i know theres a 802.11 a but it only says b/g...

 

[alphanumeric]

I started to remember some of it after Googling it last night. I'm so used to the normal infrastructure mode where there isn't really any mention of channel. The router decides that. Plus this PC, my main daily user, is the only one in the house with no wireless card in it. It's only three feet from the router so I ran a cable. I guess I was a little loose with my terms too. I've looked at networking two PCs via a network cable, and no router, manually setting the IP address etc on each PC. For some reason I was thinking that was also an "ad hoc" connection but I guess it's not. At least not as far as Google goes.
Anyway enough rambling,back to the problem at hand. I'll go over the basic stuff first.
Both computers in the same work group? I like to use SOHO. On a windows 7 PC hit the windows key "and" the pause/break key, then click Advanced System Settings. Go to the Computer Name tab and click the change button in the lower right. Work group should already be selected so just enter SOHO or whatever you want your work group name to be.
File and print sharing installed? On a windows 7 PC open the Network and Sharing Center, click Local Area Connection (you may have more than one, select the one for your wireless connection). Then click properties in the window that opens. You should see file and print sharing for Microsoft networks in the list with a check mark next to it. If its not there you will have to click the install button and go though the menu to find it. It should be there by default, but it doesn't hurt to double check.
Back your way back out to the Network and sharing center and have a look at under View your active networks. Your work group name should be listed and under that the type of network. It should be "Home network" with a house icon. This affects how the firewall works so if it isn't set to home network I would change it. You could even go into control panel and turn the windows firewall off (temporarily) just to make sure its not interfering.
While you are in the network and sharing center you could go over your Advanced sharing settings, located in the upper left. I've already posted my settings above but if you want to try some different settings the ones I might change are to Turn on Public folder sharing and turn off password protected sharing. It kind of leaves things wide open it someone gets on your network but if push comes to shove you could try it.
Later on today I'll have a look at my XP box and post some of the similar settings from it. It's been acting up on me and I got preoccupied with that yesterday. In the end it seemed stable so I'll have a look at it's settings.

 

[alphanumeric]

My windows XP box is still acting up on me, looks like the hard drive is failing. Hopefully I can finish this post before it locks up again. As far as sharing a folder goes it's almost the same as windows 7. You right click the folder, go to properties, sharing tab, yada yada yada. I turn simple file sharing off, but it might work better for you if you leave it on. I consider it a security liability leaving it on, but thats just me. Open explorer and go to tools, folder options, view tab, then way down at the bottom.
Do one of these PCs have internet access? I think you said no but you're posting here on something? If one does have internet access you could use ICS on the XP box or bridge the connection (share this connection) on the windows 7 box. If you can do that you don't have to use an ad hoc connection and both PC's would have internet access. I've used ICS before and it worked but some people have had nothing but trouble getting it to work, just so you know.

 

[heaumanepunk]

ty for the walk through, much appreciated. One thing though, when Im connected to the "ad-Hoc" network I cant change the type of network, Normally the type of netwotk would be blue and clickable, but when connected to the ad-hoc network its greyd out , its read only text.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
There IS another way of sharing files using only a simple cable -- no modem, wifi, router etc -- only the OLDER members of this Forum I would suspect would know about this.

You use a "Null Modem" link between two computers such as a COM cable with a cross over (USB =>COM and Parallel connectors are available).

Then you use a simple piece of software such as LAPLINK . If you use this type of data transfer it can be slow however -- using a Parallel cable is better if you can find one.

THis method is incredibly simple -- but I don't suppose people have used this for many years now. It still works however.

Some parts of Dynosaur Technology have their uses even today.

http://www.nullmodem.com/LapLink.htm

http://www.laplink.com/

Cheers
jimbo

 

[alphanumeric]

That may be normal in that situation. I've never ever used an ad hoc setup so I was just going buy how it normally works. You can normally change the icon too if you click on it.

 

[alphanumeric]

Hi there
There IS another way of sharing files using only a simple cable -- no modem, wifi, router etc -- only the OLDER members of this Forum I would suspect would know about this.

You use a "Null Modem" link between two computers such as a COM cable with a cross over (USB =>COM and Parallel connectors are available).

Then you use a simple piece of software such as LAPLINK . If you use this type of data transfer it can be slow however -- using a Parallel cable is better if you can find one.

THis method is incredibly simple -- but I don't suppose people have used this for many years now. It still works however.

Some parts of Dynosaur Technology have their uses even today.

Parallel LapLink Cable

Laplink® Software - Official Site - The Global Leader in PC Migration and Connectivity Software

Cheers
jimbo

I guess I'm going to show my age. I actually have a serial null modem cable in a box berried in the closet. Made it many moons ago and probably used it twice on a couple of windows 3.11 machines. I gave up on it because it was painfully slow. One of those purpose built USB link cables would probably be the cats ass though. I have USB thumb drives and a couple of USB external hard drives so I've never felt the need to buy one. Plus all my PCs are networked so I'd only ever need it when working on somebody else's PC.