network using USB cable to laptop.....help!

[tonella]

Hi
Everytime I have come here I get absolutely accurate and well needed advice, so I am back for more please!

I am trying to create a home network on my desktop and laptop computers. I brought a (well two actually as I thought the first may be faulty) a 'plug and play' usb adaptor cable thing, which I plugged into both appropriate ports and turned on the computer.

Both computers seem to detect the USB connection, infact the little icon in the toolbar indicates that the:
'network cable' is plugged, and when the usb is unplugged from either computer the icon gets a red cross on it and says:
'a network cable is unplugged'.

Thus I can only guess the computers are conected??? But nothing appears in 'my network places'.

Do I need to 'set up' anything or do anything else? Or am i doing something wrong.........I am quite techy useless so 'simple' solutions would be best!!!!! :-S

Both computers run windows XP. I have Broadband.


Thankyou.

[Spider]

Did you get a floppy or CD with the USB adapter?

You have to install a USB Network Bridge.

[ceh383]

If you want to network the two machines, you will need a NIC for each machine (they can be USB, PCI, ISA....whatever will work for your machines) Install these as per included directions. You will then need ONE of the following...... A crossover cable(long enough to do the job) OR two straight cables and a hub/switch.

You will then need to assign each machine an IP address and subnet mask. For PC1 use IP 192.168.1.1 SM 255.255.255.0 For PC2 use IP 192.168.1.2 SM 255.255.255.0

You need to make sure that you have the workgroup name the same on boty machines, and that each machine has a different computer name.


Hope this helps....... :no:

[tonella]

Originally Posted by ceh383

If you want to network the two machines, you will need a NIC for each machine (they can be USB, PCI, ISA....whatever will work for your machines) Install these as per included directions. You will then need ONE of the following...... A crossover cable(long enough to do the job) OR two straight cables and a hub/switch.

You will then need to assign each machine an IP address and subnet mask. For PC1 use IP 192.168.1.1 SM 255.255.255.0 For PC2 use IP 192.168.1.2 SM 255.255.255.0

You need to make sure that you have the workgroup name the same on boty machines, and that each machine has a different computer name.


Hope this helps....... :no:

yes .. but what is a NIC?
how do i change the ip and sm..... where do i find then to alter them.

everything else is ok i think..... a bridge icon has come up in the 'netwok connections' folder after i followed the wizard 'set up a new home/office network'.

[ceh383]

NIC---Network Interface Card

To change the IP address and Subnet Mask......

Start button>>Right click on Network, select properties. Right click on Local area connection, select properties. High light Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), click properties.......

[Spider]

I though "NIC" was what those big tall guys in the forest kept shouting in
Monty Python's Quest For The Holy Grail?

[tonella]

Hey thanx guys.
I shall give this a go and let you know how i get on.
xx