How to Connect Two Computers Together with an Ethernet Cable

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Verify that you have a crossover Ethernet cable.

   A crossover Ethernet cable is required to connect computers with Windows OS; whereas a standard Ethernet cable will only establish a connection between a computer and router.
   
   Examine the wire color patterns at each end of the Ethernet cable to determine whether or not the colors match up.
   
   A crossover Ethernet cable will have color patterns that do not match up; whereas on standard cables, the color patterns will match up to one another identically on each end.
   
   Refer to the image on the "Tekron International" website provided to you in the Sources section of this article if you need additional assistance with determining the difference between a standard and crossover Ethernet cable.
2. 2

   Step 2: Plug each end of the Ethernet cable into an Ethernet network port on each computer to connect the computers together with the cable.

   , The "Start" menu often resembles the Microsoft Windows logo on computers running Windows
   7. ,,, This icon may display as "Multiple networks" if you have more than one network.// In Windows 8, click change advanced sharing settings (on the left list). , , Both of your computers will now be visible in the Network and Sharing Center window, and you will have the ability to share files and other resources.
3. 3

   Step 3: Go to any one of your computers

4. 4

   Step 4: and click on the "Start" menu.

5. 5

   Step 5: Select "Control Panel

6. 6

   Step 6: " then type "network" into the search box provided to you within Control Panel.

7. 7

   Step 7: Select "Network and Sharing Center" from the options displayed in the window.

8. 8

   Step 8: Select and open the icon labeled "Unidentified network" from the network map at the top of the Network and Sharing Center window.

9. 9

   Step 9: Click on the message that prompts you to change the network discovery and file sharing settings

10. 10

    Step 10: then click on the option that reads

11. 11

    Step 11: "Turn on network discovery and file sharing. "

12. 12

    Step 12: Type the administrator password for the computer if prompted to do so

13. 13

    Step 13: then press "Enter" on your keyboard.

Detailed Guide

About the Author