Connecting two laptops via LAN

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Joe505

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Hi guys

Total noob here regarding this kind of thing, so please bear with me.

I've just purchased a new laptop and I'm trying to transfer all my files over to the new one using a LAN cable. Problem is when I connect the laptops together it just shows as "Unidentified network" and I cant seem to access either laptop on the network.

By troubleshooting, I got some message regarding no valid IP configuration. How do i fix this?

Please help...Tx
 
Joe505 said:
Hi guys

Total noob here regarding this kind of thing, so please bear with me.

I've just purchased a new laptop and I'm trying to transfer all my files over to the new one using a LAN cable. Problem is when I connect the laptops together it just shows as "Unidentified network" and I cant seem to access either laptop on the network.

By troubleshooting, I got some message regarding no valid IP configuration. How do i fix this?

Please help...Tx
Click to expand...

You probably need to manually set the IP and subnet mask: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/19249/how-to-assign-a-static-ip-address-in-xp-vista-or-windows-7/
 
You need to do the following:

Use a cross-over cable to directly connect the two Laptops or
Connect both laptops to a switch/router.

You will also need to specify the IP addresses (same but with a single digit difference) and Subnet's (same) on both laptops.
You could also try without a crossover cable and just specifying the IP and Subnet and that could work, depending on the laptops and the network cards inside.
 
Yup I have a LAN cable that I got with my Wifi router (those yellow ones are the right ones, correct?).
So basically I just need to specify the IP addresses on both laptops and I'll be good to go?

Im running Windows 8.1 btw.
 
Joe505 said:
Yup I have a LAN cable that I got with my Wifi router (those yellow ones are the right ones, correct?).
So basically I just need to specify the IP addresses on both laptops and I'll be good to go?

Im running Windows 8.1 btw.
Click to expand...

Are you plugging the lan cable from laptop to laptop? No router?
That's not a crossover cable.
A crossover cable has essentially flipped the wiring at the connector and allows you to network 2 devices without a hub or router.
 
Electric said:
Are you plugging the lan cable from laptop to laptop? No router?
That's not a crossover cable.
A crossover cable has essentially flipped the wiring at the connector and allows you to network 2 devices without a hub or router.
Click to expand...

Yeah I am :erm: i.e. Direct from laptop to laptop
 
The cable is not a crossover cable so you'd better plug that into the router rather and connect the other laptop via a cable to the router as well.
 
If you have a wifi router just connect both laptops to the router via wifi or lan cables. Then the router will sort out the ip's and all the rest. Just select home network when the screen comes up on the laptops to be able to access other devices on the network. And you will probably have to set the folders you want to copy over to have permission for sharing.
 
Electric said:
The cable is not a crossover cable so you'd better plug that into the router rather and connect the other laptop via a cable to the router as well.
Click to expand...

Okay great thanks for that I will do so. Will I then still need to adjust the IP address and stuff as indicated above?
 
Ad-hoc mode?

PS, If you have an APIPA address then file transfer is definitely possible.

I always use DC++ to transfer files over a LAN, it helps if your power might trip then you know were you left off and nothing gets corrupted.
 
Most modern laptops have 1GB network cards which can auto-negotiate the link, normal network cable will work if both laptops manually set to be on same IP range and subnet.
 
Joe505 said:
Okay great thanks for that I will do so. Will I then still need to adjust the IP address and stuff as indicated above?
Click to expand...

No, the router will likely have a DHCP server which assigns each device on the router a suitable IP.
 
furpile said:
If you have a wifi router just connect both laptops to the router via wifi or lan cables. Then the router will sort out the ip's and all the rest. Just select home network when the screen comes up on the laptops to be able to access other devices on the network. And you will probably have to set the folders you want to copy over to have permission for sharing.
Click to expand...

Both laptops are currently connected to the router as the router is an LTE one so I am using it to connect to the internet.
Will that matter?
 
Joe505 said:
Yeah I am :erm: i.e. Direct from laptop to laptop
Click to expand...

Considering it complains about the IP address you don't need a Crossover cable like everyone here is saying.

Your network is already working and the link is up, it just doesn't know how to talk to each other.

So depending on which version of windows you are running you want to go to Networking Connections / Manage Connections and find your Ethernet Card there.

Right Click and go to Properties and then edit the properties for TCP/IP4.

Now under IP address enter "192.168.0.1" on the first laptop and "192.168.0.2" on the second laptop.

Subnet Mask you can make "255.255.255.0" on both of them.

Click okay on both and you should be good to go.

Now on either laptop go Windows + R (Start > RUN if you want) and then type "\\192.168.0.2" from the first laptop for "192.168.0.1" from the second to access the first.
 
Joe505 said:
Both laptops are currently connected to the router as the router is an LTE one so I am using it to connect to the internet.
Will that matter?
Click to expand...

If they are connected to the Router it's much simpler as they'll each have an IP address.

So on the laptop you want to connect TO go Start > Run (or Windows Key + R) and type "cmd".

Then type "ipconfig" and press enter.

You'll see an IP address listed that should be something like 192.168.0.* or 192.168.1.* or maybe 10.0.0.* even.

Take that address and go to the other laptop and do Start > Run again and simply type "\\IPADDRESS" and you should be golden.



Of course a USB flash drive or external drive will make your life infinitely easier.
 
Great, thanks for all the input. I will experiment with this once I get home today :)
 
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