Q&A for How to Connect Two Computers Together with an Ethernet Cable

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Can an outdated Ethernet card affect the internet connection or upload speed of 2 computers when I plug an Ethernet cable into it?

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist
Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

Luigi Oppido

Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Answer

This is definitely a possibility. If your Ethernet card is an old model, such as one that's 4 years old, it will likely lead to slow internet activity and upload speeds.

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Do you have any other suggestions if I still can't connect the two computers?

Community Answer

If both computers have a wireless connection to the same router, create a home group and share files.

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Can I safely connect two laptops to get pictures from one to the other if one of them is not working?

Community Answer

It depends on how the computer has failed: If it is a software issue, you can try a bootable USB or CD. Files on the HDD should be readable and the PC can be connected. In the case of a bad screen, an external monitor may be used temporarily. A bad RAM stick can be removed if you have more than one and a required amount of ram on the other sticks. A bad CPU or motherboard could prevent the computer from being usable at all but the hard drive can be extracted and a cheap usb adapter connected to the working computer. If the hard drive has failed it may be possible to use a data recovery service but this option can be very costly.

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Question

What are the instructions for how to connect a Windows XP machine with a Windows 10 machine, using a crossover ethernet cable?

Community Answer

The technique illustrated in the Windows section above works regardless of Windows version. Use the Control Panel, not the Settings app, on each, to set up the network connection.

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Question

How can I connect my PC to my phone?

Community Answer

Using a micro USB cord. It depends on whether you're using Apple or Android, but there are cords for both. Almost every store has them. One end plugs into the computer's USB port, and the other into the phone, and you are good to go.

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Question

Can I do this between 2 Linux computers?

5H17 P0573R

Community Answer

Yes, but you have to configure link-local addresses and setup routes manually.

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Question

Does this process work with two Windows 10 PCs?

Community Answer

Yes. Continue to use the Control Panel as illustrated here. There is nothing different about Windows 10; this article just has screenshots from Vista and 7.

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Question

Can I connect a Windows computer and a Mac computer together?

Community Answer

As long as both have Ethernet ports, yes, you can connect an iMac and a Windows 10 computer.

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Question

How can I connect two computers for playing a game?

Community Answer

Video games usually use a LAN connection. Connect both computers to a router and start the game on both computers. Select multiplayer and you should see the other computer.

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Question

Will the Windows method work for Windows 10?

Community Answer

Yes, it will, as long as you turn on (make this PC disprovable) in the network settings.

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Question

Can I do this with a straight-through ethernet cable, or does it have to be a crossover?

Community Answer

It must be a crossover ethernet cable since the straight cables are designed for routers.

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Question

How can I share files between two computers that are connected via Ethernet cable?

Community Answer

You'll have to share a folder on the network on one of the machines; procedures for doing this depend on your operating system, but you can generally get there by right-clicking on a folder and looking for "Sharing". Once you do so, the folder will show up under Network in the file browser of the computer at the other end of the Ethernet cable. If you'd like to be able to copy files into the folder(s) from the remote end, be sure to set security privileges on the folder to read/write for everyone.

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Question

Can I connect Windows 7 to Windows 8 using the same method?

Community Answer

Yes. It works on all versions from Windows Vista up to 10.

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Question

I have a normal PC setup, Windows 7. I am about to receive a new Windows 10 PC. The new one does not have a monitor. How do I proceed?

Ethan Schoenhofen

Community Answer

If your monitor has multiple outputs that you can switch between, you could connect both computers to the same monitor, and switch when needed. If your monitor doesn't work that way, buy a cheap one that you can use for that project.

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Question

What's the maximum number of computers I can connect to one router?

Community Answer

The setup screens for the router determine that. Mine defaults to 10, but I can change it.

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How do I increase my Google ranking for free?

Community Answer

Provide a good enough product or service to get many favorable reviews. The more good reviews obtained, the higher the ranking will be.

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Question

Does this work with an iMac and a Windows 10 PC?

Community Answer

As long as both have Ethernet ports, yes, you can connect an iMac and a Windows 10 computer.

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Question

If one computer can't use WiFi, can this method add internet to it if the second computer has a WiFi connection?

Community Answer

Yes. You would go to the wireless adapter settings (properties) of the computer with working WiFi and select sharing. Check the box for allowing other network users. Select the LAN adapter as your home networking connection. The computer on the other end of the crossover should now have internet.

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Question

If I do this, will the computer that has an internet connection give access to the other computer that doesn't have a connection?

Community Answer

You can share internet connection between LAN computers using the Bridge Connection option, which you can find in Control Panel.

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Question

How do I install an Ethernet driver on my new OS?

Community Answer

If there are no drivers for your NIC that are native to the OS, you'll have to determine the manufacturer and model of the network card and use another computer to download the driver from the the manufacturer's website, then put the files on a flash drive for installation on the computer with the new OS.

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Can I send a rescue file to the C drive of a computer that cannot boot?

Community Answer

No, this will not be possible as long as the computer cannot boot and it cannot run the operating system.

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Question

I have a desktop PC which only has Ethernet, and a new laptop which only uses WiFi. Can I use a USB data transfer cable between the two computers?

Community Answer

Buy an Ethernet adapter for the wireless computer. This will connect to the USB port on your computer and you can use it as a regular Ethernet port.

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