Connecting two computers with a crossover cable

johnelway · 09-15-2009, 12:22 AM

I have been trying to connect an XP and Vista comp together with a crossover cable for simple file sharing. After browsing numerous forums and not finding a solution I have decide to start a thread of my own. So far I have:

- connected the comps with a crossover cable
- verified that each has a unique comp name and the same workgroup name
- manually assigned IP addresses of 192.168.1.1 (to the XP comp) and 192.168.1.2 (to the Vista comp) and given both comps a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0
- modified the Windows firewall to make an exception for File and Printer sharing
- given folders on each of the comps the appropriate sharing properties

After doing all of this I tried to ping each of the IP addresses on both comps. I was able to ping 192.168.1.2 on each of the comps but couldn't ping 192.168.1.1 on either of the comps (HUH???

). I couldn't see the XP comp in the Network folder on the Vista comp and when I tried to look in the workgroup computers folder on the XP comp I got an error message saying that it wasn't accessible and that I may not have access to it.

Any suggestions? I am completely stumped

.

clyde123 · 09-16-2009, 02:06 PM

Try disabling the firewall/s for checking purposes.
If that works, you'll need to config at least one of the firewalls.
If that doesn't work, need to think of something else :-)

johnelway · 09-24-2009, 08:48 PM

After disabling all firewalls, I was able to open the workgroup computers folder on the XP comp but the Vista comp doesn't show up in it.

So right now, I can see the Vista comp in the Network folder(which is on the Vista comp) and I can see the XP comp in the workgroup computers folder(which is on the XP comp). I'm guessing what should be happening is that both computers should show up in both folders? Any more ideas on how to do that?

clyde123 · 09-25-2009, 02:55 AM

Hi johnelway, what I normally do is have one shared folder on each computer, maybe on the desktop.
Then I go to the second computer, browse across the network, and when I find the shared folder on the first one, make a shortcut to it.
And vice versa.
What you say in your first post sounds all good. It's usually firewalls, folder sharing, and not using same workgroup names that scuppers this.
Also, sometimes it takes a few minutes for the both computers to show up.

Actually, I'm just wondering : if you're using a crossover cable you won't have a router, so won't have any entry in the DNS Server config.
Try putting the IP number of the opposite computer into each PC's TCP/IP setup for DNS server.

johnelway · 10-01-2009, 03:07 AM

Ok so I did everything as before and did what you said. I can successfully ping each computer from the other computer. On the Vista comp I can see the XP comp in the Network folder but when I try to access it I get a message saying that it 'cannot access //foldername'. And for whatever reason I can no longer open the workgroup folder on the XP comp, so I can't see anything.

09-15-2009, 12:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
johnelway Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP	Connecting two computers with a crossover cable I have been trying to connect an XP and Vista comp together with a crossover cable for simple file sharing. After browsing numerous forums and not finding a solution I have decide to start a thread of my own. So far I have: - connected the comps with a crossover cable - verified that each has a unique comp name and the same workgroup name - manually assigned IP addresses of 192.168.1.1 (to the XP comp) and 192.168.1.2 (to the Vista comp) and given both comps a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 - modified the Windows firewall to make an exception for File and Printer sharing - given folders on each of the comps the appropriate sharing properties After doing all of this I tried to ping each of the IP addresses on both comps. I was able to ping 192.168.1.2 on each of the comps but couldn't ping 192.168.1.1 on either of the comps (HUH???). I couldn't see the XP comp in the Network folder on the Vista comp and when I tried to look in the workgroup computers folder on the XP comp I got an error message saying that it wasn't accessible and that I may not have access to it. Any suggestions? I am completely stumped.

09-16-2009, 02:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
clyde123 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Glasgow Posts: 404 OS: xp sp2	Re: Connecting two computers with a crossover cable Try disabling the firewall/s for checking purposes. If that works, you'll need to config at least one of the firewalls. If that doesn't work, need to think of something else :-)

09-24-2009, 08:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
johnelway Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP	Re: Connecting two computers with a crossover cable After disabling all firewalls, I was able to open the workgroup computers folder on the XP comp but the Vista comp doesn't show up in it. So right now, I can see the Vista comp in the Network folder(which is on the Vista comp) and I can see the XP comp in the workgroup computers folder(which is on the XP comp). I'm guessing what should be happening is that both computers should show up in both folders? Any more ideas on how to do that?

09-25-2009, 02:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
clyde123 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Glasgow Posts: 404 OS: xp sp2	Re: Connecting two computers with a crossover cable Hi johnelway, what I normally do is have one shared folder on each computer, maybe on the desktop. Then I go to the second computer, browse across the network, and when I find the shared folder on the first one, make a shortcut to it. And vice versa. What you say in your first post sounds all good. It's usually firewalls, folder sharing, and not using same workgroup names that scuppers this. Also, sometimes it takes a few minutes for the both computers to show up. Actually, I'm just wondering : if you're using a crossover cable you won't have a router, so won't have any entry in the DNS Server config. Try putting the IP number of the opposite computer into each PC's TCP/IP setup for DNS server.

10-01-2009, 03:07 AM	#5 (permalink)
johnelway Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP	Re: Connecting two computers with a crossover cable Ok so I did everything as before and did what you said. I can successfully ping each computer from the other computer. On the Vista comp I can see the XP comp in the Network folder but when I try to access it I get a message saying that it 'cannot access //foldername'. And for whatever reason I can no longer open the workgroup folder on the XP comp, so I can't see anything.