Setting up peer-to-peer wireless network

How can I set up a wireless peer-to-peer network easily between my laptop
(running XP Media Center) and my desktop (running XP SP2)?

I don't have internet access, and so have no need of a wireless router. I
gather I should be able to make the two machines (each has a wireless
adapter) talk directly to each other. The Wireless Networking Wizard has
failed to get them to connect to each other despite copying the settings
across directly on a flash drive.

I can get one to claim to be connected while the other one isn't (how does
that work?!!), and sometimes both claim to be connected and disconnected *at
the same time* (when I browse available connections, they say the network I'm
trying to set up is disconnected, and yet when I click on them they ask me if
I want to disconnect because I am connected).

Both seem to spend a long time connecting, then claiming they are connected,
then "acquiring a network address", then failing to find one and giving up.

Is there an easy way to get these to talk to each other?

Hi
The Wireless connection utility might state "Connected" when there is a
Wireless signal reception. However if some thing is wrong with the Network,
or any of the components related to the Network, there is real Network
connection.
Hopefully you configure the two Wireless Card to an Ad-Hoc mode and you gave
each a Static IP that is on the same subnet.
If every thing looks good you need to set windows sharing.
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304040
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"Richard A" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:199AE8CC-FCFD-4B4A-A18E-(E-Mail Removed)...
> How can I set up a wireless peer-to-peer network easily between my laptop
> (running XP Media Center) and my desktop (running XP SP2)?
>
> I don't have internet access, and so have no need of a wireless router. I
> gather I should be able to make the two machines (each has a wireless
> adapter) talk directly to each other. The Wireless Networking Wizard has
> failed to get them to connect to each other despite copying the settings
> across directly on a flash drive.
>
> I can get one to claim to be connected while the other one isn't (how does
> that work?!!), and sometimes both claim to be connected and disconnected
> *at
> the same time* (when I browse available connections, they say the network
> I'm
> trying to set up is disconnected, and yet when I click on them they ask me
> if
> I want to disconnect because I am connected).
>
> Both seem to spend a long time connecting, then claiming they are
> connected,
> then "acquiring a network address", then failing to find one and giving
> up.
>
> Is there an easy way to get these to talk to each other?

Richard A wrote:
> How can I set up a wireless peer-to-peer network easily between my laptop
> (running XP Media Center) and my desktop (running XP SP2)?
>
> I don't have internet access, and so have no need of a wireless router. I
> gather I should be able to make the two machines (each has a wireless
> adapter) talk directly to each other. The Wireless Networking Wizard has
> failed to get them to connect to each other despite copying the settings
> across directly on a flash drive.
>
> I can get one to claim to be connected while the other one isn't (how does
> that work?!!), and sometimes both claim to be connected and disconnected *at
> the same time* (when I browse available connections, they say the network I'm
> trying to set up is disconnected, and yet when I click on them they ask me if
> I want to disconnect because I am connected).
>
> Both seem to spend a long time connecting, then claiming they are connected,
> then "acquiring a network address", then failing to find one and giving up.
>
> Is there an easy way to get these to talk to each other?

You want an "ad hoc" wireless network.
Making the Wireless Home Network Connection in Windows XP Without a
Router (forget about the "sharing the connection" part of the article)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...02april08.mspx

Here's another, non-Microsoft, explanation, which makes the valid point
"3. Go into the network card properties and set a channel for the
wireless network to use. Make sure you set the channel to the same
number on each machine. If you don't have the same value set, the
network will not work." Usually, however, if you don't do anything, the
channel will be at the same default for both computers. The post also
suggests setting static IPs, which will speed up connection between the
two computers. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,13301334

And beware of 3rd party firewalls (and "Internet Worm Protection").
These will have to be configured to allow your computers to talk to each
other.

Good wireless security (WPA-PSK) can't be used with ad hoc networks
(which might be a reason to buy yourself an inexpensive wireless
router). You'll have to use WEP or perhaps "WPA-None" (see this thread:
http://www.mcse.ms/archive186-2005-2-1410465.html)
--
Lem MS MVP -- Networking

To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

> The Wireless connection utility might state "Connected" when there is a
> Wireless signal reception. However if some thing is wrong with the Network,
> or any of the components related to the Network, there is real Network
> connection.
> Hopefully you configure the two Wireless Card to an Ad-Hoc mode and you gave
> each a Static IP that is on the same subnet.

Thanks for the suggestion. Forgive my ignorance, but what does this mean? I
don't see anywhere to enter IP addresses etc. and "subnet" doens't mean
anything to me at all. Can you tell me where to look and also suggest two
addresses etc. that I can enter there?

More usefully, though, is there anywhere with a simple single set of
step-by-step instructions for setting up this kind of network. I did read the
article at:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...02april08.mspx

but my dialog boxes look completely different and I'm baffled by all the
various options etc.



> If every thing looks good you need to set windows sharing.
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304040
> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>
> "Richard A" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:199AE8CC-FCFD-4B4A-A18E-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > How can I set up a wireless peer-to-peer network easily between my laptop
> > (running XP Media Center) and my desktop (running XP SP2)?
> >
> > I don't have internet access, and so have no need of a wireless router. I
> > gather I should be able to make the two machines (each has a wireless
> > adapter) talk directly to each other. The Wireless Networking Wizard has
> > failed to get them to connect to each other despite copying the settings
> > across directly on a flash drive.
> >
> > I can get one to claim to be connected while the other one isn't (how does
> > that work?!!), and sometimes both claim to be connected and disconnected
> > *at
> > the same time* (when I browse available connections, they say the network
> > I'm
> > trying to set up is disconnected, and yet when I click on them they ask me
> > if
> > I want to disconnect because I am connected).
> >
> > Both seem to spend a long time connecting, then claiming they are
> > connected,
> > then "acquiring a network address", then failing to find one and giving
> > up.
> >
> > Is there an easy way to get these to talk to each other?
>
>
>

Hi
This page might help in Network installation,
http://www.ezlan.net/Installing.html
Since you do not have a Router with an automatic Network address assignment,
you need to assign the Network Addresses (AKA IP number) manually.
Menus look like this, http://www.ezlan.net/network/altIP.jpg
In the left Window, check the "Use the Following IP Address", and assign one
computer with
192.168.1.1 Subnet 255.255.255.0
Second computer 192.168.1.2 Subnet 255.255.255.0
Jack (MVP-Networking).


"Richard A" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:08AF49F7-D361-4AB9-A278-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> The Wireless connection utility might state "Connected" when there is a
>> Wireless signal reception. However if some thing is wrong with the
>> Network,
>> or any of the components related to the Network, there is real Network
>> connection.
>> Hopefully you configure the two Wireless Card to an Ad-Hoc mode and you
>> gave
>> each a Static IP that is on the same subnet.
>
> Thanks for the suggestion. Forgive my ignorance, but what does this mean?
> I
> don't see anywhere to enter IP addresses etc. and "subnet" doens't mean
> anything to me at all. Can you tell me where to look and also suggest two
> addresses etc. that I can enter there?
>
> More usefully, though, is there anywhere with a simple single set of
> step-by-step instructions for setting up this kind of network. I did read
> the
> article at:
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...02april08.mspx
>
> but my dialog boxes look completely different and I'm baffled by all the
> various options etc.
>
>
>
>> If every thing looks good you need to set windows sharing.
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304040
>> Jack (MVP-Networking).
>>
>> "Richard A" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:199AE8CC-FCFD-4B4A-A18E-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > How can I set up a wireless peer-to-peer network easily between my
>> > laptop
>> > (running XP Media Center) and my desktop (running XP SP2)?
>> >
>> > I don't have internet access, and so have no need of a wireless router.
>> > I
>> > gather I should be able to make the two machines (each has a wireless
>> > adapter) talk directly to each other. The Wireless Networking Wizard
>> > has
>> > failed to get them to connect to each other despite copying the
>> > settings
>> > across directly on a flash drive.
>> >
>> > I can get one to claim to be connected while the other one isn't (how
>> > does
>> > that work?!!), and sometimes both claim to be connected and
>> > disconnected
>> > *at
>> > the same time* (when I browse available connections, they say the
>> > network
>> > I'm
>> > trying to set up is disconnected, and yet when I click on them they ask
>> > me
>> > if
>> > I want to disconnect because I am connected).
>> >
>> > Both seem to spend a long time connecting, then claiming they are
>> > connected,
>> > then "acquiring a network address", then failing to find one and giving
>> > up.
>> >
>> > Is there an easy way to get these to talk to each other?
>>
>>
>>

Jack (MVP-Networking). <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

<snip>

> Since you do not have a Router with an automatic Network address
> assignment, you need to assign the Network Addresses (AKA IP number)
> manually. Menus look like this, http://www.ezlan.net/network/altIP.jpg
> In the left Window, check the "Use the Following IP Address", and assign
> one computer with 192.168.1.1 Subnet 255.255.255.0
> Second computer 192.168.1.2 Subnet 255.255.255.0

Why not use the self assigned ip-address?