During Chinese New Year, I needed to connect 2 laptops together to transfer some files over to another laptop but unfortunately there are no wireless router or cross link network cable. If there is a wireless router, all I need is the wireless encryption password or if I had a cross link cable, manually setting up the IP address and subnet mask will do. Luckily I could still remember the steps on how to share internet connection in XP without wireless router but this time I had Windows Vista.
Other than able to connect to each other and access shared files, it is also possible to share internet connection. I hate to use Windows Vista but for the first time I am impressed on how easy it is to connect 2 or more computers together using ad hoc wireless network in Windows Vista. So if you have a mixture of XP and Vista computers that you want to share files or internet connection without a wireless router, I’d suggest you to set up the Vista computer as the server to share the internet and the rest can act as clients to connect to the Vista computer.
Here’s how you do it. First, let’s configure the host computer running Vista that will act as a wireless access point.
1. Right click the small icon that shows 2 computers at the notification area and select Network and Sharing Center.
2. At the left hand Tasks pane, select “Set up a connection or network“
3. Choose “Set up a wireless ad hoc (computer-to-computer) network” and click Next.
4. You will now see a window that says “An ad hoc network (sometimes called a computer-to-computer network) is a temporary network used for sharing files, presentations, or an Internet connection among multiple computers and devices. Computers and devices in ad hoc networks must be within 30 feet of each other. If you’re currently connected to a wireless network, you might be disconnected when you set up this network.” Click Next.
5. Enter any network name, select a security type and enter a security key or passphrase. (I use ray-temp-network as network name, WEP for security type and password 12345) Click Next. It is optional to check “Save this network” to save it as wireless network profile. If not, you’ll need to recreate it again the next time after a reboot.
6. Wait for Windows Vista to set up the temporary ad-hoc network. Once it has finished setting up, it’ll tell you that the network is ready to use. If you want to share internet connection, click “Turn on Internet connection sharing” located at the bottom of the window.
That’s all you need to do on the HOST computer. As you can see, the wizard makes it so easy on how to set up an ad-hoc wireless network in Vista. To connect another laptop whether it is running Windows XP or Vista, open up your Wireless Network Connection to scan for the ad-hoc connection. The network name that you configured at step 5 above should show up in the list. I will show you an example on how I use another Vista computer to connect to the host computer.
1. Right click the small icon that shows 2 computers at the notification area and select Connect to a network.
2. Select the network ray-temp-network and click Connect. If you’re prompted that the network you’re trying to connect is an unsecured network, just select “Connect Anyway“.
3. Enter the security key/passphrase as 12345 (or the one which you enter at step 5 when setting up the HOST) and click Connect.
You should see a message that says “Successfully connected to [Your Network Name]“. Click Close and you can start using the Internet and also access the shared files on the other computer that is connected to the ad-hoc network. Remember, the computers must be within 30 feet (9 meters) or else you will get very unstable or no connection at all.
Is it possible to use the unsecured wireless network to transfer your file? And Is it possible to use the unsecured network to act as a bridge to play the game?
HELLO TTHERE.. I AM USING WINDOWS VISTA ULTIMATE…. I TRY TO USE HOC CONNECTION BUT I CAN NOT SHARE MY INTERNET… CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME WHY?? THANKS?
thanks ur info helped me a lot
hii,
i got a problem im trying to set up my ad hoc for internet, but on step that asks you to share and internet connection? well i dont have that button in box that tells me, that the connection is ready to use?
do you have any suggestions?
thanks
just wondering if it is possible to use this procedure to set up a wireless connection with the ps3?
problem detected DNS server isnt responding
after doing the setting the internet is not coming and while connecting to other pc it is saying incorrect name
i hav a doubt ray, when i connect wireless connection as you hav specified it shows “unidentified network” in my friends laptop
Gd day Raymonnd,
Pls help me to connect my Vista to unsecured network directly to my laptop. Is this possible to connect vista to unsecured network. Why XP can connect to unsrcured network, and Vista cannot connected? What is the difference of this 2 OS in terms of Network connection
i have done all that and its all connected and what not. But i still cant connect to the internet on my other computer. it says it connected locally but thats its, still no internet
Sir how about if I used XP OS, there’s no network and sharing center like in Vista..
How could I connect wireless laptop across accesspoint by using OS XP?
hi’
if I want to connect via acrossover cable between to windows vista laptops just to share big size files and I want to keep the 2 laptops connected to the internet through wireless network. because I want to transfer the big size files via a local network not via the wireless connection help me plz.
I had it all worked out… but after this, my access point got battery emptied and i didn’t noticed it. That makes my other laptop to disconnect its internet connection. After I reboot my access point laptop, I can no longer to have internet connection with my other laptop although I still have a connection with my access point. I had already reset the connections but still my laptop cant connect to the internet.
pls help
TY :)
Hi..
well yesterday i was using n it was working v. well .. now every thing is working but the internet sharing option disapper i try every thing trun on n off firewell.. file sharing..every thing .. but still cant see the sharing option… im using 2 laptop one with vista n other with xp… visata with 2 wireless card.. so with one im connected to internet and other one for ah-hoc…..can u tell me whats the problem
hi,
i tried it . it worked the first time. but later windows Vista is not showing the option to share the internet connection whenever i’m trying to set p a new ad hoc network. and internet sharing is not working in the first network either. plz help..
Hello Raymond
I have gone through the steps you told and successfully connected to the network however i can’t see my other laptop in the network. when i go to see device connected in the network i can see only the computer i am on doesn’t matter whichever computer i go. Basically the same computer being reflected. Can someone guide me how do i copy data from other computer…….?
Thanks in Advance……..
Thats so nice to see this, plz more clearly represent.Thank you
I am using Windows vista ultimate on my compaq c785tu laptap. In create new connection wizard it is not showing computer to computer network.
Please advise.
owh..thanx for the info…never though i can connect 2 comp togethere before without using any router or etc
Hei raymond
what happen to you?
we are your also reader want know what going to you for 8 day…
if you dont want to shared with us…never mind
but reader will think something about you
Nice to read from ur side after long week
Hope you enjoyed the new year and were busy
Keep up the good work
how to access the shared files ray? via ad-hoc?
can you keep an ad-hoc connection permanent though, hmmm
good timing with this tip raymond. i\’ve been wanting to do this for a while now. i\’ve even bought a wireless router to make the connection between computers, but having wireless capability on vista computer saved me from complicating matters by routing everything through the wireless router. i just did what you suggested in this post and it worked like a charm.
thanks, keep up the good work and nice to hear from you again.
thanks for more info regarding to connect two or more Vista Computers together using wireless for sharing internet files. this is the is my tue problem.
In our place there are so many unsecured network., but unfortunately I wonder why only computer with XP OS is the the only can connected on the said unsecured network. Me and my friends with Vista cannot be connected. I try this one. Thanks again.
Welcome, glad to see you’re back, Raymond.
Chunjie kuaile!
Good Come Back!
glad to hear you again. welcome back!!! as usual, no place to learn this stuff but here..thanks again…
Goooooooood 2 C U back ! Ray
Thanks for the info.
hi raymond..thx for this…bt wat hapend to u.?r u alrite??u r sending this post after a long time..everything fine??
Nice tip. I would try it too. Thanks again for useful info. Really appreciate your blogs
Ray you Are really the best in your amazing news.
Love u
Bye
missing u mate
Missed ya mate, now that you are back, let’s get show on the road eh? Welcome Back!
Hi Ray! Welcome back! You were missed these last few days! I guess the New Year’s very nice (hey, happy new year for u).
Btw, thanks for the article…
thx ray . now i no need transfer files with my pendrive .
I dont have that ‘Set up a wireless ad hoc (computer-to-computer) network’
:(
ive been using the adhoc to play dota with my fren..
this is great..i will test the internet with my fren tonite!
thx raymond!
Hurray, you’re back!!!, back to my daily midnight checking/break from homework. Thanks for covering this, i’ve been wondering how to use this function without screwing up my internet some way.