How to connect a laptop to desktop (ashamed)

[paradidle]

yup, complete noob question! what kinda cable am I looking at cos i doubt we can connect wireless?

cheers

Im just an idiot with a pooter!

[Kezzer]

RJ-45 connector on your lappy, patch cable (cat5) network cable into RJ-45 on your other rig perhaps?

[dgr]

you can do it with a cat5 crossover cable.

[paradidle]

what r these and where can i get em from? this is basically for gaming and file swaping

[Mozzer]

ebay

[spazman]

Loads of places, pcworld perhaps should be very cheap too

[directhex]

first, verify that you have a network connection on your laptop. it should take a cable that looks like this:



if not, then you'll need a card:



this would go into a PCMCIA slot on the laptop. you could use a wireless card instead if you have wireless already around the house.

a the PC end, you'll be needing a network card



you may not have one, it might be built onto the motherboard, either way you need that. or wireless, but that costs more & is tricky to set up.

finally, to connect between the machines, you need either a Cat5e Crossover Cable:



or a two regular, bog standard, boring cables and a network hub or switch:




the crossover cable is for 2 machines only, a hub/switch would allow you to plug in as many machiens as you want over time. a switch is better, btw

[paradidle]

Thanks direct!