How do I connect a laptop and dekstop computer via ethernet cable on Windows 10?

) August 15th, 2018

I used to be able to do this following this guideline in Method 1:
https://www.wikihow.com/Connect-a-Desktop-to-a-Laptop

When I set that up, I was able to connect my laptop to my desktop via Ethernet cord in a fingersnap.

My desktop is suddenly unable to detect my laptop when I have my Ethernet cord connected. My laptop detects my desktop but then says there is an error in connecting.

I tried following the guide in the link again but it was already set up the way it was years ago. The only thing I ever deviated from the directions was use subnet mask 255 instead of 225. For some reason Windows 10 didn’t like it when I used 225.

I just had a Windows 10 update on my desktop, so. . . I have a feeling it has something to do with that.

Windows troubleshooter is about as useless as a third nipple.

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4 Answers

I have not done direct PC-to-PC networking in 20 years, because switches and routers are so common.

For this purpose, can you connect both machines to one switch/router which acts as DHCP server?

Call_Me_Jay (14026

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My resident computer wizard says he has all his connected through the router. All the computers and tablets in our house work off the router.

YARNLADY (46587

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It just occurred to me that maybe Windows firewall is blocking the connection. I would try turning it off. I had a similar issue connecting to a machine on the same network with Remote Desktop. I had to turn off Windows’ firewall to make the connection.

Call_Me_Jay (14026

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Sorry. Forgot about this.

Huh. I didn’t think of using a wireless connection. I’ll have to figure out how to set that up. Nobody else in my house really needed to do this so the issue was never brought up. It was just me.

But if I connect to my laptop via wireless, only the computer I connect it to can view the laptop files. . .right? I don’t want anyone else in the household able to look into my files – for the sheer shake of privacy.

ScottyMcGeester (1897

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