Share Files between Two Computers Using LAN Cable
Step 1
Connect both computers to a LAN cable. You can use any LAN cable (crossover cable or ethernet cable); it doesn’t matter on a modern computer.
Step 2
OK, now you have to turn on the sharing options on both computers.
Search for Control Panel in the start menu and open it. Here, go to “Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings.”
Here, select the radio option “turn on network detection” under public folder sharing. Now, select the radio option “turn off password protected sharing.” This way, you don’t have to type in your password each and every time you are trying to access shared folders from another computer.
However, this is also a significant security risk. So, make sure to select “Turn on password protected sharing” once you are done transferring the files via ethernet cable.
Step 3
Now we should bring both the computers on to the same network.
1. Open Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center.
2. You will see Local Area Connection or Ethernet.
3. Right-click it and go to its properties.
4. You will see TCP/ IPv4 option there. Select it and then click on the Properties button.
5. In the properties window, select the option “Use the following IP address.” Now, put the following values on 1st computer
- IP Address: 192.168.1.1
- Subnet mask: 225.225.225.0
- Default gateway: 192.168.1.2
Of course, it’s not necessary you use these IP addresses as long as the IP addresses are in same range, you are good to go. If you are not sure what this all means, better stick with this example.
On the second computer, open the IPv4 properties and enter the following values.
- IP address: 192.168.1.2
- Subnet mask: 225.225.225.0
- Default gateway: 192.168.1.1
Basically, what we are doing is keeping the subnet mask same and changing the IP address.
If everything works right, you will see the two computer names in the Networks panel.
Step 4
Assuming that you have connected the cable properly, enabled the sharing options, and configured the IP addresses, it is now the time to send files from one computer to another. For that, you first need to share the target folder on LAN.
1. Select the folder you want to share and right-click on it.
2. From the context menu, navigate to “Share with” and select the option “Specific People.”
3. In the File Sharing window, select Everyone from the drop-down menu, click on the “Add” button next to it and then click on the “Share” button.
That’s it. Just go back to the Networks panel from the computer where you want to access the file and click on the other computer’s name. Here, you will see the folder you just shared. From there, just open the folder and transfer the files and folders as you normally do. i.e, by copy and paste.
Sources.
