283 replies to this topic

[jeckles]

Looks about right to me.

[The Corporal]

OK... Here's my issue.

I want to connect my laptop to the desktop computer for the sole purpose of playing a multiplayer game of Civ 4. I want to be able to play against a buddy of mine, but I guess I need to set up a LAN.

Aside from ethernet cable, what do I need? ANd then, what do I need to do? Will the computers automatically see each other and start humping communicating, or do I need to configure something somewhere.

FYI both systems operate Windows XP.

Edited by The Corporal, 13 January 2007 - 01:52 AM.

[jeckles]

You could connect them using a crossover Ethernet crossover cable. Or get a mini-switch and connect each of the computers to the switch with an Ethernet cable.

The important thing is to make sure that each of the computers has an IP address in the same subnet, but not the same address. e.g. 172.20.1.100 and 172.20.1.101

Also...

Shouldn't this be located in the Ask a tech thread?

[The Corporal]

Wait... We have on of those threads?

Will a standard Ethnet cable do? Or does it NEED to be a "crossover" cable?

Edited by The Corporal, 13 January 2007 - 05:31 AM.

[jeckles]

Yes.

Here.

[The Corporal]

Well, because I can't move the thread, can we keep this one and have one of the mods move it after?

***Nevermind***

I'll just re-post my question in the techie thread.

Edited by The Corporal, 13 January 2007 - 05:35 AM.

[jeckles]

The Corporal, on Jan 13 2007, 12:30 AM, said:

Wait... We have on of those threads?

Will a standard Ethnet cable do? Or does it NEED to be a "crossover" cable?

If you are connect directly from one computer to another, you need a crossover cable. If you are connecting to a switch (or hub) a regular Ethernet cable is fine.

[The Corporal]

So, I'm setting up a LAN. I want to connect the laptop to the desktop for the sole purpose of playing a multiplayer game of Civ 4. Jeckles said I need a crossover Ethernet cable. Is that just a standard Ethernet cable, or do I need to go to Staples and ask for a "crossover" Ethernet cable?

[jeckles]

As i was saying...

If you are connect directly from one computer to another, you need a crossover cable. If you are connecting to a switch (or hub) a regular Ethernet cable is fine.

[The Corporal]

Sorry about the confusion. Tequila!

Anyway, is the crossover cable expensive, or pretty cheap? Once I get it, is it as simple as hooking the two computers together and running the Network Connection Wizard thing?

[jeckles]

The cable should be fairly inexpensive.

Just connect the computers. But screw the Network Connection Wizard. Go to network properties and configure it manually. There are step by step instructions here.

[Zach]

You need an ethernet cable with BLAST PROCESSING!!!

[The Corporal]

Thanks Jeckles. I should be able to handle it. I thought I might need a sledge hammer and blow torch to get the job done, but, you saved me. (And the computers.)

[Alexplosive]

Zach, on Jan 12 2007, 10:16 PM, said:

You need an ethernet cable with BLAST PROCESSING!!!

LMAO! What's blast processing?

Corporal, do yourself a favor and just get an inexpensive switch or a hub, or even a standard DSL/Cablemodem router. Im sure you can find any of these for around 30 bucks on Craigslist or Ebay. Then you can have multiple computers connected and have yourself a lan party, get drunk/stoned , and have a good time.

Edited by Alexplosive, 14 January 2007 - 12:26 AM.

[ceribik]

Alexplosive, on Jan 14 2007, 11:25 AM, said:

LMAO! What's blast processing?

Corporal, do yourself a favor and just get an inexpensive switch or a hub, or even a standard DSL/Cablemodem router. Im sure you can find any of these for around 30 bucks on Craigslist or Ebay. Then you can have multiple computers connected and have yourself a lan party, get drunk/stoned , and have a good time.

I'd recommend a router as well. If your planning to get a hub/switch, you might as well get a router. It can be more useful - most come with a firewall.

[Dave]

Dear Tech Geek,
There's a myth that leaving one's computer on saves more energy than booting it up every day. The people on the Mythbusters TV show ran an experiment with light bulbs (the similar myth that leaving a light bulb on is more energy efficient than flicking it on and off all the time). That turned out to be false. Leaving a light bulb on wastes energy. What's the deal with the computer?

[monogodo]

I always thought that the purpose of leaving a computer on was to save wear & tear on certain components, not for energy savings.

Of course, keep in mind that the first computers I worked with were the TRS 80 Model III, TRS 80 Model 4, TRS 80 Model 4P, and Osbourne Executive.

Edited by monogodo, 02 February 2007 - 12:09 AM.

[Meathe]

Dave, on Feb 1 2007, 03:30 PM, said:

Dear Tech Geek,
There's a myth that leaving one's computer on saves more energy than booting it up every day. The people on the Mythbusters TV show ran an experiment with light bulbs (the similar myth that leaving a light bulb on is more energy efficient than flicking it on and off all the time). That turned out to be false. Leaving a light bulb on wastes energy. What's the deal with the computer?

It does the same as a light bulb. Leaving it on consumes energy. Sleep mode is like a dimmer switch. Its puts it in a lower power consumption state, but its still burning energy.

Hibernate actually saves the current state of the machine to disk and shuts the PC off. Then loads it up again when you restart, so you can pick up where you left off, consuming nothing until you hit the on button.

The leaving it on to reduce wear theory is pretty much outdated. The HDD cold start problems have been pretty much taken care of (except for the very occasional sticktion). Even if it does increase wear fractionally, chances are you'll upgrade it before it fails.


Of course, the only reason I shut mine off is that the fans spinning bug me if I'm trying to sleep (NY shoebox apartment).

[Chad]

Wow, I leave my computer on all the time except for like one night a week where I turn it off to give it a break. I'll go and turn on the hibernate mode.

[Cobra Commander]

Cobra Island has been hit with a freak tropical snow storm. Instead of rock salt, we're thinking of taking a few hundred old PCs, ripping out the cooling fans and setting them out on the sidewalk to melt the snow.

What other odd ways can we put old PCs to work?