No Aids Racing

just wondering if any of you pc guru's here can tell me a few things about setting up a LAN between two computers.

I have two other systems, and i would like to connect them so i can do a little LAN racing with friends

Question one : do you need internet access to do this?
Q # 2 : if not, then HOW do you do it? lol, just need an ethernet cable? and then use the XP setup wizard?

Yo Steve,
If you are behind a router already then it is also a hub as well.
Run the setup wizard and it will set up as a stock mshome(xp)network.
The only problem with it is it will only connect through tcip protocol.Nota big deal though.You probably won't even have to share your drives to connect thru a game.

but can you do it without an internet connection? the pc's will be right next to each other, i'd just like to connect them to do some racing with friends

Now comes the fun part.
Normally you are not sharing a drive but are sharing some "shared files ".
If you want to speed up your lan experience then this is what you do.
Since tcip is the only protocol used in the normal network sharing wizard you may want to use 2 other protocols that allow more bandwidth to speed up your lan play.
here we go...Go to network places and view you network connection...2.right click on the network connection itself and left click properties.Look for an install button and press it...it will give you options of clients...service...and protocols.....click on protocols and then look for
"nwlink netbios/ipx protocol"click the add button.This will install ipx and netbios protocols(higher bandwidth for lan connections).it will take a few seconds and it will add them.The microsoft clients and file and print sharing should already be at the top of the middle box with a checkmark beside them.The most importnat thing is to make sure both computers have the same properties in the middle box with all the protocols and clients and such.This should happen automatically if you run the network setup wizard.SHaring drives like the c drive is easy.click on "my computer"and then right click "c" drive and left click properties.
there shouls be a sharing option in there.make sure you "share the "c"drive between all users and allow users to change files also.
One more importatnt thing.Make sure the firewall is off on the network connection on both computers as it may make it either slower or onaccessible between the 2 computers...whew ...this is a bitch to write all down...LOL...
carrera

Yes you can steve just use the router with internet not atached or use a crossover cable between 2 computers.
carrera

If the above post is too comlicated then don't bother with it.I use faster protocol for the newer games like silent hunter 3 or far cry which needs bettre bandwith.If you want to keep it simple just use a router and use the network setup wizard.The above protocol changes are for diehard lan speed demons like myself.Hopefully you have a router with a four or more workgroup switch or extra ports on it.If you do...just keep it simple and run the network setup wizard.You will be stuck only running tcip protocol though although you may not notice much difference in game like f1challenge.
carrera

hahaha, i have no router, only one pc i have is connected to the internet m8

Well Steve that makes things easier as well.
ROuters are expensive but not too much in the states.
You should get your self a workgroup switch which is basically a network hub with 4 ports or more.They are cheap.maybe 20 or 30 bucks.Then you can just hook up lan cables to it and any computer that comes over to play.Use the network wizard and voila..it works...simpler than a crossover cable because you can have only 2 computers on that.I use to have a workgroup switch(hub) but gave it to my previous landlord(megahurts in f1challenge if you remember him).he swears by it and almost every machine nowadays has a netork card built in when you buy it.pretty easy to set up lan that way m8 and fairly cheap too.
carrera

now here's the question, can you set up a lan between two computers if NEITHER one has an internet connection? just to play a game via lan? forgive my ignorance here m8, i know ZERO about this LAN stuff, as you can plainly tell, lol

WHoops I wrote a reply to that steve and obviously it didn't take ..sorry.
Simple way of fixing a lan between 2 computers???
You don't need an internet connection to set up a lan game.Just go out and buy a crossover cable.It is usually yellow and not a gray or blue one like a lan cable.Hook the crossover cable from one network card to another and setup a network(network wizard on both computers).voila.you should be able to play from then on...It will not affect your internet connection either.In fact.If you set up the networkwizard to use both computers connected to internet thru one computer.Both can play online as well...as in...f1 challenge or whatever..
carrera