How can i easily find other computer connected with a ethernet cable on windows?

I have two PC's with Windows 7 that connect to internet via WiFi. But when i want to transfer large amount of data between them, i connect both with a network cable.

When i do this, Windows assigns a crazy IP to each, and i can reach PC1 by typing PC2's ip on explorer, for instance: \\169.254.175.51

To find PC1's ip I open a cmd and type ipconfig /all, and locate the ip for the ethernet adapter. Then i have to mind this number and go to PC2 and type it.

This works very well but it's quite bothersome. I could assign a fixed ip to PC2, but then i would have to change this every time i have to connect it to a cabled network. I don't know if naming the computer would work, but i'm afraid the wireless connection would be used instead of the cabled.

So, is there an easier way of doing it?

bortao

Posted 2012-08-22T03:36:34.667

Reputation: 688

So long as you disable the wifi adapter when the cable is in use the name resolution should be fine - provided you have network discovery settings set - and you're assured of using the LAN instead of WiFi. – Beeblebrox – 2012-08-22T03:55:21.653

Answers

Assign a static IP address to the network cards (10.0.0.1 and 10.0.0.2). Then put them in the same subnet (subnetmask 255.255.255.251). That should about do it.

NOTE: This assumes you aren't using a 10.0.0.0 network for your WiFi connections.

For more info (and pretty pictures) go here.

Just so you know, those crazy IP addresses are referred to as self assigned.

Everett

Posted 2012-08-22T03:36:34.667

Reputation: 5 425

the problem with this is that sometimes i go to a place where there's only cabled internet available. so i would have to set the adapter to dhcp again, and then back when i want to crossover. – bortao – 2012-08-22T22:51:46.613

If you want to be DHCP compatible with this other destination, you need to buy a router that has DHCP capability and put it between the two computers, then hook both computers to it. – Everett – 2012-08-22T23:16:01.523

I assume that this answers the question? – Everett – 2012-08-24T05:52:05.850

no, it's even ON the question itself "I could assign a fixed ip to PC2, but then i would have to change this every time i have to connect it to a cabled network." – bortao – 2012-08-27T00:07:09.587

Then there is no answer for you. – Everett – 2012-08-27T03:22:28.357