How to create wireless ad hoc connection between two computers

Hey everybody. Today I want to share with you all the steps needed to connect two laptops without any access point. Currently, I am at home enjoying my semester break. Here, there is no router to share internet connection. It is not needed, as there is always just one computer at home if no one comes back for holiday.
Working and surfing at a fixed place with table and chair is not something fun for me. It just denies the portability of a laptop. As the two laptops do have wireless capability, it is possible to share the connection wirelessly. Wireless router is a solution, but I need to buy that first. Besides, the router will collect dust, when there is just one computer at home. Today’s economy situation also doesn’t allow me to waste the money unwisely. Therefore, I decided to give ad hoc connection a try.
OK, let’s get to the thing. Below are the steps on how to create wireless ad hoc connection between two computers in Windows XP.

1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet Connection > Network Connections
2. Here you will find your Wireless Network Connection Icon. Right click and choose Properties
   
3. Select the Wireless Networks tab. Click the Advanced button and select the third option “Computer-to-computer (ad hoc) networks only”. Then click OK
   

4. After that, you need to add a wireless network connection. Click the Add.. . button.
   
5. Enter the network name and your Network key. If the network key’s field is disabled, untick the option “The key is provided for me automatically”. For the WEP network key, you need to enter exactly 5 or 13 characters. (If you want to be more secure, you can choose to use longer network key, exactly 10 or 26 characters using 0-9 and A-F.)
   
6. Repeat the same steps on the other computer.
7. After that, go back to the Network Connections window. Select your Internet connection and choose “Properties”. In my case, I need to select the “Broadband” option as I connect to the internet using WAN Miniport.
   
8. Go to Advanced tab and tick the option “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection”. Select your Wireless Connection on the drop down menu.
   
9. So, everything is ready. Now, go to Start > Connect to > Wireless Network Connection. Here you will find the network you have set. Choose the network and click connect. You don’t need to enter the key, as the key is already saved. It may appear shorter than the actual key, but you don’t need to change that. Just click connect. Do the same thing to the other laptop. Now you are done! Start surfing wirelessly!

   

The steps above should actually work. But if you do have problem connecting to the wireless network, you can try to set the IP manually. This can be done by repeating step 1 and step 2. Then, instead of choosing Wireless Networks tab, stay at the General tab and higlight the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Then click Properties. Choose the option “Use the following IP address:” and enter this numbers
IP address: 192.168.0.1
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway:192.168.0.1

Repeat this on the other computer but you need to change the last number of the IP address e.g. 192.168.0.3

And for the computer which does not connect directly to the internet, you might need to set the DNS server addresses to get the internet connection. First you need to get to the computer with internet connection. Run this command: cmd /k ipconfig /all
There a window will popup and you will find the DNS addresses there. Key in the addresses in the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) properties.

I think there will be no problem anymore. You should be successfully connected to the internet. Feel free to contact me or leave a comment here, if you are still facing problems.