Networking using crossover

[ainr0filac]

I have two computers, they both run windows XP serv pack 2. And I cant seem to network the two computers together using a crossover cable. I want to connect the two computers together just for gaming, I am trying to play battlefield 2 through multi player. I put the IP address at 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.0.2 on the other and the subnet mask field at 255.255.255.0 on both of the computers. Even if I get them networked I still dont know how to share a game between the two computers cause I cant use TCP/IP because I only have a 56K internet connection because we dont have dsl, cable, clearwire or anything where I live. Any advice would be very much appreciated, thanks in advance. Also if it matters, the computers I am trying to network are.

Intel 2.8 GHZ
1.5 GB ram
150 HD

Intel 2.68 GHZ core duo 2
2 GB ram
130 HD

[Erik]

Internet connection speed shouldn't make much difference, you are planning to play over the LAN, right?

Getting a crossover cable and putting the IPs in as mentioned, and allowing the connections in the XP firewall should be enough. Easiest way though is to buy a simple router.

[Paul Komski]

If you want to share a dial-up internet connection then that needs a little more attention than just networking two computers together. I regularly use a crossover cable as a DCC and for just two PCs this should work just fine. The essentials of setting up a two PC LAN is not fundamentally different whether its DCC, a hub, a switch or a router.

With WinXP home or pro on both PCs I personally don't set any fixed IP addresses but let both PCs "Obtain an IP address automatically"; disable simple file sharing if WinXP pro; share at least one folder on each PC; use a simple short name for both computers; enable the guest account or have one common user name on both computers (even if it is not a user name that is logged-on to); disconnect from the internet and turn off/uninstall all firewalls (including the Windows firewall) until the file sharing is established; reboot both PCs and wait long enough (often a couple of minutes) for the two PCs "to establish a conversation".