Share Files and play games through Wifi (ad hoc network)

What we will be doing is creating an ad hoc network between two computers.  This will allow you to share files, play multiplayer games etc. without a router or access point. When you normally connect to a wireless network it is in infrastructure mode. What you need to do is create the ad hoc host on one of the computers.  In the Windows XP view wireless network window, click on the left hand pane area that says “Change advanced settings.” After that, click on the wireless networks tab. Next, click add below the box that has all of the wireless networks on it. Then for the SSID change it to “Test” or whatever you want to call it. Just leave the Network Authentication Open and change Data encryption to disabled.  Then at the bottom of the window check “This is a computer to computer (ad hoc) network; wireless access points are not used." Click OK. Next, Click on the General Tab which is next to the Wireless Networks tab. Scroll down and double click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).  Next select “Use the following IP address.” In the box next to it type 192.168.12.3 and then click the subnet mask box. The numbers will automatically appear as 255.255.255.0  .  Finally click OK and then click OK on the last window.  Now this computer (computer 1) is ready to go.

Now goto the other computer (computer 2) and once again click change advanced settings in the view wireless networks. Now again double click on TCP/IP. Click, “Use the following IP address.” But, this time next to IP address type in 192.168.12.2 and then click on subnet mask which will auto fill to 255.255.255.0 .  Finally click OK. And Click OK again. Now the computers are ready to be setup on the same network.  So, on the computer 2, simply goto view wireless networks find the “Test” network and connect to it. Now, to share some files. Goto the other computer 1 and right click on a folder or drive that you want to share and select “Sharing and Security.” Next, click the link and select the box “Share this folder on the network.” Type in a name such as “Drive.” Next, select the box that says “allow network users to change my files.” Finally click ok.  Next, goto to the other computer (computer 2) that is 192.168.12.2 . Goto Start “My computer” and in the address bar, which is towards the top of the window, type in \\192.168.12.3\ . Then  computer 1 should come up and you should see the shared folder Drive inside.  Your Done! 

Now to set your computer back to normal after you have shared your files.  Go back to the TCP/IP properties and set the IP address to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and click OK on the first and second pages.  This will allow you to reconnect to normal wireless networks.