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I just bought a new computer and I have a lot of files to transfer. Both computers are connected to my wifi router but it takes way too much time this way (estimated to take more than a day).

I'd like to connect the 2 computers directly using wifi but without using the router. Is there a way to accomplish this?

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@Phoshi: thanks for fixing the errors, my spell checker was a little off ;-) – Julien Poulin Nov 27 '09 at 22:32

4 Answers

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I've not done it myself, but Windows 7 supports this. Go to the Network and Sharing Center, click on Setup a new connection or network and the last option on the window that pops up is setup a wireless ad-hoc network.

You should be able to run that on both systems and get them to connect.

Edit after reading the real problem

Connect them with an Ethernet cable. The ad-hoc may be faster, but that that much faster (unless ad-hoc will get you 802.11n and the router is 802.11g). The best you could hope for is half-a-day If at least one of the laptops has gigabit ethernet, then you don't even need a cross-over cable, it will auto-detect.

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I managed to connect them using this method. It's still going to take some time but it' already 5 times faster than going through the router. Thanks. – Julien Poulin Nov 27 '09 at 22:30
Good to hear, @Julien. Could you let us know if you used the ad-hoc method @shf301 described, or an Ethernet cable? – JMD Nov 27 '09 at 22:43
I used the ad-hoc method. It's really easy to set up, just go to the Network and Sharing Center, then 'Add a new Connection or Network', choose the 'Wireless ad-hoc' option and follow the steps. The connection will be dismissed once all clients have disconnected from it. – Julien Poulin Nov 28 '09 at 13:24
up vote 0 down vote

Search 'Remote Desktop Connection' on youtube, the video shows you exactly what to do.

link text

Or you can setup a network on windows 7. youtube is great for showing you how to do this stuff.

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up vote 3 down vote

I may be wrong but I think your router is not the bottleneck, but rather the Wifi bandwidth itself is.

You may find it easier (read: much faster) to install the source HDD in the new machine as a secondary drive and copy the files directly, sans network impediments.

EDIT: This may be easier said than done, however, if one or both machines are laptops.

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Indeed, both machine are laptops^^ – Julien Poulin Nov 27 '09 at 22:26
up vote 1 down vote

Get an Ethernet CROSSOVER Cable/Adapter. Even if you could connect them via wifi, it'll take way too long. How to connect 2 computers without a router.

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@Julien doesn't say one way or the other, but he may also be required to buy one or two NICs to implement this if both machines don't already have NICs installed. :) – JMD Nov 27 '09 at 21:52

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