How to Connect Two Laptops for Gaming

1. Use a crossover Ethernet cable to connect the first laptop to the second laptop. Attach one end of the cable to the LAN (Local Area Network) port or Ethernet port of the first laptop computer while connecting the other end to the LAN port of the second laptop computer. The LAN/Ethernet port is a socket on your computer where the Ethernet cable should be plugged so it can detect a network connection.
2. Ensure that the two laptop computers belong to the same 'workgroup.' Click 'Start' and right-click on 'My Computer.' Select 'Properties' and click on the 'Computer Name' tab. Select the 'Change' option beside 'To rename a computer....' Under 'Workgroup,' change the name of the workgroup so the two computers belong to the same one. Click 'OK' when you are done.
3. Configure the IP addresses of the two computers. Go to 'Control Panel,' then 'Network Connections.' Right click on your 'Local Area Connection' and select 'Properties.' Choose 'Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)' and click on 'Properties' once again.
4. Under 'IP address,' key in 192.168.1.1 for the first computer and 192.168.1.2 for the second computer. For the 'Subnet Mask,' key in 255.255.255.0 for both computers. Leave the 'Default Gateway' blank, and then click 'OK.' Reboot the computers. They should be ready for LAN gaming upon startup.