Windows® 7 Visual™ Quick Tips

10.9. Create a Computer-to-Computer Wireless Network

If you do not have a wireless access point, Windows 7 enables you to set up a temporary network between two or more computers.

To set up a wireless network, you need two types of devices: a wireless network card in each computer that you want on the network, and a wireless access point, which is a device that receives and transmits signals from wireless computers to form a wireless network. This is called an infrastructure wireless network.

However, you can also create a wireless network directly between two or more computers, without using a wireless access point. This is called an ad hoc wireless network, and it is useful if you need to share folders, devices, or an Internet connection if ...