Vista - Computer To Computer Networking Problem

Hello everyone!
I have been searching far and wide for a solution to my networking problem.

I have 2 computers that i connect directly to each other by ethernet cable. Both computers also connect to the internet via wifi.

So, on each computer, I have my Wireless connection, and the 'unidentified network' link between the two computers.

The problem is that the 'unidentified network' settings never save, so when ever i restart either of the computers, I have to make the unidentified network private again, and there is no way that i can see to actually save the unidentified network settings in a profile.

Also, to prevent the computer to computer connection from broadcasting over the wifi connection, i have to disconnect the wireless from one of the computers. I have tried making the wifi a public network and the ethernet connection private, but it never seems to work.

anyone out there know what i can do?

any help is greatly appreciated

Are the two computers in question laptops and are they both wireless enabled? Meaning, do the laptops pick up wireless connections automatically and turned on.

Do you have a wireless router?
Please list your hardware setup and connections, as much detail as possible and a rough sketch of your network.

Well, one computer is a desktop and one is a laptop. And yes, they both connect to the internet via wireless. My router network consists of 7 WRT54G-TMs using DD-WRT firmware through WDS.

Regardless of what my network is, I just want to share music between the 2 computers that are in the room, and bypass my wireless network. I don't want to do it via the wireless connection because that can complicate the connection for others.

So, I have the 2 computers connected via ethernet cable, which works, if i set it up every time. The settings never 'stick', and the network between the 2 pcs always remains 'unknown network' with no way to change anything.

And also, lets say I have PC2 connected to the WIFI network as well as the ethernet network to the other computer. PC2 can't understand that I want anything in my 'lil 2 computer LAN to go through the ethernet cable and not over the WIFI (Even if i try to change the WIFI to public and 'unidentified network' to private) ... so i have to disconnect the WIFI from PC2 for it to work correctly.

The main issue is that your computer has a network connection... and when you use an ethernet cable to connect the 2 computers that have a wi-fi connection, your giving it a second connection. The computers are having a hard time understanding what you want. The computers don't know what connection to use cause they can handle one at a time. Picture your self in a car, it can go one way, and there is a fork in the road..... now turn left or turn right or ..... crash

just share the music files over the wi-fi or get a crossover wire to connect the 2 different computers might not be hand tho,

to be clear 1/ wi-fi = wireless connection
2/ ethernet network = hardwired connection
3/ crossover wire (green) = 2 comuters talking to each other

sounds like you want to listen to music on your desktop, using your laptop. I think becasue you don't want the music files store on your lap top ? is this correct ?

yeah.. that's basically it.. but my music library is on my laptop. i have limited disk space on my desktop and even more limited financial resources, so i can't get a new drive now.

but my only true lan is coming through the wireless. there is no router between my ethernet connection. so i guess that would essentially be a crossover wire, no?

anyway, if vista could save the wired connection between the 2 pcs as a private network, and the wifi as public, then i would be good as gold. that way it would know it can't share files over the wifi.

i was reading somewhere on microsoft's site that the 'ad hoc' type connections don't let you save the settings as some sort of security feature. :P