To achieve the desired outcome, you can follow these steps:
1. Disable the network discovery and file sharing settings for the Wi-Fi network on both computers. This will prevent them from communicating with each other over Wi-Fi.
2. Connect both computers to the same Ethernet switch or router. Ensure that the Ethernet connections are established and working properly.
3. On both computers, open the Network and Sharing Center. You can do this by right-clicking the network icon in the system tray and selecting "Open Network & Internet settings." Then, click on "Change adapter options."
4. Locate the Ethernet adapter and the Wi-Fi adapter for each computer. Right-click on the Ethernet adapter and select "Properties." In the Properties window, scroll down and find "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and select it. Click on the "Properties" button.
5. In the IPv4 properties window, click on the "Advanced" button. In the Advanced TCP/IP settings window, go to the "IP Settings" tab. Uncheck the "Automatic metric" box and enter a lower metric value, such as 10. This will prioritize the Ethernet connection over the Wi-Fi connection for local traffic.
6. Click "OK" to save the changes and close the windows. Repeat these steps for the Ethernet adapter on the other computer.
7. Now, when you access shared folders, remote desktop, or perform remote desktop cut and paste between the two computers, they will use the Ethernet connection for optimal performance.
8. For accessing the internet and other devices on your home network, the computers will automatically use their respective Wi-Fi connections.
By following these steps, you should be able to achieve the desired outcome of using the Ethernet connection for local communication between the two computers while still using the Wi-Fi connections for internet and other network access.