Urgent Networking Question

Lavindathar · 11-15-2003, 10:22 AM

I recently bought a new laptop that runs Windows XP, but I have files on my desktop which runs Windows ME.

We were gonna network them but the network card for a laptop we have seems to be too big for the laptop, so I was wondering whether we can connect the two via a TCP cable that plugs in the back of both computers, and if we do how do we get it too work?

Paladin2000 · 11-15-2003, 10:31 AM

TCP cables? I have no idea what exactly is that. But I saw a nifty USB device which can be used to connect two PCs together. Maybe you should pay a visit to your local PC hardware shop and enquire about it.

[edited]

Or you could get two bluetooth (wireless) USB device which should do the same job minus the cable limitation.

Something like this:

USB 1 to 1:
PC#1 USB--------[]-----------USB PC#2

OR

USB bluetooth: (wireless)
PC#1 USB----[] (bluetooth)................[]------USB PC#2

[ 11-15-2003, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: Paladin2000 ]

andrewas · 11-15-2003, 10:37 AM

IF, and its a big if, you have a serial crossover cable, you can run a 'network' of sorts through the COM ports. But I've never actualy been able to make it work. It will be very slow, not all that much faster than dialup modem.

If you have a PCMCIA ethernet adapter, it should be able to plug into pretty much any laptop. Any RJ45 (big phone jack) connections on the laptop are probably for an internal network card, you should be able to run a standard network through that. winXP should pick it up easily, winME might barf on it, but youshould be able to coax it into working.

Or you could get a USBN ethernet adapter that you can also run a standard network across.

Zuvio · 11-15-2003, 10:37 AM

I'm wondering: if you're laptop doens't have a network, how are you gonna insert a TCP cable? And don't you mean FTP or UTP cable?

Lavindathar · 11-15-2003, 10:49 AM

The way it was was that we had an old laptop, and we useds a big cable that connected into the PC's printer port and into another printer port on the back of the laptop, and we used Laplink 2000 to manage the transaction.

But I tried installing Laplink 2000 on Windows XP and it said that this version was incompatible with Windows XP.

So I was wondering if there was any way of using the big cable into the back of the printer port on the pc into the same slot on the back of the laptop but bypass the program that sorts it all out....

How much are these two wireless thingys?

Reply asap,

Lavi

andrewas · 11-15-2003, 11:04 AM

Damnit, hyperterminal dosent seem to run across a parrallel link.

See if you can't find an evaluation version of Laplink XP or whatever they call the latest version. Or maybe you would be able to get a free update or at least a discount if you have a legal copy of laplink2K.

EDIT] Nah, they seem to want you to spend big money. If you have a legal copy you can qualify for an update, dunno what it costs and I can't check without a valid serial.

[ 11-15-2003, 11:29 AM: Message edited by: andrewas ]

Lavindathar · 11-15-2003, 11:41 AM

So I am expected to fork out for a new copy of Laplink?

Thats bull shit, cos I bet it costs a fortune! There must be some way around this, can I not connect directly via IP addys or SOMETHING?

Thanx,

andrewas · 11-15-2003, 11:55 AM

LPT ports are not common networking ports. See if you can't get a serial crossover (also known as a 'laplink' cable although its a general design) and then you can use the hyperterminal program included with windows (even windows XP) to make the connection over the COM ports. Ive never actualy done it, but it should be simple enough.

Paladin2000 · 11-15-2003, 12:02 PM

The USB bluetooth thingy? I think each of them cost about 40 bucks (USD). But you will have to make sure that both the PCs do have spare USB ports to begin with.

AFAIK, PC to PC connection via COM port or Printer port only works for Windows 98 and below.

Night Stalker · 11-15-2003, 01:40 PM

The cheapest way is like andrewas said. Get a serial cross-over cable, also called a laplink cable or a null modem. It shouldn't cost more than 10 - 15 dollars. Then use hyperterm. It will be on the slow side (115kbps), but cheaper than anyother solution.

Once the connection is established, you either "put" files or "get" them depending on which machine you are on. You may have to configure the COM ports, but there is an easy window to do that. There is also a window for the file xfers so you don't need to remember the commands.

11-15-2003, 10:37 AM	#3
andrewas Harper Join Date: October 2, 2001 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Age: 42 Posts: 4,774	IF, and its a big if, you have a serial crossover cable, you can run a 'network' of sorts through the COM ports. But I've never actualy been able to make it work. It will be very slow, not all that much faster than dialup modem. If you have a PCMCIA ethernet adapter, it should be able to plug into pretty much any laptop. Any RJ45 (big phone jack) connections on the laptop are probably for an internal network card, you should be able to run a standard network through that. winXP should pick it up easily, winME might barf on it, but youshould be able to coax it into working. Or you could get a USBN ethernet adapter that you can also run a standard network across. __________________ [img]\"http://www.sighost.us/members/Zvijer/andrewas.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

11-15-2003, 10:37 AM	#4
Zuvio Gold Dragon Join Date: May 19, 2002 Location: Blessed are those who are not.... Age: 42 Posts: 2,556	I'm wondering: if you're laptop doens't have a network, how are you gonna insert a TCP cable? And don't you mean FTP or UTP cable? __________________ [img]\"http://img121.exs.cx/img121/4236/zuviodemonnoname2hf.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

11-15-2003, 10:49 AM	#5
Lavindathar Harper Join Date: March 21, 2001 Location: Lancs, England Age: 39 Posts: 4,729	The way it was was that we had an old laptop, and we useds a big cable that connected into the PC's printer port and into another printer port on the back of the laptop, and we used Laplink 2000 to manage the transaction. But I tried installing Laplink 2000 on Windows XP and it said that this version was incompatible with Windows XP. So I was wondering if there was any way of using the big cable into the back of the printer port on the pc into the same slot on the back of the laptop but bypass the program that sorts it all out.... How much are these two wireless thingys? Reply asap, Lavi __________________ =@

11-15-2003, 11:04 AM	#6
andrewas Harper Join Date: October 2, 2001 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Age: 42 Posts: 4,774	Damnit, hyperterminal dosent seem to run across a parrallel link. See if you can't find an evaluation version of Laplink XP or whatever they call the latest version. Or maybe you would be able to get a free update or at least a discount if you have a legal copy of laplink2K. EDIT] Nah, they seem to want you to spend big money. If you have a legal copy you can qualify for an update, dunno what it costs and I can't check without a valid serial. [ 11-15-2003, 11:29 AM: Message edited by: andrewas ] __________________ [img]\"http://www.sighost.us/members/Zvijer/andrewas.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

11-15-2003, 11:41 AM	#7
Lavindathar Harper Join Date: March 21, 2001 Location: Lancs, England Age: 39 Posts: 4,729	So I am expected to fork out for a new copy of Laplink? Thats bull shit, cos I bet it costs a fortune! There must be some way around this, can I not connect directly via IP addys or SOMETHING? Thanx, __________________ =@

11-15-2003, 10:22 AM	#1
Lavindathar Harper Join Date: March 21, 2001 Location: Lancs, England Age: 39 Posts: 4,729	I recently bought a new laptop that runs Windows XP, but I have files on my desktop which runs Windows ME. We were gonna network them but the network card for a laptop we have seems to be too big for the laptop, so I was wondering whether we can connect the two via a TCP cable that plugs in the back of both computers, and if we do how do we get it too work? __________________ =@

11-15-2003, 10:31 AM	#2
Paladin2000 Fzoul Chembryl Join Date: February 19, 2002 Location: Your guess is as good as mine. Age: 52 Posts: 1,728	TCP cables? I have no idea what exactly is that. But I saw a nifty USB device which can be used to connect two PCs together. Maybe you should pay a visit to your local PC hardware shop and enquire about it. [edited] Or you could get two bluetooth (wireless) USB device which should do the same job minus the cable limitation. Something like this: USB 1 to 1: PC#1 USB--------[]-----------USB PC#2 OR USB bluetooth: (wireless) PC#1 USB----[] (bluetooth)................[]------USB PC#2 [ 11-15-2003, 10:36 AM: Message edited by: Paladin2000 ] __________________ (This is an invisible sig.)

11-15-2003, 11:55 AM	#8
andrewas Harper Join Date: October 2, 2001 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland Age: 42 Posts: 4,774	LPT ports are not common networking ports. See if you can't get a serial crossover (also known as a 'laplink' cable although its a general design) and then you can use the hyperterminal program included with windows (even windows XP) to make the connection over the COM ports. Ive never actualy done it, but it should be simple enough. __________________ [img]\"http://www.sighost.us/members/Zvijer/andrewas.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

11-15-2003, 12:02 PM	#9
Paladin2000 Fzoul Chembryl Join Date: February 19, 2002 Location: Your guess is as good as mine. Age: 52 Posts: 1,728	The USB bluetooth thingy? I think each of them cost about 40 bucks (USD). But you will have to make sure that both the PCs do have spare USB ports to begin with. AFAIK, PC to PC connection via COM port or Printer port only works for Windows 98 and below. __________________ (This is an invisible sig.)

11-15-2003, 01:40 PM	#10
Night Stalker Lord Ao Join Date: June 24, 2002 Location: Nevernever Land Age: 49 Posts: 2,002	The cheapest way is like andrewas said. Get a serial cross-over cable, also called a laplink cable or a null modem. It shouldn't cost more than 10 - 15 dollars. Then use hyperterm. It will be on the slow side (115kbps), but cheaper than anyother solution. Once the connection is established, you either "put" files or "get" them depending on which machine you are on. You may have to configure the COM ports, but there is an easy window to do that. There is also a window for the file xfers so you don't need to remember the commands. __________________ [url]\"http://www.duryea.org/pinky/gurkin.wav\" target=\"_blank\">AYPWIP?</a> .... <img border=\"0\" alt=\"[1ponder]\" title=\"\" src=\"graemlins/1ponder.gif\" /> <br />\"I think so Brain, but isn\'t a cucumber that small called a gherkin?\"<br /><br />Shut UP! Pinky!

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