How do I connect 2 PC's together ?

[TheBionicOrange]

OK heres my situation :

I have 2 PC's in a room, bothing running Windows XP Professional.

I want to connect them so I can see both disks from eiher machine, and also to be able to play the odd network game if I'm honest !

They are about 7 metres apart, and cannot get moved any closer. Is this too long to connect with a USB cable ? Or would that not help anyway ?

Do I need a cross-over cable (read that somewhere), and if so, what is it ?

Any help much appreciated

[JoshT]

If they both have Network Cards in them, yes, just run a cross-over cable between them.

USB may have a 6 meter cable length restriction in the offical specs - I can't remember.

You can also use the parallel ports if you have the correct cable.

Also, for US$65, you can get a kit from linksys with a 8-port switch and two free NICs when they do the promotion and put in a real LAN.

[Looseclothes]

I would recommend using RJ-45 cable (a lot like telephone cord) with a NIC in each computer. I have had nothing but trouble from USB devices. Until USB2 comes out, maybe...

[TheBionicOrange]

Thats great.


Cheers Guys

[mastermind94]

If u dont need much speed and it is not temprary and u're not planning to use TCP/IP protocol, i would go with Parallel or Serial... (( less expansive choice if u have enought parallel cable and gender changers.. ))

[Gandalf_Grey_]

go with the crossover cable and the network

[scoutt]

Originally posted by mastermind94
If u dont need much speed and it is not temprary and u're not planning to use TCP/IP protocol, i would go with Parallel or Serial... (( less expansive choice if u have enought parallel cable and gender changers.. ))

Too long for parallel. the limit is around 10 feet and tha tis pushing it. besides that would take all day to play one frame of a game