Easy Networking question.

[hipopony66]

Hey, I don't know alot about networking, but at work later today I have project. My boss want's me to transfer some database files from her laptop to her desktop. She originally want's me to burn them to CD and then copy them to the HD on her desktop. But, can I do the following instead without screwing anything up?

Shut down her system (it's on a network in the office), Disconnect the ethernet cable from the network card (that connects her computer to the office network) , and then direct link her laptop and desktop with an ethernet cable from network card to network card, transfer the files from the laptop to the desktop, shut down her desktop, reconnect it to the network, and restart her system.

By linking to the laptop will I mess up any network settings or anything? Any tips appreciated.

-Jeremy

[Bob Baddeley]

It'd be quicker to hook the laptop up to the network, share a folder on the laptop, and copy the files from the desktop to the laptop. I don't know how hard it is to hook up to the network, though. In some cases it's only a matter of plugging the network cable into the wall, but in others you need to configure the network settings and register with a central server and stuff.

The problem you're going to have is that you can't use a regular cable if you're going to do a direct connect. You have to use a crossover cable.

[Michael_Kamen]

Propably burning the files wil be easier, unless you plan on doing this lots of times. Then it's better to install some networking stuff on the laptop so you can hook it onto the network, and share a folder, as Bob said.

[JoshT]

If slower speeds are acceptable and you have the right cables, you can connect the computers together thru the serial or parallel ports, so as to not interfere with the settings of the NIC.