Cable connection

[krtxmrtz]

I want to install some software in my old home pc but it is not reading any CD. So, I thought I'd transfer the files from the CD-Rom of my new home computer by means of a cable connection. Both computers have network and usb cards. What type of cable/software do I need? Whcich is best/more inexpensive of the 2? I really don't want to spend much money on this.

[Ideas Man]

Get yourself a CAT-5 cable (blue) to connect the two computers together via the network cards. After that, it's simply a matter of running the Home Networking Setup Wizard provided in Windows XP to get them talking to each other and then you can freely share any files between the two comptuers.

To read the other computers CD drive to get the files off the CD, simply share the CD drive and access the share on the destination computer to get the files off the CD.

[krtxmrtz]

Get yourself a CAT-5 cable (blue) to connect the two computers together via the network cards. After that, it's simply a matter of running the Home Networking Setup Wizard provided in Windows XP to get them talking to each other...

I remember I once tried to do this using a parallel data transmission cable and it didn't work. Maybe because one was XP and the other 98? I don't know but I hope I won't run into such trouble with the network cards.

Thanks a lot.

[DaveBo]

When connecting directly between 2 PCs don't you need a "crossover" cable or something like that, where the rec/xmit lines are swapped?

DaveBo

[krtxmrtz]

When connecting directly between 2 PCs don't you need a "crossover" cable or something like that, where the rec/xmit lines are swapped?

DaveBo

This sounds familiar, though I'm not sure I understand the different pins.

I've got a (parallel) cable I purchased years ago along with pcanywhere. And it has been working on every 2 computers I've tried it out, only my version of pcanywhere won't run under XP. At any rate I now need a faster cable.

[dglienna]

If I were you, I'd invest in 2 CAT-5 cables, and a cheap 5 port HUB. That way you could share the internet, printers, files, and devices. Leave them connected at all times. You'll have a network running.

[Ideas Man]

When connecting directly between 2 PCs don't you need a "crossover" cable or something like that, where the rec/xmit lines are swapped?

DaveBo

Sorry, my bad, I forgot that. If you are gonna connect the two directly w/o a switch or hub, then yes you'll need this. Forget the parallel cable stuff, too much mocking around for nothing. The speeds are too slow to be useful also.

Do what dglienna said and either get a cross-over cable or a cheapo hub/switch. It's the best thing you can do, and it's fast. Make sure it's 100Mb+ otherwise you're wasting money.

[krtxmrtz]

For some reason I wrongly thought both computers had network cards but it actually turns out only one of the 2 has. If I were to use both computers very often then I'd consider buying a network card, but the thing is I want to use the old one for writing documents occasionally, only when my wife is working on the other pc.

I need to install some software on the old computer so, how about a direct USB cable then? Is that cheaper yet slower? I don't mind leaving them connected overnight to get the job done.

[dglienna]

I don't know if there is such a product for USB ports. If both are USB 2.0, then the speed wouldn't be too bad. I would reccommend a portable disk-less drive (forget what they're called right now), although it may be a bit costly. The upside is that you could use it anywhere.

The other option is to install a network card on the old computer. They're only $20 or so. Then add $20 for a hub, and a few cables, and you're set.

[DaveBo]

I don't know about using "a direct USB cable" but I do use a Belkin "Direct Connect" USB unit to connect 2 PCs via their USB 1.? ports.
It does file transfers OK, but it has been problematic at times, and was far from the "easy setup" they claimed.

Anyway, I agree with dglienna, just get another network card.

DaveBo

[krtxmrtz]

Because I only need to
(1) Transfer a few files occasionally and/or
(2) Install new software
I decided to buy a new CD unit at 14 Euro which was the most inexpensive option.
Now I can transfer files with a USB memory stick and install software, or even transfer large amounts of files from a previously recorded R or RW CD.

Thank you folks for your advice and info anyway.

[mendhak]

I do use a Belkin "Direct Connect" USB unit to connect 2 PCs via their USB 1.? ports.

Where were you a few weeks ago? I needed something like that.

[DaveBo]

Where were you a few weeks ago?

At N42 29.340 W71 53.215 - approximately