beginner level question

  • Thread starter Thread starter RB
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R

RB

How do I hook two pc computers together so that I can access files in each
from either? Do I simply put a cable between the parallel ports?

I have an old computer with files I use. My newer computer has some files I
use, but the disk in nearly full. I was thinking about maybe being able to
use the old computer as an extension of the newer computer.
 
RB said:
How do I hook two pc computers together so that I can access files in each
from either? Do I simply put a cable between the parallel ports?

I have an old computer with files I use. My newer computer has some files I
use, but the disk in nearly full. I was thinking about maybe being able to
use the old computer as an extension of the newer computer.
Click to expand...

The easiest way to allow two computers to talk to each other would be to use
a crossover cat-5 cable.
If you don't know how to wire one,
http://www.pcmobilehelp.com/support/cat5WiringDiagram.htm .
All the way down at the bottom it shows you the wiring diagram.

Good luck!
slick_shoes
 
Slick_Shoes had a good suggestion. It's fast and easy. However, he was
assuming both of your computers have Ethernet Network Interface Cards. If
they do, go that route because it's fast and fairly painless. You will have
to install a few network protocols on the two machines, but that's pretty
painless as well.

Another fast and fairly easy option is a USB "crossover" cable if both
systems have USB support.

Finally, you can go the old "Direct Cable Connection" with a parallel cable.
It's not super-speedy, but will get the job done fairly pain free. A
parallel cable is cheap, and almost certainly both of your computers have
parallel ports. And as far as configuring the systems, Windows 95 and up
support DCC without the need for third-party software. Connecting via DCC
is very much like connecting via Dial-Up.

For whichever method you choose, you can search Google and find many helpul
sites to guide you through.

-Steve
 
RB said:
How do I hook two pc computers together so that I can access files in each
from either? Do I simply put a cable between the parallel ports?

I have an old computer with files I use. My newer computer has some files
I
use, but the disk in nearly full. I was thinking about maybe being able
to use the old computer as an extension of the newer computer.
Click to expand...


Or just put the drive from the other computer in the newer one for more
storage? Parallel port networking is REAL slow. If you want to hook them
together, use a crossover cable between two nic cards. Should cost less
than $20.
 
If you don't need access very often, I would agree with Stacey, just put the
hard drives in the same machine and copy your stuff over. It's easy to do,
as long as they're not really old drives in really new computers, you don't
have to suffer through installing drivers, protocols. Just pop 'em in,
copy-- And it doesn't cost you anything. Just make sure the pc's are off
before detatching the drives from them (or if you go the network way, before
removing/installing network cards). That is, unless you are fortunate to
have hotswappable PCI slots and hard drive controllers.

I do it this way myself quite often....it's just so much faster (as far as
file transfer speeds...and probably setting up)

But if you need to access them all the time from both computers, yeah you
need some kind of network. Right now in my house I only have a few machines
that I use, one of them a notebook computer. So since I'm a cheapskate, I
just use crossover cable between two machines at a time, because I don't
ever really have 3 or 4 on at once, or need to share files or other
resources on more than 2 at once. Now, if I ever decide to share internet
connection between the 3 or 4, then I'll have to have some additoinal
network hardware.

Hopefully I didn't confuse you.

Anyway, have fun!

Nic
 
Well, if you hack your own and connect the voltage pins together - yes, you
will fry something.

But you can purchase a USB "crossover" cable that is used for connecting to
USB ports togther for data transfer. About $30 give or take and they are
usually obvious by having a "box" in line with the cable.
 
You cannot connect two computers together thru the parallel ports. You need
to buy a "crossover Cat 5 cable" and connect it to the network port of each
of the two computers.
 
Yes, you can.

It is called Direct Cable Connection, you need an old Laplink type cable as
a minimum. You can also do it thought the serial ports too with a special
cable.

Here is one site I found explaining it.

http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/dccmain.htm

Just do a google search on

direct cable connection how to

for more sites.

The cost of the cable is a waste. Go with two NICs and a crossover.

Better yet, pool all your resources into getting a larger hard drive as that
is the problem.
 
DaveW said:
You cannot connect two computers together thru the parallel ports. You need
to buy a "crossover Cat 5 cable" and connect it to the network port of each
of the two computers.
Click to expand...

Yes, you can, but it is slow, very slow. It works almost the same way as
a null modem do using serial. I used it for ages to connect my Amiga to
my P.C.
 
You cannot connect two computers together thru the parallel ports. You
need
Yes, you can, but it is slow, very slow. It works almost the same way as
a null modem do using serial.
Click to expand...

But 8 times faster! Still not very fast though.
 
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