Can files be transferred using USB ports?

  • Thread starter Thread starter HiC
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HiC

Have 2 computers.

Computer 1 - Compaq Deskpro 2000 Pent I 150mhz, Win98 2 h/d's

Computer 2 - IBM PIII 550mhz, Win98SE, 2 h/d's

Both have USB ports.

I'm using the 2nd drive on computer 1 to record some vinyl and want to
transfer the files to the larger 60 gig 2nd drive on computer 2 for
later sound cleanup and eventual transfer to CD. While in theory it
would be simple to record using comp 2, it's being used for other
things.

I have a lot of albums to transfer, there's got to be a better way to
transfer the .wav files from one 'puter to the other than burning the
files to a rewritable disc in computer 1, then put the CD in computer
2 and copy/paste the files. This is too cumbersome.

Is there some quick/cheap easy way to accomplish transfer of the files
directly between these 2 computers using the USB ports other than
outright networking them?
 
HiC said:
Is there some quick/cheap easy way to accomplish transfer of the files
directly between these 2 computers using the USB ports other than
outright networking them?
Click to expand...


"Networking" is connecting two or more computers in some manner in order
to share information, so I'm not sure what you mean by your above comment.

If you are determined on using USB, then something like this would
probably work out for you.
http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=HE110A


-WD
 
Is there some quick/cheap easy way to transfer files
directly between 2 computers using the USB ports
other than outright networking them?
Click to expand...

Why do you need a direct transfer? There are plenty of USB-interface devices --
both RAM-based and HD-based -- that can be used for a transfer.

For example, I can connect my iRiver player to one computer, copy the file to
its hard drive, then connect the player to another computer and retrieve it.
 
William Sommerwerck said:
Why do you need a direct transfer? There are plenty of USB-interface devices --
both RAM-based and HD-based -- that can be used for a transfer.

For example, I can connect my iRiver player to one computer, copy the file to
its hard drive, then connect the player to another computer and retrieve it.
Click to expand...

That's not a ideal solution really... a perm connection is really ideal for
file transferring. If your going to be moving tons of data.. Say
Gigs&Gigs&Gigs and have a need to keep the computers going then a Network or
USBNetwork would be ideal.. USB would be the faster option IF it works..
Some (verry verry few rather) Motherboards in the past have had this built
into them as a feature.. and connecting 2 of the motherboards directly gave
a great connection. Personally I wouldnt mind investing it it if I had a
few pc's to connect, Cheaper than the GigaCards and you get nearly half the
speed.
 
rstlne said:
That's not a ideal solution really... a perm connection is really
ideal for file transferring. If your going to be moving tons of
data.. Say Gigs&Gigs&Gigs and have a need to keep the computers going
then a Network or USBNetwork would be ideal.. USB would be the faster
option IF it works.. Some (verry verry few rather) Motherboards in
the past have had this built into them as a feature.. and connecting
2 of the motherboards directly gave a great connection. Personally I
wouldnt mind investing it it if I had a few pc's to connect, Cheaper
than the GigaCards and you get nearly half the speed.
Click to expand...

If you've got a permanent or semi-permanent application, then the setup
requirements of USB-USB networking; or if the network cards are already
there, just setting up a small LAN perhaps with no concentrator, but just a
cross-over cable. One nifty benefit of a regular LAN is printer sharing.

USB-USB network gizmos run around $30-40. Most of them are already USB 2.0
compatible, so even higher speeds than 100 BTX are possible.
 
Arny Krueger said:
If you've got a permanent or semi-permanent application, then the setup
requirements of USB-USB networking; or if the network cards are already
there, just setting up a small LAN perhaps with no concentrator, but just a
cross-over cable. One nifty benefit of a regular LAN is printer sharing.

USB-USB network gizmos run around $30-40. Most of them are already USB 2.0
compatible, so even higher speeds than 100 BTX are possible.
Click to expand...
Nobody achieves anything near USB's 480Mb/s, even hard drives see a
bottleneck.

Fast ethernet will do 80Mb/s, what do these USB "null modems" do?

A pair of NICs with cable go for 25 bux.
 
Nobody achieves anything near USB's 480Mb/s, even hard drives see a
bottleneck.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I don't know how fast USB 2.0 really is - I don't have anything fast
enough to put at the other end!
Fast ethernet will do 80Mb/s, what do these USB "null modems" do?
Click to expand...

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=HE110A

$17.95

The big plus is that you don't have to open your PCs to install. They are
especially applicable to people with laptops.
A pair of NICs with cable go for 25 bux.
Click to expand...

Yes, but the installation is beyond many people's technical means.
 
Arny said:
Agreed. I don't know how fast USB 2.0 really is - I don't have anything
fast enough to put at the other end!


http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=HE110A

$17.95

The big plus is that you don't have to open your PCs to install. They are
especially applicable to people with laptops.


Yes, but the installation is beyond many people's technical means.
Click to expand...

Anybody who can't figure out how to install a NIC is probably not going to
be up to the task of making USB networking run.

To that 17.95 add two USB 2 adapters if the machines are old enough that
they doesn't have network interfaces built in, unless you're willing to put
up with USB 1 performance, and if you're willing to do that then Ethernet
hardware is pretty much free.

And it takes as much expertise to put those USB 2 adapters in the machines
as it does to install NICs.
 
I'm using the 2nd drive on computer 1 to record some vinyl and want to
transfer the files to the larger 60 gig 2nd drive on computer 2 for
later sound cleanup and eventual transfer to CD. While in theory it
would be simple to record using comp 2, it's being used for other
things.

I have a lot of albums to transfer, there's got to be a better way to
transfer the .wav files from one 'puter to the other than burning the
files to a rewritable disc in computer 1, then put the CD in computer
2 and copy/paste the files. This is too cumbersome.

Is there some quick/cheap easy way to accomplish transfer of the files
directly between these 2 computers using the USB ports other than
outright networking them?
Click to expand...

There are ways of making a network using USB. I think the hardware
required would cost rather more than a couple of pci network cards and
a crossover cable, which are now commodity items. Either solution
would, of course, be "networking" the two machines.

Is there a particular reason you don't want to put in network cards?

CubaseFAQ www.laurencepayne.co.uk/CubaseFAQ.htm
"Possibly the world's least impressive web site": George Perfect
 
HiC said:
Have 2 computers.

Computer 1 - Compaq Deskpro 2000 Pent I 150mhz, Win98 2 h/d's

Computer 2 - IBM PIII 550mhz, Win98SE, 2 h/d's

Both have USB ports.

I'm using the 2nd drive on computer 1 to record some vinyl and want to
transfer the files to the larger 60 gig 2nd drive on computer 2 for
later sound cleanup and eventual transfer to CD. While in theory it
would be simple to record using comp 2, it's being used for other
things.

I have a lot of albums to transfer, there's got to be a better way to
transfer the .wav files from one 'puter to the other than burning the
files to a rewritable disc in computer 1, then put the CD in computer
2 and copy/paste the files. This is too cumbersome.

Is there some quick/cheap easy way to accomplish transfer of the files
directly between these 2 computers using the USB ports other than
outright networking them?
Click to expand...

You can buy a USB "crossover" cable - i have one made by Trust, although i
have only used it once to recover a laptop PC with a broken Enet port. The
manual claims this "scales" up to 17 PCs - but that would require daisy
chaining - the driver includes bridging support.

If you must use USB for networking, i think you are better off with USB
attached Enet adaptors - easier to adapt to other devices such as routers.

However, i believe that the drivers for LAN cards tend to be more reliable
and more efficient on CPU load and performance - no hard evidence, just "gut
feel"
 
"shope" wrote ...
You can buy a USB "crossover" cable ...
Click to expand...

It is actually a lot more than just a "crossover cable".
Connecting two "master"s (the computers) to each
other requires active data management, buffereing, and
re-packaging inbetween so they don't fight with each other.
There is at least a microcontroller and RAM in there.
 
Laurence Payne said:
There are ways of making a network using USB. I think the hardware
required would cost rather more than a couple of pci network cards and
a crossover cable, which are now commodity items. Either solution
would, of course, be "networking" the two machines.

Is there a particular reason you don't want to put in network cards?
Click to expand...

Take a look at the earlier post..
It seems like it can be done for about 65% of the cost of traditional
ethernet
 
rstlne said:
Take a look at the earlier post..
It seems like it can be done for about 65% of the cost of traditional
ethernet
Click to expand...

Really depends on the detail of where you get the traditional ethernet.

Hard to beat the price of very decent 10/100 PCI NICs on ebay.

And its a lot more standard than other approaches too.
 
Really depends on the detail of where you get the traditional ethernet.
Hard to beat the price of very decent 10/100 PCI NICs on ebay.

And its a lot more standard than other approaches too.
Click to expand...
Yea but Ethernet in itself is just a transport medium..
Installing TCP/IP over the USB transport would mean that windows see's it
just the same as a "standard" 10/100 network.
Ebay pricing probably isnt a good way to go cause we could say that people
dumping the usb kit would sell it for a cheaper price too..
And really 17$ for the usb setup (new) wouldnt get you 2 "good" Nic's & the
cable ..
It would come close if you made your own cable (with pre existing kit) but I
think the USB kit is probably a good idea for the guy posting
 
rstlne said:
Rod Speed <[email protected] wrote
Click to expand...
Yea but Ethernet in itself is just a transport medium..
Installing TCP/IP over the USB transport would mean that
windows see's it just the same as a "standard" 10/100 network.
Click to expand...

Irrelevant to that price question I commented on.
Ebay pricing probably isnt a good way to go cause we could say
that people dumping the usb kit would sell it for a cheaper price too..
Click to expand...

In reality there are FAR more decent cheap 10/100 PCI NICs
on ebay than those USB things for connecting two PCs and
that produces very low prices for decent 10/100 PCI NICs.
And really 17$ for the usb setup (new)
wouldnt get you 2 "good" Nic's & the cable ..
Bullshit.

It would come close if you made your own cable (with pre existing kit)
Click to expand...

A CAT5 cable and a crossover adapter or a crossover cable costs peanuts.
but I think the USB kit is probably a good idea for the guy posting
Click to expand...

You're wrong. Its a hopeless non standard approach that costs more.

The only time the USB route would be better is for a
technoklutz that cant manage PCI cards, or there are
no free PCI slots in the PCs and in that case you'd
still be better off with a pair of USB/ethernet adapters.
 
Eric Gisin said:
Networking with NICs is cheaper and easier than USB.
Click to expand...

If both PC's already have USB and neither have a NIC it's not. Also, if the
person if not comfortable installing or paying someone to install the NIC,
USB could be viable (assuming they both have USB and a cable/application to
handle the transfers). But speed (especially depending on what version the
USB ports are) and whether this is to be a permanent or often-occurring
thing is something to think about.
 
If both PC's already have USB and neither have a NIC it's not.
Click to expand...

It is actually, both on price and on ease. Essentially because the
NIC approach is completely standard and USB 'networking' aint.
Also, if the person if not comfortable installing
or paying someone to install the NIC, USB could
be viable (assuming they both have USB and a
cable/application to handle the transfers).
Click to expand...

Sure, there are certainly some situations where no NIC
is possible that the USB route has some advantages.

But even then, a pair of USB/ethernet adapters makes rather
more sense than one of the USB 'networking' systems.

And isnt as bulletproof as the NIC approach.
But speed (especially depending on what version the
USB ports are) and whether this is to be a permanent
or often-occurring thing is something to think about.
Click to expand...

As is the completely standard networking that comes with NICs.
 
Installing a PCI card is not difficult, any idiot can do it. Installing
drivers is more difficult, and NIC drivers are trivial compared to most USB
stuff. The guy is using Win98, which can really screw up.

Yes, you can get two NICs for the price of a USB2 link.
 
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