can my laptop plug into my desktop?

[Guest]

Hi, Quick question about laptops

I just a new laptop. It, like my recently purchased desktop is a Compaq Presario, both running Windows XP. I like them both very much.

I would like to know: can I simply connect the laptop to the desktop with my USB cable to transfer files across

Will it recognize it right away, like it does when I plugged my digital camera into the USB port

Or do I need specail drivers / software / or is it not advisiable ... ? never tried it

(neither manuals guide me accordingly

Thanks,

Michae

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Hi, Quick question about laptops:

I just a new laptop. It, like my recently purchased desktop is a
Compaq Presario, both running Windows XP. I like them both very much.

I would like to know: can I simply connect the laptop to the desktop
with my USB cable to transfer files across?

Will it recognize it right away, like it does when I plugged my
digital camera into the USB port?

Or do I need specail drivers / software / or is it not advisiable ...
? never tried it.

(neither manuals guide me accordingly)

You need a special cable to do that..

Something like:
http://www.usb-network.com/
or:
http://www.cablesnmor.com/usb-networking.html
or
http://www.meritline.com/usb-2-network-cable-usb-to-usb.html

and many more.

 

[nkjg]

Hi there,

There's a much easier way of doing it.

Go to a local hardware store and buy an ethernet crossover
cable. Make sure that it is a CROSSOVER cable, otherwise it
won't work.

Plug each end of the cable into one of the computer's
ethernet ports. Run the Network Connection Setup and input
all the correct information (I'm guessing that you'll have
unplugged your internet for this, so tell it that). Reboot
the computers.

Once the computers are back up again, find the folder that
you want to share files to/from the other computer.
Right-click on it and select properties. Under the
"Sharing" tab, place a check mark in the box beside "Share
this folder on the network". On the other computer, go to
"My Network places" and double-click on "Add a network
place". When you get to the stage that says browse, click
that and then open all the little plus signs until you find
the other computer and the folder that you just shared.
Click ok. Click ok until you're out of the wizard.

Now you should be able to see that folder in "My Network
Places". You can browse through that folder like a normal
folder. Copy any files that you want.

You may need to deactivate any firewall software before you
"Add a Network place". Some firewall programs block Windows
from finding the other computer.

If you want to be able to share an internet connection
between your desktop and your laptop, look into getting an
ethernet router. If you have a wireless card (or built in
wireless), you can make you life even easier by buying a
wireless router.

Hope this all helps,

Nick
(e-mail address removed)

-----Original Message-----
Hi, Quick question about laptops:

I just a new laptop. It, like my recently purchased

desktop is a Compaq Presario, both running Windows XP. I
like them both very much.

I would like to know: can I simply connect the laptop to

the desktop with my USB cable to transfer files across?

Will it recognize it right away, like it does when I

plugged my digital camera into the USB port?

Or do I need specail drivers / software / or is it not

advisiable ... ? never tried it.