Suggestions on USB sharing

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rob
  • Start date Start date
R

Rob

Hi,

While I consider myself a decently knowledgeable computer person, I know
absolutely nothing about networking. So I am asking this question to figure
out what I should do...

I have my home PC and I now have a laptop from work. I want to transfer the
files from the laptop to my home PC. What is the best way to do this?

My home PC has Windows XP and the laptop has Win 2000. I also have a DSL
connection.

The transferring of files between the machine won't happen very often. I've
heard of transferring between the two with a special USB cable. Is this
possible? And if so, what cable should I get? It was also suggested to me to
use a wireless connection (also with the USB), what do you think?

While it would be cool to setup a wireless network at home, I thought that
it was a bit overkill for what I want to do.

Thanks for the suggestions and help.

-Rob
 
Rob said:
Hi,

While I consider myself a decently knowledgeable computer person, I know
absolutely nothing about networking. So I am asking this question to figure
out what I should do...

I have my home PC and I now have a laptop from work. I want to transfer the
files from the laptop to my home PC. What is the best way to do this?
Click to expand...

There is no "best" way to do it. You have a number of different Options,
though one will suit your needs better. Things to take in mind are how much
money you want to spend and what you need to do, and also upgrading in the
future.
My home PC has Windows XP and the laptop has Win 2000. I also have a DSL
connection.
Click to expand...

I would suggest you buy yourself an ADSL wireless transmitter/router. That
way, you can use your internet on both machines. With a wireless card in the
laptop and a LAN cable in the PC. If you were after speed in the transfers,
you would most probably do the transfers over LAN cable, because it is
faster.
The wireless router gives you the freedom of moving around in your home with
the internet at your fingers. If you do not really care about having the
internet on your laptop and would rather a cheaper way out of it. Get a
Network Card in your PC, set up a little network and transfer the files
over.

You can also get a Router that works on LAN cable rather then wireless. That
would be a little cheaper then wireless though it would mean you would have
to plug your laptop in with a LAN cable to be on the internet or share
files.
The transferring of files between the machine won't happen very often. I've
heard of transferring between the two with a special USB cable. Is this
possible? And if so, what cable should I get? It was also suggested to me to
use a wireless connection (also with the USB), what do you think?
Click to expand...

Unless you have USB version 2.0 ports on your computer, USB is fairly slow
and annoying. Wireless would be good though expensive.

While it would be cool to setup a wireless network at home, I thought that
it was a bit overkill for what I want to do.
Click to expand...

Have a look at prices, and see how you go
Thanks for the suggestions and help.

-Rob
Click to expand...

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Rob said:
Hi,

While I consider myself a decently knowledgeable computer person, I know
absolutely nothing about networking. So I am asking this question to
figure out what I should do...

I have my home PC and I now have a laptop from work. I want to transfer
the files from the laptop to my home PC. What is the best way to do this?

My home PC has Windows XP and the laptop has Win 2000. I also have a DSL
connection.

The transferring of files between the machine won't happen very often.
I've heard of transferring between the two with a special USB cable. Is
this possible? And if so, what cable should I get? It was also suggested
to me to use a wireless connection (also with the USB), what do you think?

While it would be cool to setup a wireless network at home, I thought that
it was a bit overkill for what I want to do.

Thanks for the suggestions and help.

-Rob
Click to expand...

Why not buy a cheap RJ45 network cable and use that to do your file
transferring; known as peer-to-peer. To do this, the PC and the laptop
both need to have network cards and I'm assuming they do. Make sure you
buy a crossover; not straight through.

Matt
 
Rob said:
Hi,

While I consider myself a decently knowledgeable computer person, I know
absolutely nothing about networking. So I am asking this question to figure
out what I should do...

I have my home PC and I now have a laptop from work. I want to transfer the
files from the laptop to my home PC. What is the best way to do this?

My home PC has Windows XP and the laptop has Win 2000. I also have a DSL
connection.

The transferring of files between the machine won't happen very often. I've
heard of transferring between the two with a special USB cable. Is this
possible? And if so, what cable should I get? It was also suggested to me to
use a wireless connection (also with the USB), what do you think?

While it would be cool to setup a wireless network at home, I thought that
it was a bit overkill for what I want to do.

Thanks for the suggestions and help.

-Rob
Click to expand...
You could buy one of those USB memory devices, the kind that can fit on
a keychain. Prices are dropping rapidly, with 128M units on sale for
less than $50. Just plug one into your USB port, and it shows up as a
removable disk drive, and works just like any other drive.
 
As you already have a DSL connection, a cheap router (under $40 these days)
can connect both computers to your DSL modem. Both will be on the Internet
and also on a LAN. Transferring files, sharing a printer, and sharing one
internet connection are all available.
Run the network wizard on the XP machine and just follow the instructions.
You will need a Cat 5 straight through cable for each computer to plug into
the router.
You have lots of choices.
 
Len West said:
As you already have a DSL connection, a cheap router (under $40 these days)
can connect both computers to your DSL modem. Both will be on the Internet
and also on a LAN. Transferring files, sharing a printer, and sharing one
internet connection are all available.
Run the network wizard on the XP machine and just follow the instructions.
You will need a Cat 5 straight through cable for each computer to plug into
the router.
You have lots of choices.
Click to expand...

1. If both computers have network card installed, you can get a $4 Cat
5e "Cross-Over" cable to transfer the files:
http://www.beesmartinc.com/product.asp?0=210&1=232&3=401

2. If the above is not an option, you can use a $29.95 "Usb to Usb
Link Adapter Cable":
http://www.beesmartinc.com/product.asp?0=210&1=211&3=735

3. Buy a USB portable hard drive (< $50)

4. Build a home network, wired or wireless


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