Connecting two computers

**Ximensions** · June 28th, 2003, 08:53 AM

Hi

I was to transfer large files from one computer to another. How can I connect two computers together so that I can do this? I was thinking along the lines of using a usb cable or something...

Both computers run WinXP.

**Bill in SD, CA** · June 28th, 2003, 09:15 AM

I think you can accomplish this by using a cross-over cable.

Bill

**Buzioid** · June 28th, 2003, 09:20 AM

Yeah, Bill, Network is the easiest way to go, but there are other ways as well with direct connect.

**JohnE.** · June 28th, 2003, 09:22 AM

Microsofts Direct Cable Connect was created with serial and parallel ports in mind... I don't know if it works with USB, maybe someone else can confirm whether it does or not?

If DCC doesn't do it, you'd need at least a network hub, a NIC in each machine, and 2 Cat5 cables to connect them. Once you've got the hardware set up, run WinXP's Network Setup Wizard (available through My Network Places, among other locations). You'll have to share at least one folder on each machine. A router would be even better but they cost more than a hub.

JohnE.

(err, just read other responses... maybe a network cross-over cable would work also? Never tried it that way myself)

**Buzioid** · June 28th, 2003, 09:29 AM

If you use crossover cable and only connect two computers all you need is a cable and 2 NICs.

**Bill in SD, CA** · June 28th, 2003, 11:08 AM

This may help if your going the crossover route.

http://bizforums.itrc.hp.com/cm/Ques...9cd0f9,00.html

Bill

**pc-bill** · November 14th, 2004, 12:29 AM

I came across this a little while ago. I was searching for the same solution. This sounds like the easiest and cheapest way to accomplish that: a bridge cable

http://www.usb-network.com/

**mazdarx7-64** · November 14th, 2004, 03:25 PM

From the web site "Easy Drag-n-Drop File Transfer with Maximum Data transfer rate: Over 5 Mbps"

5 Mbps is very very slow, even more so for large files, when compaired to 100 Mbps for a crossover cable.

**pc-bill** · November 15th, 2004, 12:35 AM

While I was searching I found several other USB crossover or transfer cables. There is a USB 2.0 version which runs from $24.00 to $34.00. The claim is that it is faster than an ethernet cable, and much, much faster than parallel or serial. The USB 2.0 cables come with software which actually lets you share peripherals of the other computer (including an internet connection) as well as transferring files. Just do a search for data transfer cables. Two computers can be connected with a single cable and as many others as you want to connect using a hub. Also, the Microsoft Knowledge Base has an 8 part article telling you exactly how to connect two computers using either a USB transfer cable, ethernet cable or telephone cable.

**latinsmiles** · December 28th, 2004, 02:51 PM

Hello to everybody,

I am trying to transfer files from one pc to another by just USING A CROSS-OVER CABLE.

And, one of the pc's has the Local Area Connection Status as follows: LIMITED OR NO CONNECTIVITY.

The other pc's status is ok, but no access to my shared files either. How can I fix this?

Thanks Guys,

Smiles

**GroundZero3** · December 28th, 2004, 03:35 PM

are you using windows xp?

**truckpuller** · December 28th, 2004, 10:17 PM

Heres a website that helped me out alot on my networking problems
http://practicallynetworked.com/howto/
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...rksetupwiz.htm

**kwebb** · December 29th, 2004, 07:27 AM

Sounds like you don't have an IP set on that machine with limited connectivity. Check the sites given above and setup your network correctly.

Also, running a network wizard is almost always a bad idea. Referencing a post early in the thread. I would recommend NOT running any network wizards.

The easiest and cheapest way to do this is probably a NIC in each machine and a Crossover cable. If you use USB 2.0 or firewire let us know how it goes. I'd be interested to see just how stable the faster buses of these two interfaces does with transfers in windows.