How do I transfer data over the network from DOS?

[dandino]

Hi all

I'm new to networking an would like a little help with a problem.

I would like to know how to transfer data from one pc to another over my network from DOS rather than Windows. Is this possible? I realise that dos drivers probably have to be loaded but I can't seem to find any anywhere. I have a Dell Insperion notebook with a built in NIC and can't find out how to use it from dos.

Any help greatly appreciated
Dan

[mjc]

Psssst...DOS is dead....

Yeah, right...

The problem is that somewhere along the line many manufacturers believed that and decided to no longer make DOS drivers for things like NICs. If it is a laptop with an onboard NIC and Dell doesn't have one listed then the likelyhood of finding one is slim to none.

Another thing, what is your current network setup like?

Are you talking about a full version of DOS, or just outside of win9x DOS?

How much data are you needing to transfer?

[dandino]

Hi there mjc

Yes I know DOS is more or les dead :( The thing is it should'nt be because there are many pc troubleshooters / repairers out there like myself who often need to work from DOS (using a boot disk). If a disk becomes unbootable for some reason then the only way to examine it is to boot from DOS with a boot disk and start from there.
The reason I want to be able to transfer data ovoer my network via DOS is to backupup files from an unbootable hard disk. I'm quite sure this must be possible after all microsoft provide the option on their windows installation CDs to install over a network. As far as I know this for installing large numbers of OSs simultaneously.

Any further help welcome
Dan

[Budfred]

Networks already have network software installed, so they are not working with DOS to do the original install. If you are trying to transfer files from a single computer, I think you are going to have to do that through some sort of direct connection...

[skhips]

Try this remote recover tool
.http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/remoterecover.shtml

[Dangerous]

Hi Dan,

Why not just pop the problem disk into another machine and take the data off it via that machine's O/S? (Assuming you have another machine) - is the problem HD from a laptop?

If so, you could try transfering the data across using the COM ports. You'll need a null modem - serial - cable and some software, both should be fairly easy to get hold of.
Do a search on CNET:Downloads (http://www.download.com) for Laplink, it should throw up alot of options, hopefully one of which will be free. (or shareware at least)

It may be possible to get the network up and running from DOS, look for the drivers for your specific NIC here: Driverguide (http://www.driverguide.com) (User: drivers, Password: all)

Good luck,
Dave

[Ghost_Hacker]

I've faced this problem before, here are some resources I use to build a DOS network disk.

Bart's network boot disk (http://www.nu2.nu/bootdisk/network/)

This site is great! Read the information carfully and you should be able to build a dos network disk for almost any computer.


Novell Client32 IPX disk (http://www.chasetown.staffs.sch.uk/technical/novell/clients/clients.html)


If you have no experince with Netware this one could be harder than Bart's disk. Still it could come in handy. Note that these disk use IPX not TCP/IP. I recommend the 2.71 version of the dos client.

Good Luck :)

[classicsoftware]

If the hard drive is not bootable. I would get a copy of lap-link for DOS and save yourself a lot of headaches. Chances are if it's not bootable you will need more than a network or lap-link to get data off.

Time & money beter spent on backing up the data......