File Sharing

[Diz]

I would like to share files between two pc's. One is Windows 98 (not SE) and the other is Windows 95. What is the easiest way to link the two. Do I have to setup anything? I would also like to know when I can get the upgrade to Windows 98 Second Edition. Thanks

[Hydro]

You need two ethernat cards.
either a hub to connect them or a crossover cable beetween them. i heard you can connect them with paralell cables.
check out Somewere here (http://www.helmig.com/j_helmig/mspc2pct.htm)

and what do u mean buy when can i get second edition? u can upgrade anytime

[Paleo Pete]

Until some of the networking whizzes around here drop by you can also check out my site posted below, you'll find a couple of good how to links related to home networking.

DCC, or Direct Cable Connection can also be used, with the drawback of being fairly slow, depending on the purpose. Don't have a link fot it handy, Google (http://www.google.com) might turn up some info.

The win98 upgrade has been available for some time now, you can upgrade your existing OS any time you wish to. Generally a full install rather than actual upgrade, is preferred. That's done with the same CD, nothing extra to buy...

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So many idiots, and only six bullets...
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[evalroy]

Diz,

The easiest way that I have found was to purchase and install an ethernet starter kit. There are several good kits on the market from Netgear and Linksys (I have a Netgear and love it). They come with complete instructions and all equipment and software to network two PC's: 2 NIC's; 4 port hub; and two 25' cables. You will be able to connect both machines even if one is Win95 and the other Win98. I have had my system for a year and a half and it is great. I have been able to connect my computer with my wife and kids' computers and printers. You can find good deals on these kits for $50-$90 depending upon the speed. Check out www.pricescan.com (http://www.pricescan.com) to find a deal.

Good luck,
ER


Originally posted by Diz:
I would like to share files between two pc's. One is Windows 98 (not SE) and the other is Windows 95. What is the easiest way to link the two. Do I have to setup anything? I would also like to know when I can get the upgrade to Windows 98 Second Edition. Thanks

[psabi]

So do you have a budget? You can do the 2 nics and a Xover cable or 2 nics and a hub. Are you looking for a quick temp set-up just to transfer limited files not in a "hurry"? (are the computers located within close distance of each other?) You can also do a direct connect parallel cable (also called a null modem cable) without haveing to buy the nics or the hub. They sell nifty "high speed" ones up to $20. Or, you can just go to wal-mart (yeah, believe it or not) and buy a direct cable for $6.97. Figure out what you need it FOR and how much time and money you want to commit. The nic options are definitely faster, but the cable thing works with minimal investment and ideally, 2 reboots. Either way (nic or parallel) is doable.

The direct cable (parallel) connection software is included with win 9x.

As for the 98se update, I heard that the windows site has the $20 SE update on backorder until june. Pricewatch.com has it as well, as the update or the full install so that problem is solved. Windows ME...it just ain't worth it buddy.

If you want to dive into the "fun" of using the parallel option, try
www.lpt.com (http://www.lpt.com)

They'll sell you a cable as well but it's going be more than $7...

I use the parallel when I service non-networked pc's, but I have too many computers at home so that requires 3 hubs, a boatload of cat5, a couple of UPS'es, a few surge supressors, and the very minor possibility of an electrical fire...

-Pete

[This message has been edited by psabi (edited 05-25-2001).]

[Diz]

I tried the parallel DCC but it keeps asking me for a host name. I'll stuck on there. Need help.

[Paleo Pete]

Looked around a bit and found a couple of links that may have some useful info. Take a look, and check everything to be sure you have both machines configured correctly. Might take a bit of reading but you should be able to find info to set it up. Google (http://www.google.com) will turn up plenty hits also, if you use "Direct Cable Connection" for the keywords.

DCC (http://www.tecno.demon.co.uk/dcc/dcc.html)
More DCC (http://www.helmig.com/j_helmig/dccmain.htm)
More (http://www.kime.net/directcc/directcc95.htm)
Still more (http://www.homepcnetwork.com/cable.htm)

No, I didn't take time to read all of these, I wouldn't be through till tomorrow morning...but maybe you'll find some good info...

------------------
So many idiots, and only six bullets...
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[Diz]

WHere's your post pete?

[bassman]

Hi Diz,
If you read through the info in Win98 about setting up DCC, it tells you, "One computer must be a host ant the other must be a guest." Just name them that way and it should work.
As posted above, this is a short term fix intended for a simple transfer.If you want a network (recommended) you can get 2 NICs for under $20. (cheap stuff) and a crossover cable for about a buck a foot. You wont need a hub or any other hardware for this. If you go to more than 2 machines, then you need hardware.
Enjoy http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

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They say to eat before you go to the grocery store so you don't buy so much. That doesn't work at the liquor store does it!

[pezishere]

Your host name is the name assigned to the computer that you are loading from...
try windows help to find where that is found.. i used to know,
DCC is great for small linkages..
i used to use it to allow myu 486 laptop to access the cdrom on my desktop.
they were both different o/s as well.
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

[psabi]

sorry diz!

It's a BBQ weekend and I'm off to go the local warehouse club to buy a sh*tload of relatively unhealthy food...

I have a home network but I set up a parallel connect between a p2 laptp and p166mmx tower so I could have a fresh experience to convey...

I'm assuming you have installed direct cable connect on both pc's (control panel > add/remove programs > windows setup > communications).

Add the netbeui protocol through neighborhood network on both pc's as well as "client for microsoft networks" if you don't already have that. When you right click on network neighborhood, you should see at least one (more is ok) instances of netbeui; make sure you see "netbeui > dial up adapter" and that when you check properties on that option, there is a check next to client for ms networks".

On the host computer (the "server"), you also have to install file and print sharing. Same drill, right click on network neighborhood and the button will stare you in the face. Once that is installed, and you rebooted, figure out what you want to share, and right click on the drive and/or folders you want to shar and hit "sharing..." For a temp setup, just hit full and don't deal with the password option.

When you are done rebooting the pc's, start dcc on the host. When it lists the ports, make sure you have LPT1 choosen. It should now have an option to listen.

start dcc on the guest, make sure it's on the LPT1 port, and hit connect. The computers will verify a password, and then say connected. The guest will hit you with a prompt saying something like "can't find host..." and ask you to enter the name. Enter the name of the host, the host name being the computer name under the identification tab, in network neighborhood properties.

To transfer a file on my dcc setup, it took about 90 seconds for a 4.5MB file. This is with the $7 wal-mart cable; transferring with the parallel technologies cable will be faster. Parallel technologies also has a USB cable that works in same fashion as the parallel; I didn't suggest it because Win95 has really crappy USB support even in the later 95 releases.

A couple of points to be aware of:
-if you had ICS setup on either computer, there is a good chance that dcc will screw that up
-remember to undo the file and print sharing on the host computer if you use the host computer on the web - big security issue there
-if you don't plan on using dcc anytime soon again, remove any protocols that you don't need from the network neighborhood configuration window. When windows starts, it focuses on binding all of this stuff. You can free resources and shorten boot time by getting rid of the unnecessary stuff
-parallel ports have different modes that can effect transfer speed. If both computers have a bios that supports it, enable the ports to be "ECP". This should ideally give you the fastest potential for the port. If ECP isn't an option, try EPP. EPP will be faster than SPP.

Stay away from OPP... ha ha ha

-Pete

EDIT: Did you order the Win98SE upgrade thru Pricewatch?

[This message has been edited by psabi (edited 05-26-2001).]