.Connecting two PCs together

RIVER BENDER - JULY,  2003

Connecting a couple PCs together allows one to transfer files rapidly at several hundred kilobits/sec. Perhaps you'd like to move files from an old PC to a new PC. I use an older PC for backup and periodically transfer personal data to it from my regular PC.

There are numerous ways to connect two PCs together. I will discuss how I connected two PCs running Windows 98 in the least expensive way. You can read about other ways by going to www.google.com and typing "Connect two PCs".

I used Microsoft's Direct Cable Connection (DCC) software that exists in Windows 95 and later versions. If you don't see DCC in Programs/Accessories/Communications you'll need to extract it from your operating system CD by going to Settings/Control Panel/Add/Remove Programs and selecting Windows Setup/Communications. It will be helpful to put an icon for DCC on the desktop of both PCs.

You'll need a parallel cable, sometimes called a parallel LapLink cable, parallel InterLink cable or parallel crossover cable to connect the two PCs. One can use a serial cable but a parallel cable sends data faster. The parallel cable must have a male 25-pin connector at both ends to plug into each PC's printer port during the transfer of data. It must be a crossover cable such that the send leads at one end come out as the receive leads on the other end. More about cables compatible with DCC including parallel cable pin connections is at http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q142/3/24.asp

I just happened to have a couple of 6' printer cables laying around so I decided to make my own crossover cable. I cut the female connector off the end of each cable and spliced the proper leads together (see pin connections at above URL) eliminating remaining leads in the cable. It was tedious work and you'll need a ohmmeter and a small soldering gun or iron.

Connect the two PCs together by plugging the crossover cable into each PC's 25-pin female connector, removing the printer cable if it exists on each PC. This will only be temporary during the transfer of data.

Start up both PCs and go to Start/Programs/Accessories/Communications on each and click Direct Cable Connection (or use the desktop icon if you made one). Select one PC as the host and the other as the guest. The guest PC will receive files from the host.

To be able to share files and have data pass between the two PCs you'll need to have the following software installed: (1) Client for Microsoft Networks (2) File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks and (3) Both Microsoft NetBEUI and IPX/SPX protocols installed on both computers. To install these go to Start/Settings/Control Panel and click on Network. For those components not shown already installed click on add and search within the categories listed for the components mentioned. Once completed click on File and Print Sharing and place a check mark indicating that you want to share files. Lastly, click on the tab labeled Identification and type in a name for your PC. I called my host PC Dave1 and the guest PC Dave2. Don't forget the names.

The last thing you need to do is designate which drives or folders in the host PC that you want to share with the guest PC. You do this by going to My Computer and right-clicking on the drives or folders and select File Sharing. The icon will then be shown in the palm of a hand. I selected Drive D where all my personal data is located that I wanted to send a copy of to my backup PC.

Let's try it out:

With both PCs running and the desktops showing and the 25-pin parallel cable connected to the two PCs do the following: (be sure you're not connected to the Internet)

Host PC: Click on the icon for Direct Cable Connection. The setting should be for the host PC to listen so click Listen.

Guest PC: Click on the icon for Direct Cable Connection. The setting should be for the guest PC to connect to the host via the parallel cable on LPT1 so click Connect. Your user name and password is now verified and you're asked to enter the name of the host., ie., Dave1. Finally the drives or folders that you set up to share in the Host PC are displayed. Resize the display smaller so you can see the Guest PC's desktop and go to My Computer and open the Drive and folder where you want to transfer files to. Resize the display so you can see both PC's folders and start copy/pasting or dragging folders or files from the Host PC to the Guest PC. That's all there is to it.

There's lots of help and FAQs on Direct Cable Connections on the web. Rather than list all the sites I suggest you simply type "connect two PCs" or "direct cable connection" in www.google.com.