Network Help

[Pengineer]

Hi all, I wanted to link my PC and laptop together without using network cards. The guy in the shop sold me a USB-USB Data link (turbo link) network bridge adapter.
I installed this and went into windows network and tried to set it up.
The problem is they dont see each other.
When I go into control panel/network I am presented with an array of setup choices which I've now exhausted on both machines, but still nothing.
This is quite time consuming as every time I make a change I have to reboot them both.
Does anyone have any advice or experience.
I just want to be able to swap a few files back and forth.
Should I have just got the free laplink and a normal lead?
My desktop runs on Win ME, the laptop on Win98 SE.

[Tinstaafl]

A serial or parallel cable with Windoze inbuilt tools will do the job. No need for all the other stuff if all you want to do is transfer a few files.

You need to have Direct Cable Connection installed on both machines & (from memory) NetBUI enabled in 'Control Panel ==> Network Settings'.

I sometimes use an old Win3.1 program (because I can use it on just about anything). This particular program can install itself via a serial cable in case the software isn't already installed on the other PC.

I used to have a great little DOS piece of software that would also utilise a serial or parallel connection. Very fast, probably because it lacked the pretty gizmos & widgets of Windoze.

[Pengineer]

Every time it boots up I get a microsoft network login screen, which asks me for my password etc, when I fill it in it goes away and comes back and says something like 'no domain server was available to verify my ? you may not be able to access the network' and sure enough.....

[bcfc]

If you've got WIn2K (and I think 98 & ME will do this too), all you need is a cross-over cable. This is a cable like a normal network cable but wired slightly differently.

Plug it into both machines and complete the Make New Conection wizard in the Network Applet of Control Panel. From one machine, search for the other (using machine name). You'll need to make sure the network adapter (the card you plug the cable into) is all configured and your PC is seeing it.

This works very well for me. Best of luck.

[Pengineer]

Thanks guys for all the suggestions, unfortunately I couldn't get it to work at all, but thats entirely due to my limited talent with these things.
However, I installed Laplink technical which I got free on this months PC Plus, bought a normal serial lead for £2, plugged them together and it all worked perfectly.
It was so simple even i could do it.
Its a lovely piece of kit and does far more than I need.
Mrs Pengineer was totally confused with the 'remote control' facility where I took control of her desktop from my laptop and stareted moving the mouse, opening and closing programmes etc, managed to covince her it was some sort of a ghost she'd downloaded from the internet and he'll get the blame if she ever stumbles accross my porn stash!
Thanks again guys.
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