LapLink or PC Anywhere?

[Flying Lawyer]

I want to be able to link by modem between my work computer and laptop when at home or travelling.
Has anyone used either (or both) of these programmes?
Which is the better of the two?

Ideally, I'd like to be able to synchronise my two computers automatically. Does either programme have this facility?

I'd be grateful for any advice.
Thanks.

PS In case it's relevant, I use Windows 98SE on both computers.

[What_does_this_button_do?]

Hi Flying Lawyer,

You have quite a lot of options for linking the two devices together. As they're both Windows 98 means that you already have functionaity within the Operating System.

You could link the two machines together using a serial lead. This lead would connect to the 9 pin connector in the back of your PC shaped in a "D". The cables can be easily purchased from any decent PC shop or Staples/Office World.

1. Make sure that Direct Cable Connection is installed on your systems. It is a part of Windows 98 but is not always installed. From the desktop choose "Start", "Programs" and "Accessories". If DCC is installed you will see it in this list. If it is, skip to step 3.

2. To install DCC, first open the control panel. "Start", "Settings" then "Control Panel". Choose "Add/Remove Programs" then click the "Windows Setup" tab. Highlight "Communications" and click "Details". Check the "Dial-Up Networking" and "Direct Cable Connection" boxes. Click "OK" then "OK". You may be asked for the Windows 98 setup CD.

3. If they aren't already installed you must install a protocol and client on each machine and enable file and printer sharing on the host. Right click "Network Neighborhood" then click "Add". Choose "protocol", "Microsoft" then a protocol (NetBEUI, IPX/SPX or TCP/IP). You must select the same protocol for both machines. Click OK. Now, click "Add" again, "Client", "Microsoft" and "Client for Microsoft Networks". Click OK. On the host machine click "File and Print Sharing..." and choose one or both of the options you are given. Click "OK" then "OK". You may be asked for then Win98 disks and have to restart.

4. Once DCC and the correct clients and protocols are installed on your computer choose "Start", "Programs", "Accessories" and "Direct Cable Connection". One computer will be the "Host" and the other "Guest". Make the selection and choose "Next". On the Host machine you will be given the option to require a password.

5. Choose the port that you are going to use and connect the cable. Click "Next".

6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 for the other computer.

7. Choose "Finish" or "Connect" on the Host then the guest and you should start communicating.

OR

If your laptop computer has a network connection while you're in the office it is possible to connect the two devices together using the Local Area Network.

As it goes, Microsoft "out of the box" syncronisation stinks. Never ever use "My Briefcase" - to be avoided at all costs. I've never used PCAnywhere or Laplink so I don't know about their synchronisation tools but I will investigate.

B

[fobotcso]

This link will take you to a previous thread on this topic, and within that thread there are further links. http://www.pprune.org/cgibin/ultimat...&f=35&t=001150

These should keep you busy while Buttons comes up with his info.

[TAF Oscar]

Personally I had loads of trouble getting DCC to work: my laptop from work evidently has some settings that DCC doesn't get along with, and I can't change them (corporate setup, change parameters = never be allowed on the network again). Even when I eventually got it to work (found some websites giving advice on all sorts of tips and tricks), my desktop reacted very badly after using it, had to keep rebooting until it decided to co-operate again. Every time I was afraid it was never going to work again, until the n-th reboot when it suddenly started OK.

So I invested in a network card and a cable for my desktop - very cheap - my corporate laptop already has a network card. Modify a couple of IP addresses at the desktop end and hey! presto! a working link. It works perfectly, is miles faster than DCC, does not need any laptop parameters messing about with and doesn't leave the desktop with concussion afterwards.

I'd go for the LAN option every time!

TAFO

[Mac the Knife]

I did get M$ Dial-Up Networking to work at one time so that I could access files on my home PC from work, but it was rather balky and over ordinary phone lines quite slow for anything but text files. If anyone has better experiences of DUN servers I'd be interested. Not sure how one could implement good DUN security without a lot of hoopla. I've never used PC-Anywhere or Laplink so I'm curious about others experiences.

"Personally I had loads of trouble getting DCC to work" - so did I (and not, I think, what you are looking for).

"..whoever invented the Briefcase should be locked in a padded cell" - agree, but the concept seems sound and perhaps I'm just too dense to work it out properly.

Networking two PCs when they are both in the same location is trivially easy, but not applicable if you "want to be able to link by modem between my work computer and laptop when at home or travelling."

I eventually "solved" the problem by Brute Force - installed a removable hard drive rack in both PCs and just carry the drive (a small spare 5GB one) in it's docking cradle back and forth to work in my camera-bag. All my working files and more fit in with room to spare. I synch by using Directory Toolkit [from http://www.funduc.com ] which is a quick and extraordinary reliable and versatile tool for directory management. You can even make command-line macros to automate things for a one-click synch. Not expensive, efficient friendly personal product support, regular free updates - an invaluable tool for keeping file sets synchronised on my 3 PC home network and at work. Good for my backups which I can keep offsite - just sock in the disk-pack and off you go.

You could be a bit slicker by carrying a external Zip drive (parallel or USB - the USB one is neater) or (grand luxe) having a Zip drive at either end and just taking the disk(s). 250MB should be plenty unless (like me) you use a lot of hi-res images. The Jaz drives go up to 2GB. Iomega's tape streamers were awful (shame on you Iomega!) but the Zip/Jaz drives seem pretty reliable (don't have one, but several chums do). I'm sure you could use Directory Toolkit with these too. The PocketZip card drive sounds very sexy and even neater but only do 40MB of solid-state storage per card.

[Feline]

Strongly recommend LapLink - have been using it for years, and if it won't work, then the computers simply aren't connected. Apart from straightforward "copy to" or "move to" functions, it also has a very good bidirectional synchronisation function. It comes with a set of very pretty cables (yellow for parallel and blue for serial connections).
It can also be used in a "local" mode which offers considerably more functionality than Windows Explorer (the synchronisation mode is simply not available in Windows Explorer).
The only problem I've had is when certain other programmes (Palm HotSync for example) grab the port you're trying to use and won't let go. Solution is simple - turn HotSync off. I am still using Laplink 95 (version 7.5) - I guess there must be a later version by now. V7.5 offers remote connection by modem but have never had occasion to use it - don't really want to leave my telephone connected to a modem - one of these days I should invest in one of these fancy line switches which can differentiate between incoming voice, FAX and data signals.
I do have a shelfware copy of PC Anywhere - found it a bit idiosynchratic - wouldn't always do what I wanted it to do.
LapLink is one of those applications that I use from time to time and it always just works - I really cannot recommend it too highly.

[Flying Lawyer]

Thanks to all for your help.
Laplink seems to be the answer.

FL

[Mac the Knife]

FL - check my e-mail @ your aol mailbox

[flexy won]

I'm trying to link 2 PCs together. Both running Windows XP. All I need to be able to is move large files from one PC to the other and probably will only need to do this once.

Having searched the forum for likely solutions and this thread came up. Unfortunately, the links above do not work anymore.

I'd be very grateful for some advice on what the best method of linking the 2 PCs would be. I have a network cable and a parallel cable that would connect the 2 PCs.

Many thanks.

[flexy won]

Mike,

Thanks, I did consider this but the amount of data is about 20 Gbs which makes it a bit cumbersome.

[mikeddavies]

With a network card/socket on both PCs you need a "Cross-over" RJ45 cable - (Not a "normal cable). - only works between 2 PCs. Just plug into both PCs - set them on the same Workgroup, enable file sharing and share the directories etc you want to be accesible.. Faster than serail links etc., use windows explorer, do not need any "extra" software
MikeD

[flexy won]

Mike D,

Thanks for the tip. I'm off to buy a 'cross over' converter for my cable.

This week I will be mostly playing around with my network settings.

[Memetic]

Windows XP networking

Its worth noting that Windows XP Pro and Windows XP Home have different networking capabilities. XP Home has chunks of its networking tools removed so can't for example log onto a Microsoft small business server. The differences can make what should be a trivial connection job a pain.

[flexy won]

Memetic,

Again, thanks for the tip off! Both PCs are running XP Home so I guess it's going to be fiddly.

I'd be grateful for any more by step instructions from someone who's tried this.

Otherwise, I'll be sure to post my findings on this thread for others.

[Memetic]

XP Home to XP Home should be easier than mixing. There is a wizzard that should guide you. From memory it is on the control panel under networking and called something like set up a home network.

[flexy won]

Memetic,

Again, thanks. I'll try the wizard when I get the cross over connector and report back.

[rotorcraig]

When you get the crossover cable, you need to do two things:

(1) Get the two PCs talking to each other (over TCPIP)
(2) Share a folder on one PC and view it from the other

Having done a bit of Googling, here are some instructions:

(1) Get the two PCs talking to each other (over TCPIP)

Read the following: http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/basicxpnet/basicXPnet1.htm

Skip the first bit, start at Network Setup: Part I - Computer Name

You need to follow Parts I,II and III which are on pages 1 and 2.
Don't go beyond Part III, you don't need the proxy etc. that is configured in Parts IV+
Also don't worry about the terms "Client" and "Server", just set up 10.0.0.1 and 10.0.0.2 and remember which is which!

To check this is working:

- Go into "Start -> Run" then type "CMD" and press "OK".
- Type "IPCONFIG" and press Enter, you should see the IP address 10.0.0.1 or 10.0.0.2 that you specified.
- On the 10.0.0.1 machine you should be able to type "PING 10.0.0.2" and press Enter, and see Replies.
- On the 10.0.0.2 machine you should be able to type "PING 10.0.0.1" and press Enter, and see Replies.

(2) Share a folder on one PC and view it from the other

Follow instructions here:

http://compnetworking.about.com/od/w...winxpfiles.htm

The folder that you shared on one machine should now be available under "My Network Places" on the other machine!

RC