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Direct Cabling - Transferring Files

© Chris Cruickshank

This article is a continuation of last week's - getting a new PC up and running. Last week we discussed the setup of the new PC including sorting out the desktop, installing applications and generally getting things working. This week we look at using the direct cabling option to port files from my old PC to the new.

Direct Cabling

Windows 95 has an accessory that lets you connect two PC's together in order to transfer files from one machine to another. In order for this to work, you need to do the following . . .

• Get a suitable cable to connect the two machines together

• Set up file and print sharing on each machine

• Define one PC as the host machine and the other as the guest

• Run the connection program

Cables

I thought I was OK for a cable as I had one that had two male connectors. However, I quickly discovered my cable was not suitable. I believe the cable was too thick and therefore there was insufficient "power" to transmit data from one machine to another.

You need a "null modem" cable for this. Having bought one, I found that this cable was much thinner than my old cable. (My old cable was similar in thickness to a printer cable.) Make sure your cable is suitable for the job in hand.

I made the connection via the two PC's printer ports, LPT1. But you could also use COM1. I don't recommend using COM1 as this is often used by your mouse. File transferring needs no printing but having a mouse is sure handy!

Having connected the two PC's up via the parallel port it was time for the next stage - file and print sharing.

Sharing

On a network, it is essential for the network software to stop two users updating the same file at the same time so that work is not overwritten. When running two PC's without networking, this privacy is maintained by Windows itself.

So that files and resources (such as printers and disk drives) are handled correctly, it is necessary to set up file and print sharing on your PC - in fact, on both PC's. This is done within the control panel.

There are two stages to this:

1). Enable sharing on your system.

2). Setting what resources can actually be shared.

Enabling your System for Sharing

Open the Control Panel and select the Networking icon. If you are not on a network, select "Client for Microsoft Networks." In the bottom half of the window is a button marked "File and Print Sharing." Click this and follow the prompts. Once done, you will need to reboot your system in order for this to take effect.