hi, i want to connect one laptop to another desktop pc that i have, i guess i have to "build" somekind of a network, but never done this.., and im not thinking in wireless,..
can you tell me wich cables can do this? if you could put a screenshot of cables that can do this it would help me more here..to get a better "picture" of what im looking for, cus i have some cables here that i don´t know what they are for.. maybe i have them already..

and its just connect the cables or do i have to do something more??
thanks.

The slickest way to do it, assuming both PCs have network cards - is to get a network cable called a 'cross over' cable. Wherever you get it from, make sure they don't try to sell you anything else. Not a patch cable, a CROSS-OVER cable.

stick one end in your desktop, one end in your laptop, then let the xp networking wizard do the rest.

If you are connected to the internet using a broadband connection I would recommend using a router instead of a crossover cable. Routers come in both wired and wireless versions. The advantages are these. First you can access the internet with either, or both computers without involving the other. Second, a router provides a hardware firewall, which is better protection that a software solution.

^^^^^^^

Yes, IF you have a broadband connection on one of those PCs, a router would be better.

HI OtheHill, Good morning :-)

You wrote Second, a router provides a hardware firewall, which is better protection that a software solution.

IMHO it's always better to have both hardware and software FWs. A hardware FW does not block programs from accessing the net without your permission. This is where the software FW prevails.

i_XpUser

hi and thanks for the replyes,
i have broadband connection, but my problem is the laptop is old, its an old computer that im still using for some work, and i need to tranfer that work to the other computer in a fast way , not floppy disks or recordable cd´s or internet, .. that old laptop, don´t have network card and its running win98 (450 mhz and 32 ram) , still i can use internet on it but whit usb cable....
the desktop pc runs winXp

i say i need make tranfers between in a faster wway than floopydisks, cd´s, internet, cus the amount of times that im planning doing this would make it "hard" and useless ......

1 , so no network card on one pc,..that method fails,

2 , router, don´t know what it is, ..is it cheap?
can we find it anywere, any computer store ?
is it easy to connect to the 2 pc´s, ..its just connect and we´re ready? or we need to know a litlle more about hardware to make it work?

3 , is there any kind of a usb cable that can do this? and work whit both win 98 and winxp?

thanks.

I believe you can transfer files over a USB cable but I have never done it. A router won't help you if you don't have a Network card on the Laptop. Someone else here can probably assist you with USB transfer. Also Serial or Parallel port transfers MAY be possible. I say may, because I am unsure of WinXP's abilities in this regard.

You will need something like this: http://www.homenethelp.com/web/review/pc-linq.asp

It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice...

One of the PCs on the network is a 486 PC with USB adapter and no NIC. I connected it to the network using what is called Broadband USB-Ethernet Adapter or something like that (hey its Monday!). It works just fine.

i_XpUser

thanks, i guess it something like that i need and its +/- cheap .... it could be more ..
now i just hope it works whit both winXp and win98...

Just make sure you use the file transfer wizard on the XP machine when you get connected up with your USB cable. Should make it easier.

how about a USB flash/thumb drive? 512MB ones are cheap these days.

that drive usb flas/thumb is the pendrives?
maybe the other cable is more what i need ..but this pendrives can be really interesting for me..so can you tell me if the transfer of files to and from pendrives are fast? its just like moving a file from a folder to another? or is it more like recordable cd´s where we have to way a little?

Just use a cross cable and get it over with.

Chxta, he doesn't have a network card on the laptop.

It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice...

You can use a null - modem cable. It is a female to female 9 pin serial cable. Works the same as a crossover. Your workstation will have a 9 pin comm port and look at the back of the laptop and see if it has the same. You should be able to get a the cable at radio shack. If not by a regular 9 pin serial and get gender male to female gender benders.