I have two Vista systems (2.2 GHz Dual Core, 1 GB, 400 GB) and one antiquated machine running NT 4.0 SP6 450 (MHz, 256MB, 64 GB SCSI). There are a few applications running under NT that are incompatible with Vista and it would cost too much to upgrade when they're actually working fine. The problem is moving data files for all the other apps from NT to Vista. Occasionally I’ll need to transfer files from/to NT/Vista. From what I've read and been told I can't network the NT machine with Vista, so that won't work (I gather a crossover cable would be useless as well). I had a Service Bureau take the NT and one of the Vista boxes and somehow move the files. But, they did a less than satisfactory job and I wound up with many empty directories. I'm considering two alternatives. One, swap out the SCSI CD-R in the NT box for a SCSI CD-RW and burn a stack of CDs. Slow, but the vast majority of the files will be moved one-time. Two, I was thinking about a portable disk that I could attach to a serial or parallel port or the one USB 1.0 connection. 1. Is there a problem moving files back and forth between NT/Vista using a portable drive? 2. Can I attach a USB 2.0 portable drive to the USB 1.0 port on the NT box? I believe USB 2.0 is backward compatible with USB 1.0, and, as I said, it's largely a one-time event so I'm not too concerned with speed. Any other ideas?

Either way will work. I have never looked for an SCSI CD-R drive, but I would imagine that is cheaper than any sort of portable drive. If you can't directly network the two computers (due to the domain setup) but both still have Internet access, you might consider setting up an FTP server on one of the machines. FileZilla server is free, easy to use, and popular. If you will only be moving files every now and then and don't want an FTP server on all the time, take a look at a program called HFS. It is basically a self contained web-server that is super easy to setup and use. You basically just download it, run it, and drag an drop the files you want to share onto its window. -Ryan Adams http://RyanTAdams.com

Networking NT4 to Vista is entirely feasible, lets face it they both have the same code base, Vista is actually NT6.

I neglected to mention I don't have broadband, just dialup and a switch. I have not even been able to share files between my two Vista systems let alone NT. I called in an "expert" and after 8 hours he gave up on Vista and said the NT box was impossible. Another "expert" told me Vista to Vista was too hard without broadband and a router. He wouldn't discuss NT, not even to recover the files. In addition to having Vista bluescreen on a regular basis, that's my tale of woe and the reason I'm on antidepressants. I would greatly appreciate it if you can point me in the right direction. A really good hint might suffice although networking never was my strong suite.

If you setup Internet Connection on the Vista PC with the Dial-up connection, you then use a Xover (Crossover) RJ45 Cable to connect the Ethernet Ports. http://www.lytebyte.com/2007/02/21/... By default ICS assigns 192.168.0.1 to the Host (Vista) and 192.168.0.2 to the Guest (NT4) as the Host acts a DHCP Server! If you have used a switch between the Vista and NT4 PC's that is the likely cause of no network, and 8 hours for an "expert" is ridiculous/laughable. On a side note you can buy Routers with a Dialup connection see: http://www.usr.com/products/network... Lastly why the hell is this not in the NETWORKING FORUM as it does not pertain solely to NT4 ?????????

Agree with RTAdams and samsung. Networking the two would be your best bet. USB support under NT4 is "experimental", at best. It wasn't designed into the O/S and 3rd party support is virtually nonexistent for most devices as well. This may help in getting the networking going: http://networking.ittoolbox.com/gro...

Thanks for all the responses. Sorry to have upset samsung so much for not posting in the Networking Forum (I could hear him 3 forums over); I very much appreciate his help. I posted here because the "experts" said it was absolutely impossible to network NT with Vista. Therefore, it looked to me as a NT disk recovery problem. BTW: The switch is between the two Vista machines and a HP printer. The NT machine was never on the switch. Yes, 8 hours is deplorable. Naturally, I didn't pay them a cent; they had to eat it.