Posted: 1/5/2002 4:28:29 PM EDT
| I have a laptop and a desktop. I can get them to talk to each other using a serial cable and a null modem at COM1 on each computer, but that is as slow as a dialup. I cannot for the life of me get them to talk to each other when choosing a parellel connection at LPT1. I choose the proper options on the setup and connect with a parallel connection with a null modem. I even tried with no null modem, but no joy. HELP. Do I need a special type of parallel cable? |
| A null modem attached to a parallel port will just confuse both computers. A serial port's wiring is totally different than a parallel port. They both use D25 connectors, but that's all they have in common. There is a cable you can use for the parallel connection. It's commonly used with programs like laplink, so look for a laplink parallel cable if you want to go that way. You'd be much better putting cheap network cards in both and running an ethernet crossover cable between them. |
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Quoted: Why in sam hell would you want to? Put ICs in them both and run 100MB ethernet. |
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Quoted: A null modem attached to a parallel port will just confuse both computers. A serial port's wiring is totally different than a parallel port. They both use D25 connectors, but that's all they have in common. There is a cable you can use for the parallel connection. It's commonly used with programs like laplink, so look for a laplink parallel cable if you want to go that way. You'd be much better putting cheap network cards in both and running an ethernet crossover cable between them. I do have another desktop, older and with 95 on it. This is really stupid, I know, but would the 95 and ME on the newer desktop (the laptop has ME also, sucky platform) be able to talk to each other and swap info if I put in the net cards and the ethernet cable? By the way, my serial port is not DB25, it is DB9. |
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I know WHY you want to connect them. I meant Why would you want to use the serial OR parallel. On the laptop, you invariably have a PCMCIA slot. Attaching a PCMCIA card is an external device and you are doing nothing more than if you were attaching the laplink cable. You IT guys shouldn't have a problem with it as it is no difference. Using the ethernet interface cards is by far the easiest. I don't know the speed of parallel ports anymore but there is a reason people almost universally use ethernet for this task. Just my $.02 And yes your 2 PC would be able to talk using ethernet. |
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Quoted: Use Breifcase or directcc to link the two together. No cards needed! Ben, I just work on DMS switches, which is a type of IT since it is a switching computer, basically. We are starting to get more into PC type of IT work, since more and more of the processors are starting to be PC based, but I am still kind of weak on what we are talking about. On the 2 desktops, I guess I was wondering about the compatibility of the 2 platforms, 95 and ME. |
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BenDover, I am doing something similar. I have 2 desktops. I want to use my DSL on both primarily & play some games with the wife (I have the important connections covered [sex]). I have ethernet cards in both & a 100 ft Cat5 cable. What next? Software? Point me to a web page & I can do most anything. Thanks. Scott |
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Quoted: BenDover, I am doing something similar. I have 2 desktops. I want to use my DSL on both primarily & play some games with the wife (I have the important connections covered [sex]). I have ethernet cards in both & a 100 ft Cat5 cable. What next? Software? Point me to a web page & I can do most anything. Thanks. Scott [url]http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=23&prid=20[/url] I use these all the time. they are about $90. |