Should be simple. I can get around a computer but when you start
mentioning things like Network or anything with Ether in it that isn't
an anaesthetic, I get a bit dim. I have bought a Belkin wireless card
to put into my laptop to talk to my desktop. No luck - almost lost
everything. I ran off to buy a cable to connect my 3 yr old laptop
(Win 98) and brand new desktop (XP). Got  a CAT (!)5e Crossover RJ45
patch cable which I am assured is the right thing. Plugged one end
into my ethernet laptop PC card and one into the back of my desktop.
What now? I just want to switch a few files from one to the other?
How? They are not recognising each other yet so I suppose I have to
set up a connection. Hmmmmm.. How? $10 tip as soon as I succeed.

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Request for Question Clarification by omnivorous-ga on 31 Dec 2003 12:54 PST

Drydoc --

Microsoft actually has good step-by-step notes on peer-to-peer
networks -- but first you have to find the right document.

Try this first:
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/broadbandnetworking/10_concept_file_share_setup.mspx

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

Hi drydoc,

Good day and thanks for your question.

You've taken the right step as far as the crossover cables are concerned.

The next step is to configure both your laptop & desktop. You've
mentioend that your desktop runs winXP.
http://www.homenethelp.com/web/howto/HomeNet-Win2kXP.asp gives a
step-by-step process of configuring WinXP.
http://www.homenethelp.com/web/howto/HomeNet-Win98P1.asp gives a
step-by-step explanation of configuring Win98 (for your desktop).

The surest way is to make your harddisk on the desktop 'sharable', and
access it from your laptop. Once you're able to access it, you can
drag and drop as usual.

If you have any clarifications, please don't hesitate to ask. I will
attend to it as soon as possible.

Warm regards,
aditya2k

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Request for Answer Clarification by drydoc-ga on 31 Dec 2003 16:07 PST

From the first link alone - there is no Network Neighbourhood option
on XP  - neither is there Settings on the start menu. Certainly
nothing much happens on right-clicking - fairly hopeless really. I
started doing Omnis things OK but still the computers are not talking 
- I suspect they don't know each other are there.

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Request for Answer Clarification by drydoc-ga on 01 Jan 2004 04:27 PST

I must be too thick - another 2 hours spent on the latest ideas. The
pages are quite unclear - it keeps offering me options of the Internet
whch I know my boradband provider will shooot me for. So I do not want
that.Ispentg 2 hours on to them yesterday to recover partial access on
my old laptop having lost it forever on the desktop. I have already
nearly lost 20 years of work as I bought a new computer to consolidate
my files once and for all. The pages talk about bridges, workgroups,
always Internet connections, there is talk of servers, hubs. My head
is spinning. All I want to do is takes a few files from my laptop to
my desktop. Close to giving up now. Happy New Year everyone!

---

Clarification of Answer by aditya2k-ga on 01 Jan 2004 11:27 PST

Hi drydoc,

I borrowed a friend's laptop running windows 98, and connected it to
my desktop (running winXP) using a patch cable.

I ran the home network wizard on XP and it automatically detected the laptop. 

I made the C drive "sharable" and was able to access it from my
desktop successfully.

Try running the wizard on XP.

If nothing works, you might want to sondier burning data on CDs.

Cheers,
aditya2k.

Just so you know, the solutions did not work. I employed a technician
who tried to sell me a broadband router for 150 dollars. He failed as
he later found out his equipment was faulty. Before he returned with
another I phoned one last guy who after an hour and a half managed
this "simple" task with the cable I had already bought. The solution
apparently involved changing the IP address on my laptop. Thanks
anyway

I have a "Home Network Wizard" program.  I got it off the Internet a
couple years ago, I can't find it now, otherwise I'd just link you to
it.  Its New Years Eve, and I'm on my way out, so tomorrow afternoon,
I'll check here for a reply to see if you have it figured out. If not,
I'll upload te program to the net so you can access it.

What yu do wih it is quite simple.  It is a little bit bigger than a
floppy, so you'll need to download and install it on both machines. 
It will ask you which one you want to be the "server." After that, you
just ask the program to do the configuring for you, you "run te
wizard."  The thing is heaven. Works like a dream.  I have used is
about 6-7 times, works perfect every time, regardless of what OS you
are using on the machines.

There is a slight possbiity the disk is in storage, in which case I'll
go to the Internet and attempt to find it, or something exactly lke
it, again.

Good Luck,
Cynthia

drydoc,

I still had a fw minutes, so I looked, can't find it quickly.  I did,
however, ind somehing I think will work foryou:

XP comes with a Network Setup Wizard.  Here's a page that explains
what it does and how to use it.  Again, it won't ater that one of the
computers has Win98.  See below.  I have used this once, it must have
worked,  otherwise I would remember being frustated!!

XP ICS - Starting the Network Setup Wizard 
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp_ics/networksetupwiz.htm
..."Windows XP has a built-in Network Setup Wizard that makes it easy
to configure networking on computers running Windows 98, Windows 98
Second Edition, Windows Millennium Edition, and Windows XP. The Wizard
does not work on computers running Windows 95, Windows NT, or Windows
2000..."

I hope this works for you...

~~Cynthia