Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Thiruvananthapuram
Running PCs back-to-back
|
Bought a new PC? Congratulations! But what about all those still- useful files on the old machine? For a cheap and effective way to link two PCs, without a lot of pricey networking hardware, read on...
|
SOMEBODY ONCE said, "Personal Computers are like potato chips — no one can have just one". Sooner or later, you decide to go in for a newer PC. But the resale value of your good old machine is so low, that you prefer to retain it as a "Stepney". After years of use, the old PC is filled with useful files and you would love to access many of them from your new acquisition.
That's where the problem begins. Voice this requirement to the guy who supplied you the new machine and you will get an array of fancy solutions, ranging from network cards, ethernet cabling, wireless LAN and what not — all costing Rs. 5,000 upwards.When you have two PCs sitting side-by-side, surely there must be some way to exchange files between them without making a huge hole in your purse?
Indeed there is. But it is one of those well kept secrets that most PC suppliers are either ignorant of or unwilling to reveal.
Most PCs sold within the last one year come with a USB port and there is a lot of documentation about how two PCs can be connected from USB port-to-port. Unfortunately, this is of no use to most of us, since we are unlikely to have two brand-new PCs. Fortunately, there is an affordable (albeit slightly slow) method of linking two PCs without installing network cards in either of them. It is known as Direct Cable Connection (DCC). In the latest version of Windows XP, this feature can be accessed from the Control Panel by double clicking "Network Connections". Under "Network Tasks", click "Create a New Connection", and then choose "Set up an Advanced Connection". Click "Next" and then select "Connect directly to another computer". You have the choice of using this PC either as "Host" (to supply files) or as "guest" (to receive files). Now you have to select a device for establishing this connection. You can choose between the COM1 serial communications port or the LPT1 direct parallel port. The second one (which we use to connect printers) is the must faster connection.
You have to repeat this procedure in the other machine, making sure that if one is designated host, the other is designated as guest or vice versa. Remember also that in older version of Windows (like Win 95 or 98), the DCC feature is to be found among the "Programmes" in the "Accessories" folder, under "Communications".
There are two other requirements to be satisfied before you can move files between your PCs:
- The networking protocols of both the PCs should be identical.
If your PCs work on Windows 98, ME or XP, this condition is already met; but if one of the PCs still works with Windows 95, the protocol has to be updated with a few clicks. Procedure for this can be found by going to the "Support" section of the Microsoft website (www.microsoft.com) and looking in the index under "Direct Cable Connection".
- The cable linking the two parallel ports, terminates in standard 25-pin male printer connectors. However, since you are connecting two PCs back-to-back, the pin-to-pin wiring is different.
Abroad, direct cable parallel connectors are available for about $20, but in India you will find many dealers haven't even heard of it. You can get one specially wired for you by any PC assembler for less than Rs. 100.
However, you may have to supply the pin diagram which is also available in the Microsoft support site mentioned above (If you have any problem locating this site, I will be happy to e-mail you a copy of the pin configuration).
Ready-made DCC kits which include the necessary hardware and cable, are available internationally from agencies like LapLink or PCsync costing $70 to $80.
But if you are ready to put in a little effort, you can make your own cable and do your own configuration using the free DCC software that comes with Windows.
It is a small price to pay for the thrill of moving files, folders, pictures or what have you, between two machines and virtually combining their hard disks.
A. VISHNU
(vishnua@hotmail.com)
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Thiruvananthapuram
|
