Connecting two computers via LAN

Hello,

I wanted to connect my new laptop (running VISTA) to my old laptop (running XP) to transfer the files over. In the past I've done this using a simply LAN CAT 5 cable connection between the two, but this was back when Windows 2000 was around and it seemed to be easier. I can't figure it out or remember how to do it, tried googling with no success.

Does anyone know of any step by step instructions to do this?

Tx

 

is it vista x64?

 

Unless you have GiGaBit Ethernet...use Firewire!
Win XP and Up supports it. Not Windows 2000.

This was the feature that made me upgrade to XP from Win2000 back in 2003.
There are now third party programs that allow Win 98 and 2000 to also work.

 

You can do the same thing, just need a crossover cable if you not using a router/switch. You will have to open a hole in your firewall to allow them to see each other.

 

It's Vista Home Premium edition, 32 bit op system. Would prefer to use LAN as that is what I'm most used to, and I don't believe my old laptop has a firewire connection (if even my new one does ... Acer 5920g?).

Tx

 

It is very simple. You'll need a network cable (alittle wider than the phone cable), properly working network adapters on both machines. So here we go:

1-) Plug one end of the cable to the Vista laptop, another - to the XP one.
2-) Go to My Computer in the XP laptop, under the Computer Name tab find which workgroup Your computer belongs to. If it is not "WORKGROUP" (most probably it is "MSHOME"), then change it to "WORKGROUP", by clicking the corresponding button(s).
3-) You will be asked for restart of the system if You change the workgroup name. If You will, then do so.
4-) Repeat steps 1 - 3 for another laptop (most probably You'll not have to, cuz by default Vista is configured as mentioned above).
5-) Go to Network and Sharing Center in the Control Panel of Vista laptop, click on the "Manage network connections", right click on the "Local Area Network" and click "Properties", select "Internet Protocol Version 4" or simply "TCP/IPv4" and then click "Properties". In the "General" tab check "Use the following IP address" and type "192.168.1.15" for IP address, "255.255.255.0" for Subnet mask, and "192.168.1.1" for Default gateway.
6-) Click "OK" everywhere.
7-) Do the same on another machine, but type "192.168.1.13" for IP address.
Put what You want to share on Vista machine to the "Public" directory, under "C:\Users\Public", and what You want to share on Your XP machine to the "SharedDocs" folder under "My Computer".

Well, You are done.

P.S.: If You don't "see" computers when You go to "My Network Places", then try typing "\\Computer_Name" or "\\IP_Address" in any address bar.

 

Perfect, just what I needed! Will try that this weekend. Do I need to adjust any firewall settings?

Tx

 

I would just disable both Firewall's for the moment....

 

Okay, tried the above. But nothing happened. I.e., the shared drive is not showing up on my Vista laptop at all? Is there something else I'm supposed to do? I.e., map the drive somehow?

 

Have you read this?

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/da25b51f-8c3d-e025-74aa-1fa3f29f6cdd1033.mspx

 

Well, disable Your firewall on both machines, and make sure that You have same workgroup name on both machines. Plus, make sure that "Public" folder on Vista machine is Shared (forgot to mention in the previous post). If that does not work, then consult a network freak.

 

Well, oddly enough it took several minutes and my Dell finally showed up under Network places on the Acer (just as the link indicated it would, thanks kegobeer).

However, when I tried to connect, Vista gave me an error that it couldnt' find the Dell. Oh well, guess I will try again. Either that, or just buy a 4 gig USB drive and transfer files that way (only have about 6 to 10 gigs to transfer over).

Thanks for all your help!

 

pbc, did you try the settings in that Microsoft article?

 

Yup, tried all the settings, believe they are all the same as in the link. The only thing I couldn't do is make sure the Public folder in Vista is shared, when I right click there is no option for "properties" on it. But in any event, it's the Dell folder I need access to, so I don't believe that matters. For some reason now it's not even identifying the Dell network, i.e., unlike last time when it finally popped up, this time it is not?

 

Okay, my dell eventually came up. Tried to connect, and got the following message:

"Windows cannot find Dell
Windows sent the request to the DNS Server and the server responded that the name was unknown"

I checked to ensure the name of the Dell computer was the same as what the Vista machine was looking for. I tried to Ping 192.168.1.13 from the Vista machine but that just timed out.

Tx

 

Okay, did an NSlookup on my Dell computer and recieved an odd message. "DNS Timed out. *** Can't find server name for address 192.168.0.1. *** DEfault servers are not available"

I don't get this message with the Vista machine, not sure if it has anything to do with the difficulties I'm seeing but thought I'd post that as well.

 

Really strange, i'd say that should work. But i wonder why no one recommended you a usb to usb bridge, that seems the easiest way to do it. I mean one of these:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/248

Of course with that little data the cheapest way would probably using a dvd-rw.

 

Yeah, I'm pretty much ready to give up on doing it this way! Will probably just use the USB flash drive (bought a 4 gig one for $25 and it's shipping now).

Frustrating though, I recall when I did this with Windows 2000 (old HP laptop to the Dell) it was very, very simple. But that was 5 years ago!

 

Firewire networking isn't in Vista.