I have an old VAIO computer with files that I'd like to transfer to my new
VAIO. I currently have only an RJ-45 Cat 5 cable to connect the new VAIO
(XP) machine (which has the Ethernet card built in) to the old computer (Win
98) which has a 3COM Ethernet adapter plugged into the USB port (I got the
Ethernet adapter from the cable modem I've been using).

First, I'd like to know if it's possible to have a simple network connection
between the two computers without a router. I tried setting up the
connection on the XP machine (after disconnecting from the cable
modem/Internet), going through the network setup wizard stating that I was
NOT connected to the internet. I made a Netsetup.exe disc which I then used
on the Win98 machine. I ran the wizard on the Win98 machine and got through
it, but neither machine sees the other through the Ethernet connection
(although it appears that there are packets being sent on both sides, since
I see the light flickering on the NIC on both machines).

Second, if it's not possible, what's the best way to transfer my old data
(less than 10 Gb) from the old machine to the new? I don't want to backup
to floppies (forever and a huge # of disks). Should I just buy an external
hard drive (ugh)?

If you don't have a hub, switch, or router then the cable needs to be rewired. Hubs et al already switch the wires inside them. You can buy them is a shop

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http://www.g2mil.com/Dec2003.htm
"So'n'so" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:uPEBb.386043$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have an old VAIO computer with files that I'd like to transfer to my new
> VAIO. I currently have only an RJ-45 Cat 5 cable to connect the new VAIO
> (XP) machine (which has the Ethernet card built in) to the old computer (Win
> 98) which has a 3COM Ethernet adapter plugged into the USB port (I got the
> Ethernet adapter from the cable modem I've been using).
>
> First, I'd like to know if it's possible to have a simple network connection
> between the two computers without a router. I tried setting up the
> connection on the XP machine (after disconnecting from the cable
> modem/Internet), going through the network setup wizard stating that I was
> NOT connected to the internet. I made a Netsetup.exe disc which I then used
> on the Win98 machine. I ran the wizard on the Win98 machine and got through
> it, but neither machine sees the other through the Ethernet connection
> (although it appears that there are packets being sent on both sides, since
> I see the light flickering on the NIC on both machines).
>
> Second, if it's not possible, what's the best way to transfer my old data
> (less than 10 Gb) from the old machine to the new? I don't want to backup
> to floppies (forever and a huge # of disks). Should I just buy an external
> hard drive (ugh)?
>
>

you need a crossover cable for a direct connect like that...or a hub/router
:>

"So'n'so" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:uPEBb.386043$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have an old VAIO computer with files that I'd like to transfer to my new
> VAIO. I currently have only an RJ-45 Cat 5 cable to connect the new VAIO
> (XP) machine (which has the Ethernet card built in) to the old computer
(Win
> 98) which has a 3COM Ethernet adapter plugged into the USB port (I got the
> Ethernet adapter from the cable modem I've been using).
>
> First, I'd like to know if it's possible to have a simple network
connection
> between the two computers without a router. I tried setting up the
> connection on the XP machine (after disconnecting from the cable
> modem/Internet), going through the network setup wizard stating that I was
> NOT connected to the internet. I made a Netsetup.exe disc which I then
used
> on the Win98 machine. I ran the wizard on the Win98 machine and got
through
> it, but neither machine sees the other through the Ethernet connection
> (although it appears that there are packets being sent on both sides,
since
> I see the light flickering on the NIC on both machines).
>
> Second, if it's not possible, what's the best way to transfer my old data
> (less than 10 Gb) from the old machine to the new? I don't want to backup
> to floppies (forever and a huge # of disks). Should I just buy an
external
> hard drive (ugh)?
>
>

www.careyholzman.com/netfixes.htm

Carey
"So'n'so" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:uPEBb.386043$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have an old VAIO computer with files that I'd like to transfer to my new
> VAIO. I currently have only an RJ-45 Cat 5 cable to connect the new VAIO
> (XP) machine (which has the Ethernet card built in) to the old computer
(Win
> 98) which has a 3COM Ethernet adapter plugged into the USB port (I got the
> Ethernet adapter from the cable modem I've been using).
>
> First, I'd like to know if it's possible to have a simple network
connection
> between the two computers without a router. I tried setting up the
> connection on the XP machine (after disconnecting from the cable
> modem/Internet), going through the network setup wizard stating that I was
> NOT connected to the internet. I made a Netsetup.exe disc which I then
used
> on the Win98 machine. I ran the wizard on the Win98 machine and got
through
> it, but neither machine sees the other through the Ethernet connection
> (although it appears that there are packets being sent on both sides,
since
> I see the light flickering on the NIC on both machines).
>
> Second, if it's not possible, what's the best way to transfer my old data
> (less than 10 Gb) from the old machine to the new? I don't want to backup
> to floppies (forever and a huge # of disks). Should I just buy an
external
> hard drive (ugh)?
>
>