Networking New Computer (XP SP2) with Old Computer (2000)

[Guest]

I went to Radio Shack this morning to get a null modem serial cable to
connect my old machine to my new one. The guy said first that I should use a
crossover cable to connect my ethernet ports, then when he found out I have a
linksys router he said I could just use a different cable to connect my old
computer to the router.

Issue is that my new computer is windows xp sp 2 so I was able to run the
networking wizard just fine, even made a disk to insert in my old machine, I
was very pleased until my old machine said it wouldn't work since it is 2000.


While I'm happy that the old machine connects to the internet, I really
wanted to be able to access the old computer from the new computer.

Do I have any hope of doing this?

Thank you.

 

[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I went to Radio Shack this morning to get a null modem serial cable to
connect my old machine to my new one. The guy said first that I should use a
crossover cable to connect my ethernet ports, then when he found out I have a
linksys router he said I could just use a different cable to connect my old
computer to the router.

Issue is that my new computer is windows xp sp 2 so I was able to run the
networking wizard just fine, even made a disk to insert in my old machine, I
was very pleased until my old machine said it wouldn't work since it is 2000.


While I'm happy that the old machine connects to the internet, I really
wanted to be able to access the old computer from the new computer.

Do I have any hope of doing this?

Thank you.

I agree with the Radio Shack guy: an Ethernet connection is better
than a serial connection. It's easier to set up and use, and it's
much, much faster in data transfer.

Even though XP tells you to do it, you don't have to run the Network
Setup Wizard on the other computer. The default network settings in
Windows 2000 are compatible with XP. Connect both computers to the
router. To access the other computer's shared disks and folders, type
the other computer's name in the Start | Run box in this format:

\\computer
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Guest]

I appreciate your help. I tried doing it the way you said, with both
connected to the router, but still wasn't able to share anything. I was
vexed, but did use the ethernet ports connected directly to each other with
the crossover cable and that worked just fine. My main issue now is only
that one of the programs I use almost daily is not installing on my new
computer (the cd is apparently messed up) and it is not something I can
download from the internet. So until that gets resolved I'm still rather
irked.

Thanks again for taking the time to offer your assistance.