USB to USB Data Transfer Between Two Computers

[JStrummer]

I have a backup job where I transfer a large number files between a
networked desktop (Win 2K Server) and laptop (Win XP Pro) on my LAN.
However, the transfer usually fails, due to packet loss or something
else--I'm not sure (both go through the same router; the laptop uses a
wireless connection; the desktop is wired to the router). Since the
two are in proximity, I was thinking about just trying to get a USB
Male A to USB Male A cable and transfer the files directly. My
question is this: Do I need to purchase special software to transfer
the files from computer to computer, or, in XP, would the 2nd computer
simply show up as another drive? Is there any built-XP functionality
that would facilitate this data transfer? Any help would be
appreciated.

 

[David H. Lipman]

Fix the LAN problem and forget about the USB idea.

Dave




| I have a backup job where I transfer a large number files between a
| networked desktop (Win 2K Server) and laptop (Win XP Pro) on my LAN.
| However, the transfer usually fails, due to packet loss or something
| else--I'm not sure (both go through the same router; the laptop uses a
| wireless connection; the desktop is wired to the router). Since the
| two are in proximity, I was thinking about just trying to get a USB
| Male A to USB Male A cable and transfer the files directly. My
| question is this: Do I need to purchase special software to transfer
| the files from computer to computer, or, in XP, would the 2nd computer
| simply show up as another drive? Is there any built-XP functionality
| that would facilitate this data transfer? Any help would be
| appreciated.

 

[luminos]

Fix the LAN problem and forget about the USB idea.

Dave




| I have a backup job where I transfer a large number files between a
| networked desktop (Win 2K Server) and laptop (Win XP Pro) on my LAN.
| However, the transfer usually fails, due to packet loss or something
| else--I'm not sure (both go through the same router; the laptop uses a
| wireless connection; the desktop is wired to the router). Since the
| two are in proximity, I was thinking about just trying to get a USB
| Male A to USB Male A cable and transfer the files directly. My
| question is this: Do I need to purchase special software to transfer
| the files from computer to computer, or, in XP, would the 2nd computer
| simply show up as another drive? Is there any built-XP functionality
| that would facilitate this data transfer? Any help would be
| appreciated.

You need a special cable to connect USB to USB, one that has a
microprocessor chip on it. FastLynx is such a system.

www.meritline.com has such a cable inexpensively, but the software blue
screened XP for me.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I was thinking about just trying to get a USB
Male A to USB Male A cable and transfer the files directly. My
question is this: Do I need to purchase special software to transfer
the files from computer to computer, or, in XP, would the 2nd computer
simply show up as another drive? Is there any built-XP functionality
that would facilitate this data transfer?

You need a special cable/adapter, not an ordinary USB A A one, so as
both to cross over the 'in' to 'out' and also to keep power supply from
the two machines isolated. These are not very expensive. Belkin and
Laplink for example. Given one you can set it up in Network Connections
as a separate LAN connection between the machines