XP has a very nice wizard that will walk you through all the
setup for a cross-over cable, an Ethernet or wireless. Use
the XP Help function to find it or just go to the control
panel .
To make a direct network connection
1.. Open Network Connections.
2.. Under Network Tasks, click Create a new connection,
and then click Next.
3.. Click Set up an advanced connection, and then click
Next.
4.. Click Connect directly to another computer, click
Next, and then follow the instructions in the New Connection
Wizard.
Notes
a.. To open Network Connections, click Start, click
Control Panel, and then double-click Network Connections.
b.. To create a direct network connection that acts as a
host, you must be logged on as Administrator or be a member
of the Administrators group. Guest direct network
connections do not require administrator-level rights.
c.. If you specify your connection as a host when you
create it, the connection appears as Incoming Connections in
the Network Connections folder.
d.. You can create multiple direct connections by copying
them in the Network Connections folder. You can then rename
the connections and modify connection settings. By doing so,
you can easily create different connections to accommodate
multiple ports, host computers, and so on.
e.. Direct connections can bypass authentication
requirements. This is useful for devices such as palmtop
computers. You must configure this setting in the host
incoming connection. For more information, click Related
Topics.
f.. If you create a direct connection by using a serial
(RS-232C) cable, the port that you select in the New
Connection Wizard is enabled for connections that use a null
modem.
g.. If you are logged on to your computer as Administrator
or a member of the Administrators group when you create a
direct connection, you are presented with a list of
connection devices to choose from that includes all of the
parallel ports for the computer, infrared ports that are
installed and enabled, and COM ports. If you are logged on
as a user who is not a member of the Administrators group,
and create a direct connection, the list of devices includes
the parallel ports for the computer, infrared ports that are
installed and enabled, and only the COM ports that are
configured with null modems. If you need to use a COM port
for a direct connection, ask your system administrator to
configure one of the COM ports on your computer with a null
modem by using Phone and Modem Options in Control Panel.
h.. Users do not need to use direct connections to allow
access to shared resources, such as files and printers, over
a local area network. In order to enable shared access to
resources on the local computer, you must enable file and
print sharing, share the resources, and then set up the
appropriate permissions.
Related Topics
| First, thank you all for your responses. But all I want
to do is
| connect the two computers, and transfer "My documents" to
my friends
| laptop.
| Then, after I reformat my hard drive, transfer them back.
| I am astonished XP does not make this easier with a
crossover cable.
| IS there nothing out there that tells me, step by step?
| Someone in another newsgroup suggsted this :
|
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/qa/qa20030213.shtml
|
| But it is not simple nor spelled out as suggsted.
