PC to PC USB Connection??

[Willard]

Can two Laptops be connected for file sharing wiith a USb cable??
Win2Kpro on both computers, one USB2.0 the other USB1.1?

 

[Tim Meddick]

I've not read much on this but here is something :

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


However, USB Wireless adaptors can cost as little as $20 and do the job nicely.



BTW This group is for Windows XP users only.

Post your question to : microsoft.public.win2000.general

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Can two Laptops be connected for file sharing wiith a USb cable??
Win2Kpro on both computers, one USB2.0 the other USB1.1?

A Cat5 crossover network cable is as good as any to do the job..

 

[Paul]

Can two Laptops be connected for file sharing wiith a USb cable??
Win2Kpro on both computers, one USB2.0 the other USB1.1?

There is such a device. It is a "USB Laplink" or "USB Easy Transfer"
cable, for want of a better name.

It is relatively simple in hardware. There is a chip in the
middle of the cable, with FIFO buffers in each direction.

----> FIFO ---->
PC #1 PC #2
<---- FIFO <----

USB chip

An example of a component used to do this, is shown here. This
is the USB chip in the middle of the cable.

http://prolific.com.tw/eng/files/PL-25A1 Product Brochure 101306.pdf

You can see the blob in the middle of this cable. USB A connectors
are on either end of the cable, for connection to two PCs.

http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=1504&sku=39977

In terms of software, there are a couple of software options.
One kind of software, has an agent that looks like an old style
FTP transfer tool It shows a view of a local disk and a remote
disk, and allows you to control file transfer that way.

The other kind of software may involve networking, so that
you can do shares or whatever, using the USB cable as a network
connection between PCs.

So the key part of the product is the software. You want
to review the software capabilities, to make sure you'll get
some benefit from the device. As far as I know, there is no
standard USB class for this kind of device, so chances are
no other tool will be interested in using the new cable.
Only the software that comes with the product, knows
what to do with the cable.

Paul

 

[Willard]

Thanks for the information Tim,
BTW: Both PCs use XP

 

[Willard]

This looks very interesting,
Thank you Paul..

There is such a device. It is a "USB Laplink" or "USB Easy Transfer"
cable, for want of a better name.

It is relatively simple in hardware. There is a chip in the
middle of the cable, with FIFO buffers in each direction.

----> FIFO ---->
PC #1 PC #2
<---- FIFO <----

USB chip

An example of a component used to do this, is shown here. This
is the USB chip in the middle of the cable.

http://prolific.com.tw/eng/files/PL-25A1 Product Brochure 101306.pdf

You can see the blob in the middle of this cable. USB A connectors
are on either end of the cable, for connection to two PCs.

http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=1504&sku=39977

In terms of software, there are a couple of software options.
One kind of software, has an agent that looks like an old style
FTP transfer tool It shows a view of a local disk and a remote
disk, and allows you to control file transfer that way.

The other kind of software may involve networking, so that
you can do shares or whatever, using the USB cable as a network
connection between PCs.

So the key part of the product is the software. You want
to review the software capabilities, to make sure you'll get
some benefit from the device. As far as I know, there is no
standard USB class for this kind of device, so chances are
no other tool will be interested in using the new cable.
Only the software that comes with the product, knows
what to do with the cable.

Paul

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

A Cat5 crossover network cable is as good as any to do the job..

Yes, I agree. But before buying it, Willard should make sure both
laptops have CAT5 ports. Most new laptops do, but checking is the
prudent thing to do.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

This looks very interesting,

But be aware that it will be considerably more expensive, and no
better, than the CAT5 crossover cable Mike Hall suggested.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Yes, I agree. But before buying it, Willard should make sure both
laptops have CAT5 ports. Most new laptops do, but checking is the
prudent thing to do.

I would be very surprised if they didn't..

 

[Willard]

What kind of wireless adapters??
I used BlueTooth trial program, a little slow but o.k. (until they
wanted money)..
The built in wireless sets up o.k. on my older Micron Laptop but not on
the Dell..
Dell seemsto have it's own brand of wireless which I can't seem to setup..

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I would be very surprised if they didn't..

I'd be surprised too. But that doesn't mean he shouldn't check--it
only takes a second or two. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Tim Meddick]

Then why in your original post did you write "Win2Kpro on both computers, ..."
??

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Willard]

I am sorry for (my) mistake!!
The Win2Kpro was habit..
I recently upgraded both PCs from Win2KproSP4 to XPproSP3..

Willard