simple 'crossover cable' file transfer: mac os 9 box to XP home box, ONE time only

[bill yohler]

seeking to transfer some mac files from my old mac to my new windows
machine. they're both presently hooked to the same linksys BEFSR41
router, but I'm finding the parameters/setup of that (ftp transfer)
_exceedingly_ difficult. gotta say, though: I'm vastly more
comfortable with screwdrivers, swapping drives around, and cables, if
that helps any.

the mac has NO CD burner, though, and this is a "one time, in only one
direction" transfer. not looking to share net access, send files FROM
the xp box TO the mac, or anything like that - I just wanna transfer
the stuff _off_ the old mac. I'm aware of 'file fork'/file format
differences, and will cross that bridge later/got _that_ part pretty
much figured out.

too many seperate files involved for e-mail transfers, about 500 to
800 mb in total. mainly I want to transfer some old photoshop/mac
images TO the XP box, and a 'word' document (pretty big), and some
misc odds'n'ends/text files. have no SCSI CD burner, period. do have a
brand new 'spare' IDE 120 gb drive here, doing nothing, though. might
have a SCSI card I could stick in the XP box, too: if so, it's an
older adaptec, 10 mbit at the max, me guesses. got other 'loose and
idle' smaller IDE hard drives laying around doing nothing, too. plus a
few external scsi drives, also doing nothing. also have a crossover
cable/haven't tried THAT yet-scared. could ftp the stuff 'up' to my
site host, then back down in windows, but MAX file size i can 'park'
there is 10 meg...so :-(

don't wanna 'spring for' any software, if possible. got a DVD burner
and cd burner, but both are on/in the XP machine (so I assume to be
IDE). I tried a tiny 'ftp server' app on the mac (called 'anonymous
ftp') to no avail. XP machine kept <ws_ftp lite> kept on INSISTING the
mac ftp server wanted a password, though one wasn't required/tried
numerous variants, user name, no password, all blanks/hit enter, etc
etc etc....nuisance/big mind boggle/psychological logjamb.

contemplating sticking the stuff all on an old external mac-formatted
SCSI hard drive and having my wife's school mac guy hook it up there
to a newer mac WITH a cd-burner, and 'burn' it to a windows-accessable
CD....but would rather not.

the mac is running OS 9.0.4, the XP box 'home' version, all fully
updated and 'service packed to the max'

do I gotta configure 'ports' for ftp transfer or something? does
filesharing have to be enabled on the mac? what about 'sharing' on the
XP box? do I need fixed IP's on both? and what else am I overlooking?
could I stick an entire empty DRIVE in the XP box and "shoot the files
into it" somehow? are the incoming mac files sometimes 'invisible'
when they arrive there? this is all pretty dern confusing...

do any websites cover this entire 'mac to windows/crossover cable'
procedure 'step by step for the uninitiated tightwad'? if so, I
haven't found one ...dummy here's been searching and reading google
hits for days...

do I need to stuff or zip? binhex or? deep-fat fry? bake at 350 for 45
minutes? woe is me...

pointers appreciated, and thanks

 

[C Lawson]

As far as I was aware, you couldn't transfer Apple files
over to a Windows system, unless you were using some
emulation software? I'm probably wrong on that score, just
not sure!

Hope it's helpful

 

[Chuck]

seeking to transfer some mac files from my old mac to my new windows
machine. they're both presently hooked to the same linksys BEFSR41
router, but I'm finding the parameters/setup of that (ftp transfer)
_exceedingly_ difficult. gotta say, though: I'm vastly more
comfortable with screwdrivers, swapping drives around, and cables, if
that helps any.

the mac has NO CD burner, though, and this is a "one time, in only one
direction" transfer. not looking to share net access, send files FROM
the xp box TO the mac, or anything like that - I just wanna transfer
the stuff _off_ the old mac. I'm aware of 'file fork'/file format
differences, and will cross that bridge later/got _that_ part pretty
much figured out.

too many seperate files involved for e-mail transfers, about 500 to
800 mb in total. mainly I want to transfer some old photoshop/mac
images TO the XP box, and a 'word' document (pretty big), and some
misc odds'n'ends/text files. have no SCSI CD burner, period. do have a
brand new 'spare' IDE 120 gb drive here, doing nothing, though. might
have a SCSI card I could stick in the XP box, too: if so, it's an
older adaptec, 10 mbit at the max, me guesses. got other 'loose and
idle' smaller IDE hard drives laying around doing nothing, too. plus a
few external scsi drives, also doing nothing. also have a crossover
cable/haven't tried THAT yet-scared. could ftp the stuff 'up' to my
site host, then back down in windows, but MAX file size i can 'park'
there is 10 meg...so :-(

don't wanna 'spring for' any software, if possible. got a DVD burner
and cd burner, but both are on/in the XP machine (so I assume to be
IDE). I tried a tiny 'ftp server' app on the mac (called 'anonymous
ftp') to no avail. XP machine kept <ws_ftp lite> kept on INSISTING the
mac ftp server wanted a password, though one wasn't required/tried
numerous variants, user name, no password, all blanks/hit enter, etc
etc etc....nuisance/big mind boggle/psychological logjamb.

contemplating sticking the stuff all on an old external mac-formatted
SCSI hard drive and having my wife's school mac guy hook it up there
to a newer mac WITH a cd-burner, and 'burn' it to a windows-accessable
CD....but would rather not.

the mac is running OS 9.0.4, the XP box 'home' version, all fully
updated and 'service packed to the max'

do I gotta configure 'ports' for ftp transfer or something? does
filesharing have to be enabled on the mac? what about 'sharing' on the
XP box? do I need fixed IP's on both? and what else am I overlooking?
could I stick an entire empty DRIVE in the XP box and "shoot the files
into it" somehow? are the incoming mac files sometimes 'invisible'
when they arrive there? this is all pretty dern confusing...

do any websites cover this entire 'mac to windows/crossover cable'
procedure 'step by step for the uninitiated tightwad'? if so, I
haven't found one ...dummy here's been searching and reading google
hits for days...

do I need to stuff or zip? binhex or? deep-fat fry? bake at 350 for 45
minutes? woe is me...

pointers appreciated, and thanks

Bill,

Can you get the Mac connected to the router? If "they're both
presently hooked to the same linksys BEFSR41 router", and the hookup
was successful, then don't worry about crossover cables or anything.

Find out the ip address of the XP computer (fixed or dynamic is
irrelevant), and make sure you can ping it successfully from the Mac.
If you can, then move on to the ftp issue.

You want to transfer 500 - 800 files, but don't want to email them.
You don't want to 'spring for' (pay for) any software. So go to
<http://www.download.com/?legacy=cnet>, search for "ftp server", look
over the list, and pick one for WinXP. It's all shareware, which has
a limited time span for you to try it out, but if you find something
you like, you can transfer 800 files in a couple hours, if they're
properly organised in folders.

Both computers are on the same LAN, which (BEFSR41) should run at
100M. What you need to do is trivial really. Just get a shareware
ftp server program, install it on the WinXP computer, and get it done.

Cheers,

Chuck
I hate spam - PLEASE get rid of the spam before emailing me!
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Chuck]

As far as I was aware, you couldn't transfer Apple files
over to a Windows system, unless you were using some
emulation software? I'm probably wrong on that score, just
not sure!

You've got Apple, Linux, and Unix clients connected to the internet,
and downloading and uploading (ftp and http) files all the time.
Server OS is not an issue if the client and the server both talk ftp
or http. The only question is does the Mac have an ftp client on it?
An ftp server for the WinXP box is available as shareware.

Converting the data, now, that might be an experience. But moving the
files should be trivial.

Chuck
I hate spam - PLEASE get rid of the spam before emailing me!
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[bill yohler]

Chuck wrote in reply to me:

Can you get the Mac connected to the router?

well, put it this way: the mac could access the net thru the router,
thru IE 4.5/mac version<old/ancient version>, specifically. but that's
all i tried. of course that was the day before yesterday, _before_ my
major linksys router crash of last eve (neither the XP machine nor the
win98 machine could 'get' ANY webpages, even close ones, none, zero),
traceroutes went nowhere, and ipconfig/release/rebootings,
repowering-ups etc and all that was ZERO help. so I did the "reconfig
the router all night" disconnect/unplug all cables, reboot everything
one after another with one hour delays inbetween devices" nightmare
(the linksys crash may've been preciptated, in part, by the mac
hooking to the router). all I know is this AM, the XP box couldn't
access ANY webpages while the mac was still connected to the router
(hence my interest in using a crossover cable in a 'withOUT the router
in the loop' type situation, which I figure would eliminate the
'router config/hook up the mac/AGAIN crash the router' type
nightmares...

I already _have_ a crossover cable (and kinda would prefer using IT,
rather than the router, if possible)

You want to transfer 500 - 800 files, but don't want to email them.

not that I don't WANT to e-mail em, really. just that I can only
attach so many tiny files to a single e-mail, and, jeeze, I might
still be doing it after 48 solid hours and hundreds, or thousands, of
seperate e-mails...at 1 or 2 mb's per e-mail, plus times to attach,
etc etc

You don't want to 'spring for' (pay for) any software.

yah, I'm still a tightwad.

So go to
<http://www.download.com/?legacy=cnet>, search for "ftp server", look
over the list, and pick one for WinXP.

whoa! maybe I'm missing something <??>. tell me if I'm wrong: I'm
under the impression the 'server' ftp app ought be located on the
computer the files are being sent _from_ (which, in this case, is the
old macintosh). I'm also under the impression the ftp _client_ should
be located on the 'receiving' computer, in this case my XP computer,
right? so I have an ftp 'server' app on the mac, and tried it (As
outlined earlier) but to no avail, and, umm, stuff :-(. (by the way,
WS_FTP on the XP works fine for dl'ing stuff off the net, and
uploading to my sites, so that's a non-issue)

...you can transfer 800 files in a couple hours, if they're
properly organised in folders.

yeah, that's another question I had, but didn't post: is the windowsXP
system gonna even 'recognize' the old MacOS nested folders/folders
within folders? this part not a major prob, though, compared to just
ftp'ing the items, really...

Both computers are on the same LAN, which (BEFSR41) should run at
100M. What you need to do is trivial really.

trivial? jeeze, I'm sure glad ya think so - this is a MAJOR
mindboggling headache for a non-windows networking guy, and even MORE
a headache for a non-windows-+and+ non-CROSS-platform networking
guy...

thanks much

 

[Chuck]

Chuck wrote in reply to me:

yah, I'm still a tightwad.


whoa! maybe I'm missing something <??>. tell me if I'm wrong: I'm
under the impression the 'server' ftp app ought be located on the
computer the files are being sent _from_ (which, in this case, is the
old macintosh). I'm also under the impression the ftp _client_ should
be located on the 'receiving' computer, in this case my XP computer,
right? so I have an ftp 'server' app on the mac, and tried it (As
outlined earlier) but to no avail, and, umm, stuff :-(. (by the way,
WS_FTP on the XP works fine for dl'ing stuff off the net, and
uploading to my sites, so that's a non-issue)


yeah, that's another question I had, but didn't post: is the windowsXP
system gonna even 'recognize' the old MacOS nested folders/folders
within folders? this part not a major prob, though, compared to just
ftp'ing the items, really...

trivial? jeeze, I'm sure glad ya think so - this is a MAJOR
mindboggling headache for a non-windows networking guy, and even MORE
a headache for a non-windows-+and+ non-CROSS-platform networking
guy...

thanks much

Bill,

I apologise for making light of your situation. I suspect this must
be a bit frustrating for you starting out. But if you think about it,
it's really not so complicated.

As long as you have network connectivity, with TCP/IP, you can put an
FTP server anywhere. You run an ftp client on one computer, and an
ftp server on the other. You can use an ftp client program to push
(send) to, or to pull (receive) files (folders) from, the ftp server.

If you want to use the crossover cable, and you can get the two
computers connected so you can ping one from the other successfully,
you're ready to go. The router provides a DHCP server - if you want
to use the cable, you have to setup ip address etc on each computer.
It's your choice.

You need to connect the Windows computer to the internet to download
the ftp server program. I'm hoping you'll get the Linksys working,
and use it, to protect the Windows computer (see numerous questions
about the Blaster worm elsewhere). As long as the Mac supports auto
configuration (DHCP), you should be able to connect it to the Linksys
too, and bingo, both computers should be connected.

If you can run an ftp command (client) from the Mac, it can push files
to the Windows computer. Since the Windows computer is newer, you are
more likely to find a good, free, ftp server program for it. And
since it is newer, it is more likely to run well with the ftp server,
and the load incurred.

If you can get the ftp server on the Mac working, you can use it.
That's your choice too.

FTP supports folders as well as files. If you organise your files
within folders within a single folder, you can transfer that folder,
with its sub folders and files, in one command. Less effort once you
get things organised.

So, all you have to do is get an ftp server setup on the Windows
computer, put the files you want transferred in a few folders on the
Mac, run the ftp client (command or gui interface - dunno what Mac
gives you), and transfer all the files in folders. You could test it
with a couple files to start, then when you're ready, just move the
rest in one transaction.

I share your frustration with the Linky - I had an SR41 which had
problems - I replaced the power supply (free) - problems went away. I
currently use an SX41, which has been stable since I put it in a year
ago.

To recap:
1) Connect the Windows computer to the internet, and download and
install an ftp server.
2) Connect the Mac to the Windows computer.
3) Test ping the Windows computer from the Mac.
4) Test transfer a couple files from the Mac to the Windows computer
using ftp client on the Mac.
5) Organise all the files to be transferred from the Mac in a few
folders.
6) Transfer the folders from the Mac to the Windows computer using
ftp client on the Mac.

Or:
1) Connect the Mac to the Windows computer (cabled as you desire).
2) Test ping the Windows computer from the Mac.
3) Test transfer a couple files from the Mac to the Windows computer
using ftp client on the Windows computer.
4) Organise all the files to be transferred from the Mac in a few
folders.
5) Transfer the folders from the Mac to the Windows computer using
ftp client on the Windows computer.

Cheers,

Chuck
I hate spam - PLEASE get rid of the spam before emailing me!
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.