How to connect 2 computers via direct connect

The most basic way is to use a NULL modem cable... albeit slow, it does work.

you can increase the throughput by purchasing a 25 pin mulitpurpose cable... male to male... run it through the parralel ports... then you get 115K as opposed to 9600 baud...

you will need to do the following on BOTH computers

right click on Network Neighborhood and choose properties... on the laptop, if you do not have the Network Neighborhood icon, you can go into the control panel and double click on the Network icon...

windows 98 will have TCP/IP as a default protocol... if memory serves me, you may have IPX/SPX as well... if not... install it... TCP/IP stinks to configure over the Direct Cable connection...

then click on the File and Print Sharing button... put the checkmark in the option "I would like to be able to give others access to my files"...

THEN... check the components... Client for Microsoft Networks (optional) - Dialup adapter (depends) - Network Interface Card (if you have one) - TCP/IP Protocol (Default with win98) - IPX/SPX Protocol (you should have added) - and - File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks (added when you clicked that checkmark) click ok... click NO on the restart... there is still more to do...

by default, Windows 98 does NOT install the direct cable connection, so you will have to add it...

if you don't have the cabs on your HDD, then put the CD in the drive... cancel the splash screen, then go BACK to the control panel...

double click on the Add/Remove Programs icon, and go to the windows setup tab... highlight the Communications option and click Details...

you will have to add Dialup Networking and Direct Cable Connection... then click ok, then click ok again... this will add these components...

now, you can click Start>Shutdown and restart your computer...

then... when both systems come back up... share a folder on one the desktop... this computer will be the Host... make sure you move the file you want to share into the shared folder...

connect the cable (parralel or serial... your choice) launch Direct Cable Connection (in the accessories menu under Start>Programs) on the desktop...

follow the instructions making sure to specify the correct port it will be hosting on... once it says it is waiting for the guest, launch Direct Cable Connection on the Laptop, doing the same thing - except the laptop will be the Guest...

the laptop should bring up an explorer window of the host computer with the shared folder... double click on the shared folder, and copy and paste the file where you want it...