I'm putting together a guide on transferring files between two
computers using ethernet cables or an external hard drive. Here's
what I have so far.
-DJ
Transferring files:
1. If you want to use an external hard drive.
2. If both comuters have ethernet ports, and you want to connect them
thru a router, where both computers will have access to shared files
and printers and also have internet access.
3. If both computers have ethernet ports, and you want to connect
them directly together, with no internet access.
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1. If you have want to use an external hard drive.
This may be the simplest method. You need an external hard drive that
can connect to the computers you want to share files between (by USB
or Firewire).
When you plug the external hard drive into the machine, XP should
recognize it as a Mass Storage Device, and make it ready to use
without restarting. If you look under My Computer, you should see a
new drive with a new drive letter (E:, F:, or G: etc.) depending on
your setup. You can double click on the new drive, and treat it just
like any other folder. You can copy files to and from the hard drive.
When you're ready to disconnect the drive, just double-click on the
";Safely Remove Hardware" icon in the System Tray (by the clock).
Choose the Mass Storage device you want to remove, click Stop, and
then OK to confirm. Once you receive a "Safe to Remove Hardware"
notification, unplug or turn off your external hard drive. If you
recieve an error message that XP can not stop the device, close any
open folders or programs that might be accessing the hard drive, and
then try to stop the device again.
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2. If both comuters have ethernet ports, and you want to connect them
thru a router.
This is the best solution if you want both computers to access the
internet and share files. You will need to have both computers
connected to the same router, and both computers already connected to
the internet.
If you already have this setup, you can simply go to "System
Properties" by right-clicking on "My Computer" and choose
"Properties." Click on the "Computer Name" tab, and click on the
";Change..." button. You can change the name of your computer here,
but more importantly, you want to choose a name for your Workgroup.
Once you enter a name for your Workgroup, click OK, and you will need
to restart.
Do this for each computer, making sure you enter the same exact
Workgroup Name on each machine. Once you have restarted the
computers, files in the "Shared Documents" folder in "My Computer"
will be accessible from each computer in the network.
Also, if you have a printer connected to a computer in the workgroup,
you can share it, and other computers in the workgroup can print to
it. Go to Start and click on "Printer's and Faxes." Right click on
the printer you want to share, and click on "Sharing." Choose "Share
this printer" and give it a friendly name.
Now go to the other computers in the network, and from Printers and
Faxes, choose "Add a printer" from the left hand side. The "Add
Printer Wizard" will appear, click Next. Select "A network printer,
or a printer attached to another computer, and click Next. You should
be able to Browse for a printer, and find the one you previously setup
to share, or you can manually enter in the Computer Name and printer name.
If you Browse for a printer, look under your workgroup, and double
click on the name of the computer that the printer is actually
attached to, and then select the printer. It will give you a warning
about trusting the computer, click Yes. You can set it as your
default by clicking Yes. If you don't, you can always change it
later. When you click "Finish," it will install the necessary
drivers. Note: The computer that the printer is actually connected
to must be turned on and connected for other computers in the network
to print to it.
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3. If both computers have ethernet ports, and you want to connect
them directly together.
You can directly connect two computers to each other using an ethernet
cross-over cable. Most ethernet cables are "patch cables." The only
difference between the two cables is that on a cross-over cable, a
couple of the wires on one end of the cable are reversed. If you have
you a crimping tool, you could make your own cross-over cable;
otherwise, expect to pay a few dollars more.
Connect the two computers directly with the cross-over cable. Open
the Control Panel, and select "Network and Internet Connections."
Open Network Connections, and on the left hand side click "Set up a
home or small office network."
The Network Setup Wizard will open, click Next, and then Next again.
Choose "Other," and click Next. Choose "This computer belongs to a
network that does not have an Internet connection," and click Next.
Give the computer a description and a name, then click Next. Enter in
a Workgroup name, and click Next. Choose "Turn on file and printer
sharing," and click Next. You will see a recap of the settings that
will be applied, click Next.
You can create a Network Setup Disk (floppy), but you can always just
repeat the steps above. Click Next, and then Finish. You will have
to restart for the settings to take affect.
You might see a limited or no connectivity error message displayed,
but if you go to My Network Places, you should see the shared files on
the other computer.
.