Problem using direct parallel pc to pc connection

[Saur0n]

Im using a direct connection cable to connect my laptop to my desktop pc, ive set the laptop to be the host and the desktop pc to be the guest (the stuff that needs moving is on the laptop). The desktop pc connects fine at 4mb/s, but now im stuck, how can i copy some files to the desktop pc?

Any help would be appreciated thanks.

 

[cdogg]

In an explorer view of the laptop's hard drive, you can just right-click the files you wish to transfer and select copy. Then, back in an explorer window of your desktop's hard drive, right click the folder you wish to copy the files into and select paste.

Hope it works...if not let me know

 

[Saur0n]

Nope, it didnt work

The paste function on the desktop pc cant be highlighted. Was a good idea tho.

 

[dilettante]

Normally the desktop should be the host. Usually this is a good idea because:

(a.) The desktop is more powerful, and the host has a greater CPU burden under DCC. This is by design.

(b.) The guest DCC software normally brings up a "view host" window showing resources on the host, and this is usually what a laptop is after (large hard drives, CD-ROM drives).

But be that as it may, it sounds like your basic problem is seeing the "remote" machine in one direction or another.

Try this:

On the machine where you're experiencing trouble, enter \\computername in either the Start|Run dialog or else enter it into the address bar of an open Windows Explorer window.

This should give you access to shared resources on the remote machine. Once this has been done successfully you should (from here on) see the shared resources in network neighborhood ("My Network Places" in XP).

Of course DCC is touchier than it should be, and it seems like a million things can go wrong with it (*sigh*).

Make sure you've met the basic networking requirements, such as using unique computernames, the same workgroup name, etc. A lot of XP users seems to let the workgroup default to MSHOME or whatever it is, while 9x users often default to WORKGROUP. Some network configuration change attempts can throw you back to these defaults too.

 

[Saur0n]

I just tried using start|run \\Laptop and it says:

"\\Laptop

The network path was not found."

But they are connected :/ Could it be that my shared resources arent configured properly?

 

[dilettante]

I just plugged in my own laptop's parallel cable and am experiencing the same troubles you are!

The desktop (host) can see resources on the latop, but the laptop can't see the desktop at all.

I also can't send messages from desktop to laptop (or back) using NET SEND COMPUTER MESSAGE from XP's command prompt, and WinPopup on the Win95 laptop.

All of this was working three days ago!

I'll tinker with things and see what may have gone awry here, and then I'll post any findings.

 

[rjkrash]

Folks,

I'm not sure about this but doesn't the parallel port have to have bidirectional communications turned on in the BIOS somewhere. Maybe that is your problem at one end or the other. Just an idea...

The two rules for success are:
1. Never tell them everything you know.

 

[dilettante]

The two ends need to have their parallel ports set up the same way at both ends, but that's about it.

My laptop has an "output" setting that is actually ECP!

Good thought.

But I'm still getting bidir communication. I can "upload/download" using the desktop, but not the laptop.

I can also get to my LAN and out to the Internet from the laptop over DCC (web, messengers, etc.).

Looks like a NetBIOS issue someplace.

 

[Saur0n]

changed the parallel setting to bi-directional in the bios on the laptop, then rebooted, then did the same to the desktop pc and it wont boot anymore It says:

Drive Not Ready
Insert BOOT diskette in A:
Press any key bla bla

I changed it back and i get the same. Any Ideas?

 

[rjkrash]

SaurOn,

Darn! B-( .

Did you inadvertantly change something else in the BIOS like tell it to boot from a CD or something? Is this on the PC or Laptop? Check your BIOS for boot sequence or Boot drive.

Be careful in there. ;-) The two rules for success are:
1. Never tell them everything you know.

 

[Saur0n]

Checked the bilpos settings, everything seems to be ok, i didnt change anything else, its the desktop pcs bios im talking about, i changed the laptops bios setting to bi-directional and it still works fine.

help!

 

[Saur0n]

bilpos? bios even.

 

[rjkrash]

Do you have a recovery disk? or make a floppy on the laptop that formats and adds the system files and see if you can just boot the PC from the floppy. If you can boot to dos from the floppy on the PC can you CD C: and see your drive? The two rules for success are:
1. Never tell them everything you know.

 

[dilettante]

Sounds like your onboard IDE controller got disabled in the BIOS, or else your hard drive settings were altered in some way.

Make sure the controller is enabled. You may have to hunt around but it could be on the same screen as the parallel port settings.

You may have to do an autodetect or select an AUTO setting for your HD and CD-ROM in the BIOS too now.

 

[Saur0n]

Found the problem with the pcs BIOS, the master/slave drives had been reset to "none" somehow. Both the pc and the laptops parallel settings are on bi-directional, i tried the start|run \\laptop again and got the same error tho.

 

[Saur0n]

They are connected but i cant get any files off the laptop

Darn...

 

[rjkrash]

WHEW! don't you just hate it when fixing one thing breaks another! Thes computers are just too hard to use. Lets go back to faxing, and sneaker net ;-)

Now I'm not sure about this but maybe the \\Laptop has to be something like \\Laptop\C: and C: has to be shared?

dilettante you know more about this than I.

Can you do anything from explorer? The two rules for success are:
1. Never tell them everything you know.

 

[Saur0n]

lol rj,

Yea gimme teletext anyday.

How do i make the c: drive on this laptop shared so that when im connected i can access it by \\Laptop\C:? Is that what u think the problem is?

 

[rjkrash]

right click on drive in the my computer window and click share. I may be way off here! I'm shooting in the dark!

What OS(s) are we working with here?

I'm not really sure you have to have a share set up. You may have to have a workgroup established too. I think this PC to PC is a peer to peer network as far as MS is concerned. If you are using WinXP then I know you are running into access violations cause XP cares about security. If its just 98 to 98 or ME then the issues are in NetBEUI protocol.

We need dilettante back, he's done this recently! Neither he nor you have "marked" this thread for notification via e-mail so He's missing all the fun! The two rules for success are:
1. Never tell them everything you know.

 

[Saur0n]

Both the laptop and desktop pc are running xp pro corp. When i goto the sharing tab of the properties of the c drive on this laptop that i want to share with the desktop pc, it takes me to a connection wizard for a lan connection.