Thinkpads Forum

Whad do I need to connect my laptop to the desktop to move files from one to the other? Thanks, emf

You need some kind of wire... :)

You can use a serial null modem cable, or a parallel cable, or make a small network, either wired or wireless.

The serial null modem cable is also called a LapLink cable, after the software that made them really popular. It's *REALLY* slow. This is most noticable with large files.

A parallel cable (NOT printer cable) can be used too. Either one of those is called Direct Cable Connection under Windows, and the Windows Help system will tell you all you need to know.

Faster still is a network, which is useful for many things, and pretty cheap. Each machine would need a network card. You can connect two machines directly with a crossover cable, or connect two or more machines with regular cables and a network hub or switch.

A network takes a bit more to set up and get going, but it is MUCH faster and a lot more capable.

You could also go wireless, and there are many ways to do that too.

I think I'll go for a parallel port connection for now. I did some web searching
and found that I need a DB25M to DB25M cable. Than I'll have to go to
Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs > Windows Setup > Communications
> Details > check Direct Cable Connection.

Now, which of the cables on http://www.staples.com/catalog/search/S ... image1.y=0
will do?

Thanks,

Eustace

This one looks good:

http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/S ... Sku=560481

I know that several good solutions have already been posted, but here's another one (which I currently use):

I put the files on CF cards... I have a PC card ("PCMCIA")-to-CF card adapter in my notebook, and a CF card reader (to USB) in my desktop... perhaps $30 total, plus the cost of the CF card. Maybe the cable is less expensive... but with this method, you can transfer files even when one computer is off... it might be faster than via a cable... and you can leave the CF card/PC card adapter in your notebook as a second hard drive.

If you have a digital camera that takes CF cards, then that's another plus. (Naturally, this idea would work with pretty much any format of removable non-volatile memory cards/sticks.)

whizkid wrote:This one looks good:

http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/S ... Sku=560481

Thanks. I had hesitated because it says Win95 and because it's more expensive than others, but it seems exactly what I need. I'll post again if I have trouble after installing it. -Eustace

emf wrote:

whizkid wrote:This one looks good:

http://www.staples.com/Catalog/Browse/S ... Sku=560481

Thanks. I had hesitated because it says Win95 and because it's more expensive than others, but it seems exactly what I need. I'll post again if I have trouble after installing it. -Eustace

So that is a 5x86-133 which equals to P75? Thanks