Using infrared

[newyorkpaulie]

Can I "connect" a couple of T30s using infrared? Would be a neat way to transfer files, etc.. Thanks for any tips!

[RealBlackStuff]

It'd be much faster just connecting them using an ethernet crossover cable. Both laptops need to be in the same workgroup.
Alternatively, use wifi: http://www.pakblogger.com/connect-two-l ... using-wifi

Infrared is dog-slow.

[rkawakami]

Yes it's possible, but you may encounter a physical limitation that prevents efficient use of this transfer mode. Since the IR port is located on the right side of the system, you can't place the two laptops side-by-side, both facing the same direction, and have the ports "see" each other.

Assuming you can get around this, then here's some suggestions that may help:

- enable the IR port in BIOS
- make sure that Windows Device Manager has identified the IR port and loaded the appropriate driver (probably named IBM ThinkPad Fast Infrared Port)
- when the systems are talking to each other, there should be an icon in the system tray:



along with a new icon on the desktop named "Send files to another computer".

- launching either one of those icons will give you a window which allows selection of files to be sent to the other computer
- right-click the icon in the system tray, select Properties and click on the Infrared tab to control options involved with the transfers

I use the IR port quite often to transfer photos from my phone to a laptop, not so much as a means of moving files between systems. For that I generally join both computers to my home network and use WiFi or wired ethernet connections.