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How do I do a USB-USB xfer of files?

U

ugh

Platinum Member
Hi all,

Was wondering whether that's possible. I read that I'll have to get some kinda special cable to perform the xferring. How different is that cable compared to normal USB cables? (please bear my ignorance to USB in general) What software can I use and what OS is supported?

Thanks.
 
go to www.laplink.com and check for their USB file transfer (ie network) cables. they cost $50 plus you have to buy the software. Personally, i say apply the $50 to two 10/100 ethernet cards and a crossover cable so you can transfer stuff at light speed. no extra software needed, win98 and win2k support this in their OS. I think USB tops out at 12 MBits/sec whereas of course a NIC will go up to 100.
 


<< go to www.laplink.com and check for their USB file transfer (ie network) cables. they cost $50 plus you have to buy the software. Personally, i say apply the $50 to two 10/100 ethernet cards and a crossover cable so you can transfer stuff at light speed. no extra software needed, win98 and win2k support this in their OS. I think USB tops out at 12 MBits/sec whereas of course a NIC will go up to 100. >>



Thanks for the info... Kinda pricy though. I guess I'll just xfer through ethernet then 😉
 
if the file size isn't large then you can use windows own direct cable connection which is free but a bit slow! you'll need a special cable for connection though.
 
I say go for the ethernet route. 2 NICs and an Xover cable shouldn't cost much. You can also use 2 USB NICs if you dont have any expansion slots.
 
Also just as a warning do not use a normal usb cable to try and connect two computers cause you will fry those computers.
 
Cheap Option - Laplink cable, you can get a connection of 4mbps for some basic but adequate file transfers, very easy to setup with w2k.

More pricey option (better if u are looking for permanent connection) - network starter kit, even a 10mbps one is fine.

That's quite scary about the USB to USB thing Jaimin.

Corm
 
a couple of Questions about nic file transfer:
1. Do you just connect the two computers using lan cable or do you need a router or something?
2. how do you go about actually transfering the files(i.e. do i need special software or is it built into windows)?

thanks for bearing with my ingnorance😀

 


<< a couple of Questions about nic file transfer:
1. Do you just connect the two computers using lan cable or do you need a router or something?
2. how do you go about actually transfering the files(i.e. do i need special software or is it built into windows)?

thanks for bearing with my ingnorance😀 >>




1. Just a cable is needed, TheCorm's idea of ethernet means getting a hub too, that's why he's thinking its more expensive then the USB solution. All you need is two cheap 10/100 cards for $10-$20, and a crossover cable for $5-15. Depends on where you go of course.. you can have people make the cables too if they have parts.

2. Sharing the files over a network is built into windows. &quot;File and Print Sharing&quot;. Give each computer a name, setup your network protocols to include NetBEUI (and maybe IPX/SPX if you want to be thorough), and enable file and print sharing. Then, after the reboot, right click on each computers C: (or D: or E🙂 drive and shoose sharing, you'll get the idea. You can to specific folders, but it doesn't matter with just two folders and you as the only person there.
 
Performence of using Crossover cable and 2 network cards is not great, I have tried both under 9x and ME and you keep getting a weird lag whether under 10 or 100 mbps.

A hub really speeds things up, the crossover idea does give you a compromise between the laplink and the starter kit though but I think a hub is great.

 


<< Performence of using Crossover cable and 2 network cards is not great, I have tried both under 9x and ME and you keep getting a weird lag whether under 10 or 100 mbps.

A hub really speeds things up, the crossover idea does give you a compromise between the laplink and the starter kit though but I think a hub is great. >>



It's your problem if you think a crossover isn't as good as a hub. It's usually at least twice as fast, since a hub can only do half-duplex. Plus, most hubs are only 10mbit connections, while crossovers allow full 100mbit speed. A hub just relays the data anyway, so it's just another connection as compared to a crossover cable.

Besides, why fret over lag if he's willing to consider using USB or whatever is cheapest?
 
Okay calm down, I just got petter pings on games with a hub and no lag when using network neighbourhood.

Nothing wrong with a crossover, I just think using a hub is a bit quicker plus you have the added benefit of plugging in your mates laptop / extra pc when ever you want.

And check the costs -

2x 10/100 PCI Network cards + 3m crossover cable = £38
Network Kit (2x10mb Network cards, 5 port 10mb Hub, 10m cable) =£50

What exactly is a home user gonna be doing that would require 100mb over 10mb on a regular basis?

peace.

Corm
 


<< What exactly is a home user gonna be doing that would require 100mb over 10mb on a regular basis? >>



Save £12! 😀
 
Does that look like I'm angry? Hmm.. I didn't mean to sound angry, I think my writing style is more confrontational then I intend. Can we hug to make up? 🙁
 
lol, you're probably right anyhoo....I just didn't have a great experience with my crossover network, those damn tempremental bindings 😉
 
Thank god a networking post where people are answering, well anyway i have a msi k7ta mobo which has this feature onboard called pc-pc, the cd that comes with the mobo has this pc-pc driver it requires you to install it, in a sence all it does is add a few protocols and enables file and print sharing. Now after i install this driver on two computers(info i know so far about pc-pc is relativly short because msi never answers my e-mails when i e-mail them, which i can understand because they get 1000's of e-mails a day and naturally they cant answer them all) i link the two computers together via a simple A-A (male both ends) USB cable, well when all that is finished i turn on the computer with the pc-pc feature on board first and then i turn on the second computer, but then there is this wierd problem since USB dilivers 5v-12v to power some devices the second computers power led turns on but it does not actually boot so this forces me to unhook the USB cable from the second computer and turn it on and then hook the USB cable back and after it boots and i check network neighborhood for the second computer its not there.

So if anyone knows how to solve this problem please help me out .

Another thing is if i get a ethernet card 10/100 base then all i need is a crossover patch cable right or do i need a hub as well.

FYI i do have sharing enabled on both systems, all the protocols are the same, both systems have different ip: addresses, subnet mask etc, i have all these criteria filled in, what am i missing.

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP
 
I don't know about MSI's pc-PC feature but if plugging in the cable to both pcs causes one not to boot then I think something must be very wrong and you're likely to fry one or both machines by trying further.

With ethernet all you really need is a crossover cable. IP addresses should be different but netmasks should be the same on both ends. Your first test should be to try to ping one machine from the other.
 


<< Also just as a warning do not use a normal usb cable to try and connect two computers cause you will fry those computers. >>



Uhh... Why so? Izit becoz they carry too much power?
 


<< Besides, why fret over lag if he's willing to consider using USB or whatever is cheapest? >>



I would LOVE to get a network card, but I'll have to get a PCMCIA network card (laptop btw) which is frigging expensive. I'm just wondering if there are any other options besides laplink...
 


<<

<< Besides, why fret over lag if he's willing to consider using USB or whatever is cheapest? >>



I would LOVE to get a network card, but I'll have to get a PCMCIA network card (laptop btw) which is frigging expensive. I'm just wondering if there are any other options besides laplink... >>



USB->Ethernet maybe.. in which case USB file sharing might be best. 🙁

Ethernet is more flexable though, for file sharing I mean. Not overall of course..
 
Since we're on teh subject, anyone knows of a good proggie to xfer files using a laplink cable? I've tried the DCC in Windows and it seems to be dying on me coz I'm xferring btw different OSes. Preferably something which is free?
 
yeah, cheap NICs, and a crossover cable = fast and cheap. can do so for $20. if you like really cheap stuff. =P
 
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