What do I need to...

[DeathSlayer]

...in a home network. What things do i need such as a new cable, etc... plus, will WinXP Home have less features reguarding this than the Pro version? I know about the File Transfer Wizard, when I activate it now (i don't have a home network yet), it shuts down in an error. I was just doing that for a comparison, though.

Ive heard such things that i need a USB-USB cable... for those who have home networks, which configuration works the best?

 

[phisrow]

You can use USB-USB cables, they come with somewhat kludgey software; but your best bet is straight network connection, with Windows file sharing. It is true that Home is more limited than Pro in this regard; but it shouldn't matter much for an application of this size. Ethernet crossover cable would work, direct firewire also; but with the cost of a decent router and/or switch approaching nothing ever more closely, you would probably be well advised to get a decent router(the subject has been much discussed in networking) and connect your machines to it. You should then have little trouble if you activate filesharing on the appropriate folders.

 

[DeathSlayer]

I have a BEFSR41 Linksys wired router. Is that good enough? It has four ports.

ALso, if I were to get an ethernet cable, do I just put one end in a port of the router then the other end into an ethernet port in another PC tower?

 

[unmerited]

Yep, a regular cable and not a crossover would connect from one of the router ports to your pc. Just make sure you have the WAN port of the router connected to your cable or dsl modem, if thats what you will be using.




unmerited

 

[DeathSlayer]

i illustrated my question: http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/6441/0923749283756uc.jpg

 

[BlueWeasel]

As previously mentioned, you can do it 2 ways:

1) Router - connect each system to the router using a standard (non-crossover) cable (2 cables needed)
2) No Router - connect the 2 systems using a single crossover cable

 

[DeathSlayer]

is the crossover a standard ethernet cable? or does it HAVE to be a "crossover" cable?

also, there is one ethernet port on my motherboard, but like 3 of USB ports. and i use the ethernet port for my internet connection. is my motherboard just super old (it's a A7N8X-LA... from an OEM machine) or is it like that for everyone? will i have to disconnect my internet connection to share files with another PC for a short amount of time?

thanks again

 

[Evander]

i cant answer all your questions, but crossover cables are nothing to worry about. any computer store should have them and theyre cheap, just tell them you want a crossover cable and theyll know what youre talking about. actually, i think i bought mine at a dollar store

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: DeathSlayer
is the crossover a standard ethernet cable? or does it HAVE to be a "crossover" cable?

also, there is one ethernet port on my motherboard, but like 3 of USB ports. and i use the ethernet port for my internet connection. is my motherboard just super old (it's a A7N8X-LA... from an OEM machine) or is it like that for everyone? will i have to disconnect my internet connection to share files with another PC for a short amount of time?

thanks again

Unless you use a router, then yes, you'll need to unplug the internet connection and plug in the crossover cable.

Ethernet cable actually consists of 8 or so smaller wires. The only difference between a crossover cable and a standard cable is just that -- a couple of the wires are "crossed over" on one end. You can actually make your own standard (ie, straight-through) and crossover cables, but if you've never done it before, just pick one up from a local computer store...shouldn't be more than a few bucks.

 

[DeathSlayer]

what's the difference of having 2 cables through router and 1 cable (pc to pc)? is there any speed differences? or it just the same exact thing?

 

[volrath]

The cables will be limited to the speed of the router as well as the amount of traffic travelling through the router, whereas connecting 2 gigabit computers with a direct link will be up to 10 times faster than using a router.

 

[volrath]

But basically if you have a router, you probably already have both computers set up to have internet access, and if they are setup for this then they are also basically setup for windows file sharing already, as well. Just open up file sharing in the firewalls of both computers.

 

[QueZart]

Originally posted by: DeathSlayer
I have a BEFSR41 Linksys wired router. Is that good enough? It has four ports.

ALso, if I were to get an ethernet cable, do I just put one end in a port of the router then the other end into an ethernet port in another PC tower?

Originally posted by: DeathSlayer
is the crossover a standard ethernet cable? or does it HAVE to be a "crossover" cable?

also, there is one ethernet port on my motherboard, but like 3 of USB ports. and i use the ethernet port for my internet connection. is my motherboard just super old (it's a A7N8X-LA... from an OEM machine) or is it like that for everyone? will i have to disconnect my internet connection to share files with another PC for a short amount of time?

thanks again

OK OK you HAVE Throuter..
You Have an ethernet port on your computer used for your internet..

the ethernet cord connected to your computer I'm assuming either goes to a DSL/Cable Modem or the router?

Connect 1 cable from DSL/Cable modem to the port on the router label WAN normally this one is offset from the other 4.

Unplug power from Modem for 1 minute, plug it back in wait for all the light to go green, then connect power to your router, wait for all the blinking to stop again

Then run a cable from any of the other 4 to your computer, then another from any of the 4 to the other computer.

Share your folders and Enjoy..

 

[DeathSlayer]

Is a PCI ethernet card the same thing as an ethernet slot on a motherboard's backplate?

Lastly... will all this work with a PC with XP Pro and a PC with XP Home?

 

[JackMDS]

May be this can Help, http://www.ezlan.net/Installing.html

:sun: