Interconnecting Computers

Direct Cable Connection should work just fine on Windows 98 as well as 95.

How did you set up Direct Cable Connection? Check also your network settings? What kind of cables are you using to connection the 2 PCs?

You don't need special hardware apart from the right cable for the job and working knowledge of networks.

I tried the Direct Cable Connection under Communications under Accessories under Programs. I set it up for the Old computer to be the Host and the new Dell to be the guest and went through the instruction wizard steps, set my printer port, LPT1, of both computers to be the connection port and connected them together with one of my spare parallel cables, but it would not work.

I went to the Microsoft site and got some pointers regarding my Vredir.vxd file, saying it was missing or damaged. It said to erase the old one and get a new one from the Windows 95 CD ROM, using the extract command. I saved my old Vredir.vxd file in a separate folder in the Win95 System file and tried to find the Vredir.vxd file and tied to get the extract command from my Win95 CD ROM but couldn't do it for some reason, said they weren't there. I then made a copy of my Vredir.vxd file on my Windows 98 on my Dell and put that in my Win95 System file and tried to connect the computers again, still no joy. Is there a piece of hardware that I need to get or is there something that I have to do with the LPT1 ports that Windows help doesn't tell me do.

I sure appreciate your responding to my cry for help.

What should I check for on my network settings?

I have no real good working knowledge of netwoks other than being on one when I had to work for a living, and using them to e-mail, print files and look up information in the network sever. I always went to the netwok administrator when I needed help, but he is miles away and in a different life than me anymore.


Do I have to be on a network to direct connect two computers?

Thanx again
peoh

ps what's a Thread relative to computers and not sewing?

Here is what I posted a few days ago on this subject. See if it helps. GOOD LUCK!

BTW, where did you get those "spare parallel cables"? For what were they used previously? Normal parallel cables do not work because a laplink cable requires a couple of the wires in the cable to be attached differently from that of a printer cable. (According to a friend who had constructed one himself)

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Whatever method you decided to use, you'll first need to get the cable. The most common method is to connect by the parallel/printer port, followed by the serial port, but the parallel port is faster. The cable in this case is often called a null modem cable, also called by some people as a laplink cable. Prices vary, but mine cost less than an equivalent of US$20.

Next, the software. The easiest is to purchase a dedicated software, e.g., LapLink (www.laplink.com), for the job. However, this can be the most expensive option. Windows 95/98 comes with a "free" program called Direct Cable Connection (DirectCC.exe), but this requires some working knowledge of setting up a network.

Here's how you set up BOTH your PCs to use DirectCC:
1. Install DirectCC.exe from the Communications category in the Windows Setup section of Add/Remove Programs under Control panel. It will also tell you that you'll need Dial-Up Adapter if it is not installed already (it is usually installed already). Let it reboot if Windows asks you after adding the program.

2. Configure network settings
a) Go to Network Properties under Control Panel and add the following components (you can find them under the manufacturer Microsoft after clicking the Add button):
Client = Client for Microsoft Network
Protocol = IPX/SPX compatible Protocol
b) Click the button that says File and Print Sharing and select "... give others access to my files"
c) select TCP/IP and click Properties. After the warning screen, go to the Bindings tab and deselect File and Print sharing for Microsoft Networks. Click OK once to saving this change and exit.
d) Change the Primary Network Logon to Windows Logon.
e) Switch to Identification page and select a computer name for each computer. It may be already configured to use your Dell Service Tag by Dell. If not or if you don't like that, you may change it to something you want. Write the names down in case you can't remember them. The Workgroup name is less important.
f) Click OK to exit Network Properties. Windows will then install the necessary components so make sure you have your Windows CD handy.
g) Allow Windows to reboot the machine.
h) When Windows asks you for Microsoft Networks Login, I recommend that you leave everything as is and do NOT give it a password, and click OK.

3. Enable file sharing
a) Decide which is the host and which is the guest computer - the Guest can access the Host but not the other way round.
b) Open My computer of your Host computer, and right click your hard drive icon to which you need to gain access, and select Sharing on the context submenu.
c) Select Shared As and give it a name and switch the Access Type to Full.
d) Click OK to exit.
When done, your hard drive icon should now have a hand underneath indicating it allows shared access.
e) Continue w/ the next drive letter if any.

4. Connect your cable.

5. Run Direct Cable Connection on both PCs from this program group:
Win95 = Start\Programs\Accessories
Win98 = Start\Programs\Accessories\Communications
a) Set one computer as the Host and the other as Guest (as you have decided when enabling file sharing.
b) Select the port with which you have connected the cables.
c) Follow the instructions to finish configuring DirectCC and continue to start the connection process.
d) After verifying the "passowrd", which you have set to none, it may ask for the Host computer's name, type the Host's name which you gave when setting up the network components.

If everything is setup correctly, it will open a screen window that shows all the drives' names, which you can enter to access your data files and start your transfer.

Thanx a lot this is a great and detailed how to. I really appreciate your taking the time to write this up and send it to me even if it was originally posted a while back. I will definitley try it out.

I really don't know what that parallel cable was used for it was in a box that my son left me when he set up a computer for me a while back. It has a blue lable on one enc that says "computer interconnection cable assemly form 1 no. M 268374" so I figured it should work. Now maybe it will, since your method is more detailed and involved than the cursory recipe provided by the microsoft connection wizard. A long time ago with windows 2 or 3.1 Microsoft had an e-mail program in the windows bundle that didn't work either. Later I learned that they didn't bother to tell you that you had to have a piece of hardware to make it work, but i digress.
Thanks again for the help.
peoh

No problem. It didn't take much to write since I wrote the same thing 2 days ago, and I merely cut and paste the instructions again to my reply.

Hope it works for you. GOOD LUCK!

I Tried it you way and still had no success. The only thing different that happens with my computer now is that when my computer boots I get a message that says:

"Cannot find a device file that may be needed to run Windows or a Windows application.

The windows registry or SYSTEM.INI file refers to this device file, but the device file no longer exists.

If you deleted this file on purpose, try uinstalling the associated application using its uninstal or setup program.

If you still want to use the application associated with this device file, try reinstalling that application to replace the missing file.

z:vvinesd.386
Press a key to continue"

I don't know what I did, and that error message I got doesn't do me any good either. I would think that with all the creative and inventive minds in microsoft that someone would come up with a way of flagging the application in the system.ini file that the computer can't find, so a more helpful message would be given.
I was also messing around with the sounds that come on when windows opens or closes, etc. during the time I was setting up the direct cable interconnection process - one of these days I will have to learn to stay focussed and do one thing at a time, so when something like this happens I will better know what I may have inadvertently done. I don't know if I deleted a sound by pushong the wrong button with the mouse when I was looking at the screen at the event I was trying to control and my mouse pointer was in the wrong place when I clicked I thought I clicked ok or cancel.
So either I put up with this slow boot, or reinstall every program one by one, or go to the system.ini file and REM each and every application one at a time and reboot after each REM etc. etc., starting with communications devices and sound devices, if I can recognize the cryptic application and/or driver titles in the system.ini file.
Oh well who said being a computer owner is easy especially if your a tinkerer. I just have to get a lot smarter so I can bail myself out of these computer jams.

Thanx for input though. I just have to learn to very carefuly follow the instructions, and only do one thing at a time.

peoh