First I called our Tulsa Computer Society’s president, Don Singleton, knowing full well he knew everything. Don was real helpful and gave me some web sites to check out e.g.
There are many other location and I did checked out some but with my limited knowledge of computers I wasn’t sure I understood all they were trying to tell me.
Don also told me my new Windows XP software had a function called Direct-Cable Connection (perhaps other versions of MS has this function I don’t know). [Editors note: Earlier versions do support Direct Cable Connect] This feature told me I could use parallel connection pc-to-pc, serial connection or use the Ethernet card.
So I started out buying a 10 ft. parallel cable. Parallel was a familiar term so I thought how could I go wrong.
Wrong! I apparently could not follow instructions and after trying for hours gave up and went back to the store to get a serial connection. The salesman at Office Depot was real helpful and told me how slow the transfer would be using a serial (or parallel) connection and since I had Ethernet cards in both computers, that was the way to go and it was so easy.
Wrong! Again I followed the wizard’s directions and this time I at least got my computers recognizing each other but I still couldn’t get the files to transfer.
I’m ashamed to say I finally called in a computer expert and he had my files transferred in 15 minutes. He told me the only thing I didn’t do was tell my old computer to allow its files to be used.
I’m sure people with more expertise would not have the trouble I incurred but even though it was frustrating it was interesting and definitely a learning experience.
[Editors note: Also see USB Direct Cable Connect for two or more Computers by Bruce Carson, in this issue.]
For more information on the Tulsa Computer Society click here