[jtg22]

I will be getting a new laptop within the next few days and will need to transfer a lot of stuff from my old computer onto it. I was wondering if this could be done by simply connecting an ethernet cable between the two computers. Any advice on this matter? I've never had this situation come up, so I'm not sure if this is the best approach to take or not.

thank you

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it is possible to do it that way...you'd have to set up a network between the two and transfer files etc...

another option would be to get a "usb file transfer cable" like this http://catalog.belki...oduct_Id=275561 ....with this you don't have to do any complex network setup etc....you kind of just plug the machines into each other and go to town

[dsenette]

it is possible to do it that way...you'd have to set up a network between the two and transfer files etc...

another option would be to get a "usb file transfer cable" like this http://catalog.belki...oduct_Id=275561 ....with this you don't have to do any complex network setup etc....you kind of just plug the machines into each other and go to town

[jtg22]

I looked for the USB cable that was mentioned in the last post, but wasn't able to find it. I will keep looking in a few more stores.

Assuming I am unable to find this cable, what would be involved in setting up a two-computer network via ethernet cable? I've never really had to create a computer network before, so I'm not sure what all is involved. Does it matter that one laptop uses XP and the other uses Vista?

thank you

[Ryan_88]

i'd recommend using a cross-over cable!!

has worked very well for me in the past!

ry

[The Admiral]

Ryan is absolutely right, it would need to be a cross-over cable because of the way the wiring works. See this example on dell.com. CAT 5e Crossover Green patch cable from Belkin.
Once they are connected, it is very easy to share files because there isn't an actual network involved, in which case XP and Vista would have trouble communicating. See this tutorial for instructions on using the Windows File Transfer Wizard. Much easier than dragging and dropping.

Edited by The Admiral, 22 March 2008 - 03:33 PM.