PC-PC USB-Connection

[RJ]

Hello there,

I've a question:

Is it possible to connect 2 PCs by USB ? It's just for transfering data, not for building up a LAN or something like that.
I know that there is a possibility with zero-modem-cable by serial port, and in my school all laptops have Infrared.
I often used the infrared of the laptops to transfer data from one laptop to another, it's really great.
Now I have one laptop here and a PC of my friend. Data transfer is really a pain. On my friends PC with Win98 first edition (full new install) just to transfer DirectX 8 to it I have to use 10 floppies (his PC hasn't internet connection). And there are many things.
Therefore I also take my hard drive and build it in his PC. But that hardware transfer: shutting PC down, open PC, remove harddrive etc.
And I also had a PC from another friend, so I often do such things.
Therefore my intention is to find an usb-connection that works as good for data transfer as the infrared.
If not, how is the zero-modem-cable ? Do I have to restart the PC's ? What for software do I need ?

Thanks

RJ

[Pakrat]

you can check out the Lap link 2000, it support USB. THe last time , they called me and offered upgrade for $60US. But I turn them down. Cause I already have it.

[RJ]

Thank you for your reply. I'll check it out.

RJ

[glc]

Direct Cable Connection is free - part of Windows, and you can use a parallel "laplink" cable. It's kinda slow, but it works.

[RJ]

I looked for the direct-USB-connection, and WOW it's expensive !!
Thanks for the tip, glc. I'll look for a parallel cable now. Will it be expensive ? And does Windows' DCC only support parallel cables ?

RJ

[glc]

Windows DCC supports parallel and serial cables only. A parallel DCC cable costs about $10 US, less if you look around.

[RJ]

Thank you glc. Last question: What will be faster: Serial or Parallel DCC ?

RJ

[glc]

Parallel will be 8x faster. It works best with ECP ports, next best is EPP. Standard bidirectional will work.

[RJ]

Thanks a lot, glc. Now I got the parallel laplink cable. Really cheap in comparasion with the usb device.
Next week I get another PC, so then I can try it :)
And hopefully future Windows DCC will support USB and Firewire.

Thanks again,

RJ

[RJ]

Hello glc,

I got another laptop and tried the DCC with parallel cable. It works very good :), even faster than the Infrared we used to transfer data between two laptops.

Thanks again,

RJ