I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring! [germeten]

I wonder if StudioT is still around.

Different meat-puppet, same question and systems.

I have Windows 98 as the HOST and Win XP as the GUEST.
Have installed netBEUI, file sharing and direct cable connection on HOST
and new network connection on GUEST. The systems recognize each other.
But there's no explorer window that lets me SEE what's on the other system
to begin transferring files! I looked in "my computer," explorer, etc., and can't
see the other system's files. Apart from the small prompts stating there's a
connection, no other obvious GUI or interface to do the job; am I missing
something?

 

Re: I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring!

Only briefly, this week.

Consider the 98 pc as a 'server' have you enabled file sharing?

Use the XP pc as the terminal and open my network places in explorer or my computer.

You should be able to expand the tree to see the shared folders on the 98 pc.

 

Re: I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring!

I believe I do have file sharing enabled on the win98 computer. It's listed under communications and the computers do recognize the connection.

I have no idea what you mean by "expand the tree" on the XP system. Windows Explorer (XP) just takes me into saved files/folders, and "my computer" shows nothing of the 98 system. (I really hate XP for the way it dissempowers the user from knowing anything.)

I know they're connected, but no system folder/file-sharing is evident. I can only presume that I'm not looking in the right place.

 

Re: I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring!

If you are coming from 98 you may prefer to set XP to 'Classic View'

You expand the tree by clicking on the little box to the left of the item in the left hand pane in explorer. It was the same in explorer 98.

To enable file and printer sharing in the 98 computer

Open the control panel
choose the network icon
open the configuration tab
Look for the entry 'File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks'

If it's not there click add
choose service>add>microsoft>File and printer sharing for microsoft networks
click ok and follow the installation instructions get your 98 Cd handy
click file and print sharing button

If it's there tick the boxes click OK

restart.

when you are sure you have it running
you need to declare the drive contianing your data as shared
open explorer
rightclick on the drive
choose sharing
tick shared as and type a name
tick desired access type
click apply
clickOK
you should now see a little hand under the drive icon in explorer

Make sure the workgroups match in both computers

You should now see the 98 shared resources in my network places in the xp computer.

The other variable is the connection cable. Are you using the correct one?

 

Re: I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring!

If you are coming from 98 you may prefer to set XP to 'Classic View'

<did that.>

You expand the tree by clicking on the little box to the left of the item in the left hand pane in explorer. It was the same in explorer 98.

<No idea what you're talking about. I've used explorer (winfile.exe) and expanded trees by clicking ON the item many times but doesn't seem to work here.>

To enable file and printer sharing in the 98 computer

Open the control panel
choose the network icon
open the configuration tab
Look for the entry 'File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks'

If it's not there click add
choose service>add>microsoft>File and printer sharing for microsoft networks
click ok and follow the installation instructions get your 98 Cd handy
click file and print sharing button

If it's there tick the boxes click OK

restart.

<did all that.>

when you are sure you have it running
you need to declare the drive contianing your data as shared
open explorer
rightclick on the drive

<right-click does nothing, no trees open, nothing happens.>

choose sharing

<No such option(s) appear.>

tick shared as and type a name
tick desired access type
click apply
clickOK

<If any of those prompts were to occur, I'd surely do what you suggested.>

you should now see a little hand under the drive icon in explorer

Make sure the workgroups match in both computers

You should now see the 98 shared resources in my network places in the xp computer.

<Can't get that far.>

The other variable is the connection cable. Are you using the correct one?

It's the parallel (printer) port cable with two mail ends. The computers report the network connection so it seems to work at least to that point.

I have a PC2PC USB cable but afraid to use it since I've seen friends burn up their hard-drives using them.

 

Re: I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring!

The disadvantage of tagging on to someone else's thread, rather than starting your own, is that we assume you have read the original posts.

Winfile.exe is not explorer and never has been.

It was the file called by the FileManager icon in windows 3.

When Windows 95 came along a replacement program was introduced called Windows Explorer as distinct from Internet Explorer.

It is characterised by the yellow folder icon with a blue magnifying glass overlaid. this icon calls explorer.exe.

start>programs>accessories>windows explorer

 

Re: I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring!

Studiot:

I'm using a printer (parallel) type cable with two male ends. I don't know what that's called but apparently the computers know how to recognize each other across it.

Winfile.exe is an explorer of sorts, (no, not IE). It lets me into registry, trees etc., defined HD's, etc. all with left-click. Right click does nothing. OK I'll look for Windows
Explorer on my home system, but I thought they were the same on Win98.

 

Re: I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring!

2 ideas:
1. make sure you use an xp setup disk for file sharing on the win98 computer. (you can use a winxp install disk, or you can set up one when you run the wizard to turn on filesharing in xp)
2. find a free ftp server program, and run it on either computer. use an ftp program to connect to it, then either put the files needed to the server or download from it (depends on which way u set it up)

 

Re: I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring!

This will be the third time I have said you need a special cable.

For parallel ports it is wired thus

25 pin plug1...TO....25 pin plug 2

Pin2...........................Pin15
3...................................13
4...................................12
5...................................10
6....................................11
15...................................2
13...................................3
12....................................4
10....................................5
11....................................6
25....................................25

If the cable works with a printer it will not work as a DCC, Laplink or Interlink cable.

You can, however, obtain an adapter to convert a standard printer cable.

The Belkin reference for this adapter is F4A602

 

Re: I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring!

Studiot:

Well I don't know if my cable is "special" or not. It has two male ends and fits into the
printer port of both machines(!) My understanding is that an actual printer cable has a
male and a female end, not two male ends. The machines do recognize each other
across it, so I'd think they could share resources across it. I found the cable, it was
unmarked. I'm not convinced the cable is the problem.

thesmokinggun:

I'm not gonna put XP on my 98 system, and I don't even know that XP uses a
file-sharing wizard. It just sets up a new network connection.

Do FTP programs work over a parallel-port cable to computers sitting right next
to each other?; it would be stoopid sending over the WWW and privacy is just
one reason why not.

 

Re: I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring!

just suggesting ftp as an alternative if you cant figure out the direct connect way...if you're worried about privacy, hook both computers up to a router, and disconnect from the internet while you run the ftp server software...
also, at the end of running the home network wizard in xp , it prompts you to make a cd in order to let older os's run file/printer sharing with xp computers. a pic is attached.

 

Re: I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring!

I've only managed to transfer a few hundred gigabytes from probably just less than a hundred computers over the years using Direct Cable Connection - From Dos through to Windows XP (it's been discontinued in Vista).

But since you haven't listened to a thing I've said you obviously have insights I don't and can solve the problem without my help.

 

Re: I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring!

studiot:

Not hearing or listening to a word you said, is a bit overstated. You've not seen my
cable to know either way, and didn't mention your past failures to move more than a few hundred GB of data with Direct Cable Connection, which is still more than me. It would just seem logical that the windows programs included for that purpose, might do the job, and yet I hear everyone suggesting bunches of other ways because no one seems to've
mastered DCC. I'm grateful for the suggestions but the cable could be faster.

I loaded the XP transfer program floppy into my 98 system and it crashed. I'm nervous to put any XP on the 98 system because (for example), Word98 docs run on higher versions
wouldn't open in the older one anymore. I need to lose access to my 98 docs like a hole in the head.

 

Re: I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring!

I don't recall saying I failed.

The problem of moving data from an older Windows (or even DOS) machine to a later one can be tackled in many ways. Several have been suggested here, by various posters, and you have rejected or ignored each one.

These many ways have been explored in older threads, containing much good advice. Indeed you have latched on to one that is over a year old.

Mostly I list alternatives with their pros and cons, but you specifically asked about DCC.

DCC is not without its foibles so I suggested a procedure, known to work.

DCC started as part of DOS and was called Interlink. Windows 95 brought a GUI interface and the name DCC. Each succeeding version brought more improvements, mostly by expanding the range of interfaces included. By Windows XP the Cable was droped from the name and 'Direct Connection' can handle Firewire, Infrared, Ethernet, USB, Serial or Parallel interfaces.

All have one common characteristic. you connect the data output from one pc to the input of another. This is called a crossover connection, since the outputs and inputs appear, by standard, at the same pins on both pcs and so connecting together pins of the same number would merely connect together the inputs of each pc.

Obviously the plug you use will have to fit the socket on the pc, so if you have a 25 pin female socket you use a 25 pin male plug.

But the 25 pins can be interconnected in 25 factorial (15000000000000000000000000) different ways.

You require the correct one.

I have posted sufficient detail for you to test and determine if your cable is suitably wired. Of course I don't know.

You are also choosing to use a non standard program for browsing you files. I also do not know if you have substituted the windows shell to go with this. Consequently I do not know if you actually have the conventional windows Desktop, which is actually produced by running an instance of explorer.

Either way you cannot expect your program to contain the necessary code to use a facility Microsoft has placed in another program.

In fact File Manager has certain features some prefer to Explorer's - It shows all files for example. However it does not have the the control over sharing available in Explorer. DCC is accomplished by a messy mapping process with File Manager.

So go and check your cable and see if it is really suitable for Direct Connection.

Otherwise tell us more about your resources.

A DCC cable range from £5 to £30, they used to be bundled with Laplink software.

An ethernet crossover cable can be found for £1.50 and an ethernet card, if your 98 pc doesn't have one for £5.

A USB crossover cable, without power supply conflict, costs about £25. You are quite right to be wary of USB. This has been aired in other threads if you do a search.

 

Re: I'm EXTREMELY Frustrated With This Problem Now - File Transferring!

OK, you never, ever failed, but prefer not using DCC even though you recommended it highly to the first poster.

My choice centers on the fact I think I don't own the other stuff you recommended i go out and buy, which cost more in US than UK. It may not be the right cable but at least the connection is recognized so think it might be.

I tried Windows Explorer (always thought it and winfile were the same program) and found the share feature you mentioned but still doesn't show shared resources of the other computer. WinXP data transfer lists drives from A to Z; the XP computer has E drive being a CD-RW while I want to copy my win98 E drive (which is a partitioned data drive) to the XP system.

Other things to think about, this isn't my whole life either.