Easiest way to share large files between two hard drives?

[DooWahDiddy]

@Reply

You need Windows XP, not Office XP. If you both have it, you should be good to go. Crossover cables should be available at Best Buy, but make sure you specifically ask for them. They look the same as regular Ethernet cables but they are functionally different. The cable creates a small network between the two computers, then Windows’ built-in file sharing mechanisms should take over and let you transfer files between them.

Could someone please do me a favor and elaborate on this? I was happy to find this thread, as I just bought a laptop and want to syncronize a couple of things from my desktop (like iTunes, for example). They are both running XP, so I went to Best Buy and bought the cable, but when I hooked them up to each other I had a hard time figuring out how to transfer anything.

I consider myself quasi-computer-savvy but my knowledge ends at networking.

[Reply]

@DooWahDiddy

Could someone please do me a favor and elaborate on this? I was happy to find this thread, as I just bought a laptop and want to syncronize a couple of things from my desktop (like iTunes, for example). They are both running XP, so I went to Best Buy and bought the cable, but when I hooked them up to each other I had a hard time figuring out how to transfer anything.

I consider myself quasi-computer-savvy but my knowledge ends at networking.

This page might help.

After you set up a shared folder, use My Network Places on the other computer and the folder (or computer) should show up. If not, you can force it to access the other computer by going to Start -> Run and typing \ he_other_computers_IP_address, like \192.168.100.1.

[Reply]

Or, you can use a program like this that will allow you to set up one computer as a server (the “listener”) and the other as a client (the “connector”) and send files directly, bypassing the Windows File Sharing crap.

[Reply]

Just remembered… you can also use Netmeeting by running conf.exe on both computers and calling one from the other using its IP address. Sorry for the triple-post.