Since both machines have Ethernet ports, you can easily network them 
together with a *crossover* Ethernet cable.
  In order to communicate, they will generally need some way to refer to 
each other.  The simplest choice would be to enable NetBEUI -- except that 
that option isn't by default included with XP.  (I believe there's a way to 
add it, but I don't have the details in front of me.)

  The next easiest is to use TCP/IP.  Each needs an address and a subnet 
mask -- you won't need a default gateway or DNS server settings for this.
  With a mask of 255.255.255.0 on each machine, there's a private address 
range 192.168.1.x, so give them addresses 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.1.2; 
Windows should fill in the 255.255.255.0 mask for you.

  Hook them up, and from a "command" window, each should be able to ping the 
other, and mount each other's shared drives.  Then you can use Windows 
Explorer to copy files from one drive to another.

David Gillett


On 6 Jul 2006 at 7:53, Loy Pressley wrote:

Date sent:      	Thu, 6 Jul 2006 07:53:56 -0500
Send reply to:  	Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
             	<[log in to unmask]>
From:           	Loy Pressley <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:        	[PCBUILD] Laptop Hook Up to Desktop
To:             	[log in to unmask]

> Good morning,
> 
> I have acquired a laptop computer, a gift from my son, and I am not very 
> familiar with laptops.  I want to hook the laptop up to my desktop so I 
> can transfer data files between the two computers.  How can I do that?
> 
> The laptop uses Windows 2000 Pro operating system.  It has a 40 gig hard 
> drive with almost nothing on it and has 512 megs of memory.  It has all 
> kinds of ports on the back including a telephone jack for the internal 
> dialup modem and two RJ-45 network connections.
> 
> My desktop is a Dell L800r with at least 100 gigs of free hard drive 
> space, 512 megs of memory, and Windows XP Home operating system.  It has 
> an RJ-45 network connection in the back.
> 
> I don't need or particularly want a LAN setup.  The best I can get here 
> is a dialup modem connection so there is no possibility of sharing  a 
> high speed internet connection.  I just want to hook up the two 
> computers periodically so I can transfer data files between them.
> 
> Thanks...
> 
> Loy
> 
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