I was recently successful in using the direct cable connection feature
in circumstances very similar to yours.  The connection was LPT1 to LPT1
using a Laplink parallel cable (the yellow one).  All efforts to connect
with other "null modem" or Laplink serial cables (the blue one) on the
COM ports failed.  Standard parallel cables on LPT1 failed.  Good luck.

Tim Peterson

snip
> purchased complete new system and want to connect it to old computer
> using
> windows95 direct cable connection..to exchange folders, maybe use old
> for
> backup
> have followed win95 help directions throughly..also got new version of
> vredir.vxd in both windows/system
> have windows95 osr2 in both but only new is the usr compatibile
> version
> installed netbeui and  ipx/spx  compatible protocol in both and
> "bindings"
> are correct
        snip