NationStates Jolt Archive

...buuut I don't know everything about computers.

I have music on this PC I want to copy over to my laptop. I have an ethernet cable but I don't know what to do with it beyond plugging it into both my laptop and PC.

Uh...what...do I do?

...buuut I don't know everything about computers.

I have music on this PC I want to copy over to my laptop. I have an ethernet cable but I don't know what to do with it beyond plugging it into both my laptop and PC.

Uh...what...do I do?
What operating system do you have? What format is the music in (DRM?)?

What operating system do you have? What format is the music in (DRM?)?
Windows XP on both computers, and music are in .mp3 files.

What operating systems do you use? What format is the music in (DRM?)?

EDIT: And have you set up a network? Do you have network cards in both computers?
I believe I have set up a network on both computers and did everything right. Dunno what a network card is/does though.

Windows XP on both computers, and music are in .mp3 files.
Ok. Have you plugged in the cable? In that case, did the computers make any noices (like the plinging sound you get when you attach new hardware) or did you get any message?

Ok. Have you plugged in the cable? In that case, did the computers make any noices (like the plinging sound you get when you attach new hardware) or did you get any message?
Nope, nothing.

I believe I have set up a network on both computers and did everything right. Dunno what a network card is/does though.


The NIC, or "Network Interface Card" is what you have hooked up to the internet.
Likely, its a thin cord with a square RJ-45 connector is plugged into it.
(cord looks like a phone jack)

Thats the NIC.

I believe I have set up a network on both computers and did everything right. Dunno what a network card is/does though.
Ok, great. Then, on the machine you want to send the files to, duobleclick on "my networks" and see if you can find the other computer. Can you see the files you want from that computer?

The NIC, or "Network Interface Card" is what you have hooked up to the internet.
Likely, its a thin cord with a square RJ-45 connector is plugged into it.
(cord looks like a phone jack)

Thats the NIC.
Uh, looks like a phone jack. I got that cable plugged into both.

Ok, great. Then, on the machine you want to send the files to, duobleclick on "my networks" and see if you can find the other computer. Can you see the files you want from that computer?
Nope. It only shows the other computer from my laptop under "View workgroup computers," and even still it says "Network path not found". On my PC, it doesn't even see my laptop.

Nope. It only shows the other computer from my laptop under "View workgroup computers," and even still it says "Network path not found". On my PC, it doesn't even see my laptop.
Then you don't have a network. Click on create netork (or configure network or whatever, my computer is not english).

Then you don't have a network. Click on create netork (or configure network or whatever, my computer is not english).
Hmm, actually I don't think this ethernet cable is connecting these two computers...something must be wrong with the cable because neither is recognizing the cable when I try and set up a network...

Hmm, actually I don't think this ethernet cable is connecting these two computers...something must be wrong with the cable because neither is recognizing the cable when I try and set up a network...
Is it a crossover cable (like crossover cat5 or something like that)?

Is it a crossover cable (like crossover cat5 or something like that)?
Well it used to connect another computer to my router, an ethernet cable...I assumed it would work.

Well it used to connect another computer to my router, an ethernet cable...I assumed it would work.
Ok. No, you need different cables for connecting to the router and for connecting two PCs directly. Try connecting both computers to the router, then they should be able to talk to each other.

Ok. No, you need different cables for connecting to the router and for connecting two PCs directly. Try connecting both computers to the router, then they should be able to talk to each other.
I only have two of these cables and one is already being used to connect my cable modem to my router....so am I screwed?

I only have two of these cables and one is already being used to connect my cable modem to my router....so am I screwed?
If both cables are of the same kind you can borrow the one between the router and the modem so that both computers can be connected to the router. You don't need a modem to share files between your own computers. Or you can put all the files online and then download them to the other computer.

EDIT: http://www.yousendit.com/ is a good tool for transferring stuff between computers if your cables don't work.

For transfer of files from one computer to another I'd just suggest investing in a USB Flash drive. They're rather inexpensive and easy to use.

If both cables are of the same kind you can borrow the one between the router and the modem so that both computers can be connected to the router. You don't need a modem to share files between your own computers. Or you can put all the files online and then download them to the other computer.
Oooooh alright, well let me go off and try that. Thanks for all your help in advance!

For transfer of files from one computer to another I'd just suggest investing in a USB Flash drive. They're rather inexpensive and easy to use.
Or just buy a crossover cable. But that requires going to the store, and learning to set up a LAN is a good idea anyways. Assuming that it works.

For transfer of files from one computer to another I'd just suggest investing in a USB Flash drive. They're rather inexpensive and easy to use.

I use that method too.
It's clunky, but you don't need a firewall or any of that stuff to protect the off-line computer from the internet. If someone 'owns' your online machine, it's easy to get through your network to the other, then you have the same problem twice.

Don't you need a NIC card or something?

Don't mix up your phone line socket and Ethernet socket!
One is RJ11 and the other is RJ45 (which are different in size).

As say before, the standard Ethernet cable is not the same as Cross-over. One is for using with hubs and switches while a cross-over is really for PC to PC direct.

A simpler solution is to burn the music onto DVD and copy the content onto the other PC.

If you are going to use a acble, just go one to one. Set up a network on one computer and connect the other one to it. Computers cannot inherently talk to each other just by being connected to a router I don't believe.

XP has a setup network walk through.

Try reading this
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/filesharing.htm

I'm a network admin, but I'm not going to try explaining Windows networking and file-sharing here ...

...

As say before, the standard Ethernet cable is not the same as Cross-over. One is for using with hubs and switches while a cross-over is really for PC to PC direct.

A simpler solution is to burn the music onto DVD and copy the content onto the other PC.

That works too. Also, you've made a backup in the process.

Most (covering my ass - every one I've ever seen) ethernet cables have a transparent perspex bit at the end where you can see eight coloured wires running into the gold connectors. If you hold both ends up the same way around, and the colours are in the same order, you have a STRAIGHT-THROUGH ethernet cable.
If some but not all of the colours are in a different order from left to right, it's a CROSSOVER cable.

To connect the NIC (Network Interface Card) of one computer directly to another, you need a crossover. To a hub, straight-through.

That said, I've seen a hub (router, switch, multi-port modem, etc) which autodetected which sort of cable was plugged into it, and didn't care if you used a crossover or straight-thru. It was a modem actually. Perhaps newer hardware than the NIC in my 4-year-old computer would do that.

Plug em straight together, see if it works. As Jerusalem said, don't put a phone line into a NIC. The ring tone is 90 V in my country, and that wouldn't be good, might kill more than just the NIC.

If you are going to use a acble, just go one to one. Set up a network on one computer and connect the other one to it. Computers cannot inherently talk to each other just by being connected to a router I don't believe.

...

Actually, a lot of modems with multiple ethernet sockets also have a DHCP server in them, which means that both (or several) Windows computers can stay on their default setting of "Obtain an IP address automatically", and the router (modem in this case) assigns the IP addresses for them.

It's the easiest way. It happens accidentally in some cases!