computers

kalamitty

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doe's anyone know the best way to connect two computers, at the moment i use one with vista but i have been given a more powerful one with xp on it, so i want to use one for storing vids/photos etc but might need to transfer stuff and i'm not sure how to do it can anyone help.:confused:
 
I would think the easiest way would be to use a USB pen (available pcworld,asda,tesco etc). This is what I use to transfer files between computers.
 
A usb stick is a good idea, the only potential problem is the memory if your video files are large.

For my money burn your pics and video to a cd...you also have aback up then should your hard drive go kerputt

channa
 
Depends how technical you are but the best way is to network them together via either your broadband router or a small 4 port network switch/hub. Basically you run a cat5 ethernet cable from the back of each machine into the router or switch/hub, this physically connects the two devices together. You then need to configure each PC so that they can see each other on "the network". The advantage of doing it this way is that you share your broadband connection and printers etc as well as share files. The only drawback is that if you dont know how to do it then it can be a bit tricky and the other issue is that you have two different Windows operating systems, Vista and XP. You can buy a 4 port switch/hub for around £15 but if you already have a router for broadband check the back of it as it may have 2 or 4 network outlets already in which case you dont need the switch/hub. On each machine you need to share your shared documents folder (right click on the folder and select sharing) but you may need to set other settings in your network settings in Control Panel. Ideally if your not confident you should get a local computer person in to do this for you but I am happy to try and help should you want to give it a go.
 
barryd said:
Depends how technical you are but the best way is to network them together via either your broadband router or a small 4 port network switch/hub. Basically you run a cat5 ethernet cable from the back of each machine into the router or switch/hub, this physically connects the two devices together.
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The obvious way is to set up a wireless network - you can then have the computers wherever you want, bedroom, garden shed,etc. no need for trailing wires all over the house.
 
kalamitty said:
doe's anyone know the best way to connect two computers, at the moment i use one with vista but i have been given a more powerful one with xp on it, so i want to use one for storing vids/photos etc but might need to transfer stuff and i'm not sure how to do it can anyone help.:confused:
Click to expand...

the easiest and cheapest method to do what you want is get a crossover ethernet cable, you don't need a hub. follow this link it will probably help Crossover Cable - Ethernet Crossover Cables
DO NOT CONNECT USB PORTS DIRECTLY YOU WILL DAMAGE THE COMPUTERS:D
 
A cross over cable will work but a hub or a 4 port router is better as you can easily share your broadband connection. You can still do it with a cross over but its not as good and both PC's have to be switched on. Also if you ever get a laptop or another PC you just plug it into the router or hub.

I run an IT company and we set this sort of thing up for small businesses all the time. Happy to give you a quote!!!!
 
Wireless has its uses but I would never use it for an entire network, plus with PC's you need to still purchase wireless cards / adaptors for each PC and then a wireless router. A switch/hub with a couple of cables is £20. If the machines are in different parts of the building then yes consider wireless. Generally you should use wireless for laptops that move around. desktop PC's are better off cabled and transfer rates and reliabilty will be much better than wireless. I tend to work business to business so I am sure there are going to be an army of home IT experts telling me I’m wrong but that’s my "professional" opinion for what its worth.
 
If you chaps refer back to the original request I still think a cross over wire, £2, is all he needs and wireless certainly would not be easier for someone with little or no computer knowledge, cheers,
 
pokerking said:
If you chaps refer back to the original request I still think a cross over wire, £2, is all he needs and wireless certainly would not be easier for someone with little or no computer knowledge, cheers,
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Agreed unless both pc's are notebooks wifi cards fitted -in that case it is possible to get them to talk to each other direct without any hub.
 
barryd said:
I am sure there are going to be an army of home IT experts telling me I’m wrong but that’s my "professional" opinion for what its worth.
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Well that made me smile, I had a similar experience today

Channa
 
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thanks for all the replys, i think i am going to conect the pc with xp to the internet and just have the pc with vista that is holding my pics/vids as a storage device so i can then transfer any future files from xp via a memory stick, and can then edit my videos on the vista (which is only the basic version). i use a video camera on my motorcycle so with the a mount of vids it was slowing the pc down. thanks for all your help.
 
I suspect you are saying that you can put the video files from your cam straight to the vista machine?

And then use a memory stick to transfer other files.

The reason for clarification is that video files being large and some tiff files memory sticks have limited memory.

Of course an alternative is an external hard drive that you link to each machine as and when you want. (and I suspect the data transfer will be quicker)

FWIW Aldi have a 260 gb at the moment for sale for £49.95

A bit pricey compared to memory sticks but a better long term solution ?

channa
 
channa said:
Of course an alternative is an external hard drive that you link to each machine as and when you want. (and I suspect the data transfer will be quicker)

FWIW Aldi have a 260 gb at the moment for sale for £49.95
channa
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1 Tb ones are coming in at under £100 now so I would say that is a rip-off!:)
But as you say is the easiest solution if you don't want to set up a network and saves having to transfer data from one machine to another for editing etc.
 
oldiebutgoodie said:
1 Tb ones are coming in at under £100 now so I would say that is a rip-off!:)
But as you say is the easiest solution if you don't want to set up a network and saves having to transfer data from one machine to another for editing etc.
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I was using Aldi has an example, it would do the job and gave the OP an idea of price to expect, but you are right shop about.

The only reservation of a 1 tb hard drive if someone is an inexperienced user is to keep the speed something like it would need to be partitioned.

But I guess nowadays they already ship them partitioned.

Channa
 
I suppose at least with an external hard drive there is no configuration to worry about, just plug and play and copy. If its just for transfer then a 1TB drive is a bit pointless. Maybe just a cheap USB powered portable drive would do. Try Cheap Laptops, Hard Drives, LCD Monitors, TVs and more at Ebuyer, Maplin Electronics ? Website- CnMbook Windows CE UltraPortable Netbook or even Ebay. I cant believe you can get a 1TB drive for £100. I sold one to a customer a year or so ago and it was about £300 I think. Good for the consumer, bad for me!
 
I use PC-Linq, it's a USB lead with box thing in the middle of it, you download from a CD a small programme to each computer, then fit computer to computer lead via usb to usb special lead and open the PC-Linq programme on each machine, it then opens up as a large version of explorer and you see both computer hard drives and just drag & drop what ever you want from machine to machine.

I use this between my 3 laptops, the only slight down side is the oldest laptop is only USB 1.0 so transfer is rather slow, but you would have exactly the same problem using a memory stick!
 
Nosha said:
the oldest laptop is only USB 1.0 so transfer is rather slow, but you would have exactly the same problem using a memory stick!
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Hence my suggestion of a portable hard drive. I do not profess to be even competent at these things.

But my understanding is that memory sticks use the cached memory which invariably is slow...a hard drive on the other hand is far far quicker.

More to the point if the files are large, makes life a lot easier.

A pc is only has powerful as its weakest link ( to nick a phrase ).and the fastest processor in the world largest hardrive created is compromised when the cache on the majority of machines is minimal

To me having read the posts a 1tb drive and my partition issues aside tis a sledgehamer to a walnut ?.... a simple external hard drive, plug and play has mentioned by Barry is far easier if the OP doesnt want to start making networks etc.

If there is a flaw in m thoughts, then please feel free to correct, has stated not an expert by any means.
Channa
 
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