I want to connect two pc to transfer data (avis about 650mb each). How many mins will it take with a direct cable on a comm port or a LPT port to make the transfer (650 mb)? Also is there a direct cable connection which uses the USB port?

Thanks
Palpatine

Not sure about the speeds, but there are USB network cables you can buy. Basically it consists of a USB jumper with a small box in the middle.

-- Ah sh*t! sys64738 --

Between the serial ports, you'll get right around 5k/s; possibly real close to 6. I've never hooked up the 'null cable adapter' that connects the parallel ports. I've heard it's quite a bit faster; maybe 20k/s, but I'm just guessing.

Hmmm.... even with 20k/s i need 10 hours to complete the transfer. The fastest way is to build a local network?

build a network... two 100mbs network cards for a tenner each (£!!)and an rj45 cross cable.

650mb in a few minutes...

Absolutely

-----------------
Whoever thinks up a good sig for me gets a prize

or you could get a cd burner

it would be a good excuse to get one

<font color=red>Gasoline + Fire</font color=red><font color=green> Can be a lot of fun</font color=green>

100mbit network easiest way... 1gbit network probably fastest... drives wont handle faster than that...

you do not strengthen the weak by weakening the strong

Well i will propably go with the lan. I only need to cards and a cable? A friend told me that i needed a hub or something like that. Is this true? Or is it simple like put the cards in pci slots - connect them with a cable - run a windows connection wizards and i am done?

Thanks for your replies
Palpatine

it depends one how far the run

<font color=red>Gasoline + Fire</font color=red><font color=green> Can be a lot of fun</font color=green>

What do you mean?

Given that a parallel connection was being considered, don't think the run would be too far

You don't need a hub, just two cards and a crossover cable (I'm assuming it will be 10/100baseT UTP cabling).

Most people, including me, seem to agree using a hub gets a more reliable network though.

I don't know who most people are, but using a hub will not make it more reliable, a switch would if you were talking to multiple machines rather than to just one though.
If two machines are used a hub would make it LESS reliable !!! (increasing the points of failure)

on the other hand, if you want your mates round they can plug straight into the hub (or better still A switch!!)

silica gel, do not eat - pah! everyone knows you should add water first!

The 'most people' referred to various threads on this forum over the past few months.

Using a two-machine network connected with a crossover-cable can cause difficulties in Windows, with the machines not recognizing each other on the net.

Sometimes you have to boot the machines in a specific order, or even boot both then reboot one.

I don't know if this is just a Windows issue.

Whatever, the network is more reliable with a hub. Which, incidentally, is just a fairly simple and very reliable piece of solid-state electronics, as I'm sure you know.