Networking; Using drives off another cpu.

[exponder]

This is slightly off topic from webprogramming, I was hoping some one around might have a better idea than I do. I'm trying to run a winXP Home version machine, or I should say simply the drives. To a WinXP Pro labtop, I'd like to gain access to the CD drive, Floppy/Zip and hard drive. Perhaps see them in my own drive paths on a Labtop?

Question is, is it possible? And what type of hardware am I looking at? I already have ethernet/network card on the labtop, and will have one for the dell in a few days.

Second question, what would be the fastest? I'm asuming an Ethernet/Network card, and using a cross over crable. But then I had also some one tell me that the NetBEUI protocol by data transfer serial cables was just as fast, and some times more reliable? It seems to me though, netcard to netcard would be more reliable, bypassing all the software sides. Anyway, what's the first steps?

[jayant]

i tried "direct cable connection" this for this, but didn't manage toget it to work win xp <-> win98

both desktop and laptop had ethernet cards.
i bought a router and all is fine.
hub, switch should be more cheaper options than a router. will give same functionality.
i needed a lot of other functionality as well, hence bought a costly router.

[drawmack]

just share the drives and map to them. Works for cd-roms but I don't know about floppy drives.

[Doug_G]

Connect the two computers via Ethernet, using a crossover cable or a switch/hub.

Put both computers in the same workgroup, and create a user on each with the same username and password.

On the desktop, share the CD and Floppy. On the laptop, use "map a network drive" to map the shared drives to a laptop drive letter.

Using Ethernet and MS networking will be much easier and faster in the long run (as opposed to serial/parallel/laplink typ connections).

[exponder]

Thanks guys, that's all the help I need! I'll get it running.

-- Derrick