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Thread ID: 28070	2002-12-10 04:15:00	Networking different OS's	ambasluv (1414)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
104724	2002-12-10 04:15:00	I want to link a Windows 98 computer to a WinXP computer for the purpose of transferring files and playing Serial/Network games. 1: Would I need a full blown network card setup? Or could I get by the old-fashioned way with a really long printer cable... 2: Would the difference in operating systems cause any difficulties? 3: If I wanted to rig up 3 computers together, forking out for three network cards the only way to go? 4: Does the usual system of "You get what you pay for" still apply when it ocmes to networking, or would I be able to get by on some cheap products? 5: See question 2, but add in a Win95 system on top of the current problems. If it makes any difference, the more powerful machine is the one running XP home edition.	ambasluv (1414)
104725	2002-12-10 04:26:00	1. The oldfashioned way needs a special (Lap Link) cable. (XP might not have DCC). You are probably best to go for a proper network. The cards are becoming cheaper. (If you are using W98 and W85 machines, they may have ISA slots which would mean that you can get very cheap netwrok cards). 2. The OS difference should cause no "extra" problems. (You will need to set up users on the XP machine). 3. Yes. And a hub or switch. You can buy a crossover adapter (and use a straight cable) for connecting the first two. (That will mean that you have no crossover cables ... one less cause of confusion later ;-)). 4. Some cheap items are very good. Some are just cheap. :D	Graham L (2)
104726	2002-12-10 07:53:00	I've got 5 computers networked at home Sometimes 8, running Win 95, 98, 98SE, ME, 2000Pro, 2000Server, XP Home, XP Pro, Redhat 7.0 & 7.3, Mandrake 9.0, IP Cop & Novell for good measure. I tried to stick to 3com cards as they are super reliable & will work with any OS (mixture of 10Mb ISA & 100Mb PCI) Cat 5e cable throughout & a Planet 8 port 10Mb hub. Total cost under $150.00 I kept my eyes peeled & picked up bits & pieces here & there eg. Trademe, local auction rooms newspaper etc. Its amazing what you can pick up with a bit of scrounging around. DSE had Realtek NIC's for $19.00 a wee while ago (the ones with the good chip 8319c) a bargain & quite reliable Just a matter of looking around. My opinion, don't even consider a laplink cable for gaming. File sharing will be ok though.	Stumped Badly (348)
104727	2002-12-10 08:49:00	Ive tried Laplink for gaming (Diablo 1 and a few others) and it really bites, it can lag a lot with more than 2 players, and its a bit of a pain to setup too... The laplink cable from DSE would cost around $30, which is two network cards! Trying to network 3 PC's is a whole lot easier then too if you've got NIC's and not a laplink cable. Plus, with it being faster (Network Cards), Filesharing is a breeze, so is Internet Connectino sharing, which alone can make a network worthwile for many! I'd seriously look into how hard its gonna be to make yourself a network, I've bought a 5 Port 10/100MBPS switch for $45 off Trademe, and it runs mint! Couldnt be happier, and I've tried both methods! Hope this helps Cheers Chilling_Silence	Chilling_Silence (9)
104728	2002-12-10 20:03:00	Okay then! Next (important) question. I'm more of a software man, but can find my way around the insides of a PC should I need to. Should I attmpt to install a network myself so me and my mates can play UT, or should I call in the expert about now. Also, what would be the quickest and easiest way to get three non-network-ready computers good to go? In other (better) words, at the moment, no part of the network exists in the three computers I want to rig together. The computers aren't all in the same building, but will be for about one day a week. I would like to network them when they are together, and then take one of them (now I get whingy) and network it to a completely different computer (don't state the obvious, I know I'll need four network cards) that, thankfully, is in the same room? I have a strange feeling I'm abou to get horrendously flamed...	ambasluv (1414)
104729	2002-12-10 23:26:00	Haven't done networking myself (yet) but a couple of good sites to sniff around are this one (www.wown.info) and this one. (www.practicallynetworked.com) I think I've also got another link somewhere but those two should get provide sufficient reading to get you started. Do the research and have a go at doing it yourself first and come back here if you get stuck.	Susan B (19)
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