I have a Dell Latitude Laptop running XP pro and I just purchased an ethernet card for it and installed the card.
I want to connect the laptop with my home computer, a Dell Dimension running XP Home... and I want to do it without buying anything else! :-) From what I've read, I should be able to do it without buying a router... just using a crossover cable.
My primary goal is to be able to share files, as I travel and want to be able to sync some of the files before I leave. I found some great software that looks to meet my needs in this area, (easy2sync and easy2sync for outlook) so I just need to actually connect the 2 computers. The software works with any network connection. A secondary goal is sharing the desktop's internet connection (a high speed connection coming into the ethernet connection in the back of the computer from a high speed modem supplied by my ISP, QWEST), but that isn't as important. It doesn't look like that's too complicated once the connectiion is set up using the XP shared internet function.
After doing some research, I purchased a USB to network converter for my desktop, and a crossover cable (yes it is a crossover cable and not a regular ethernet cable). I've read SO MANY posts describing what to do, and frankly I'm just confused and am looking for a simple (for dummies) step by step instructions on how to proceed now that I have the hardware. I'm off to a bad start, as the first time I connected the hardware, my desktop seems to recognize a 2nd Local area connection, but the laptop just freezes up right after it starts up. This doesnt' happen when that corssover calbe is not connected.
So... given all of that, if you can help me to get this set up... step by step, it will have been MORE than worth the premium membership. I'm going nuts... LOL. Thanks in advance. Please let me know what clarification you need. I really haven't done much as far as trying to configure the software side of things, so start me out from step ONE... (do I need to connect the 2 computers when they are off, then turn them on?) Like I said... starting from ground zero!
Thanks in advance!
Dan
PS... this is assigned as "difficult" by me because I'm stumped and need clear simple isntructions and hope to get this straightened out ASAP as I'm headed on the road soon. "Talk to me like I'm 5." LOL