Windows Swaps Monster Files For the Cost of Burger & Fries
Written: Sep 10 '00 (Updated Sep 18 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: This great utility comes free with Windows!
Cons: Nobody knows it's there!
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| Schinjay's Full Review: Microsoft Windows 98 |
I know you’ve had this pain in the rear if you rely on your laptop when you travel. You just spent the night in a strange town putting together the most convincing PowerPoint presentation of your career. You are exhausted. Your laptop is smoking. But you just know, with this masterpiece, you are going to make the sale of a lifetime tomorrow.
Your secretary called ahead to make sure that the appropriate equipment would be in place at your branch office. The best meeting room is reserved. A top-notch projector is in place with a giant pull down wall screen. The branch guys have gone all out. Everything is in place, except when you get there you find that the projector isn’t compatible with your laptop and the client is due in 30 minutes. Great!
Here you are, all PowerPointed up, with nowhere to show. The file is too big for any kind of floppy disk; your branch network is on the fritz and it would take way too long to try to upload/download over the Internet. What to do besides turn in your resignation and hit the unemployment line?
Well, most people don’t know that WIN 95/98 has a built in tool that will get you out of this jam for about the cost of lunch. If its not already installed on your system you can easily load it from your Windows CD.
The tool is called “Direct Cable Connection” (DCC) and is part of Windows Communication Accessories. (My God, this may save my job!)
To see if you have DCC installed go to Start/Programs/Accessories/Communications and look for Direct Cable Connection. If it’s not there, go to your Control Panel/Add/Remove Programs/Windows Setup/Communications/Details. Select DCC from this list and load the program from your WIN 95/98 CD. It will also need to be loaded on the other CPU you are sharing files with.
This software answer to your prayers only requires that you carry a $6 “crossover” (Laplink) cable in your laptop bag so that you can connect by either serial or parallel printer port to another CPU. Files will transfer at about 115K between serial ports and will transfer even faster between parallel ports. You can get these cables at any computer retail outlet.
Assuming the boss isn’t too cheap to spring for the cost of that burger & fries, this cable and DCC allows you to create a software generated network connection with any other computer that also has DCC loaded. After firing up the software you’ll be transferring files in just a couple of minutes. Once you have DCC loaded go ahead and connect your cable to both systems. Select DCC from your communications accessories group and a “Wizard” will help you through the setup on each. (Please let this be quick; I’ve only got 15 minutes before showtime.)
As an added plus, DCC works across WIN 95, 98, 2000, NT and other operating systems. Here is a list of links, courtesy of Fred Langa of the Portable News Network, you can use to get details on transferring between Microsoft operating systems:
Two Win5 Computers
http://www.kime.net/directcc/directcc95.htm
WinNT 4.0 (server/workstation) to Win95-http://www.kime.net/directcc/directcc95.htm
WinNT 3.51 (server/workstation) to Win95
http://www.kime.net/directcc/directcc35.htm
Win95 / DOS / Windows 3.X Using Interlink
http://www.kime.net/directcc/directcc31.htm
Win95 to Win 3.11 Using RAS (Remote Access Services)
http://www.kime.net/directcc/dccras31.htm
WinNT 4.0 to Win3.11 Using RAS
http://www.kime.net/directcc/dccnt40.htm
Two Win3.11 Computers Using RAS
http://www.kime.net/directcc/rasras31.htm
Two WinNT 4.0 Computers (server/workstation)
http://www.kime.net/directcc/dcnt4nt4.htm
If you do a web search you can also find info on using DCC between Windows and Linux, Macs, OS/2 and others.
Also be aware that if you intend to share files or print over a network you need to have Windows set to do so on the system doing the sharing. Also, be sure your print and file sharing services on your DCC setup are not enabled for any Internet connections, lest anyone gain access to your files or printers.
There are other software equivalents of DCC on the market. Laplink, Interlink and the like would also do a fine job of saving your rear in a circumstance like this, but they cost a sight more than 6 bucks.
If I were you I would load DCC on your laptop right now and play with it at the office so you can be familiar with it when you really need it. I also would get that “crossover” cable and make it a permanent laptop bag accessory for future use. This little trick will save your keester some day.
Now, don’t let all of these specifics spook you. It’s really a simple process to setup and run DCC and get your files transferred. And you will be so thankful you spent that 6 bucks when your client takes his seat and you’re ready to blow his socks off.
That's my epinion. Mahalo for stopping by.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Schinjay
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Member: Steve Schindler
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Reviews written: 37
Trusted by: 56 members
About Me:
Steve Schindler writes his informative and humorous "Schindler's Cyber List" for epinions.com.
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