Direct cable connection
Discussion
Just got a new laptop. A Samsung X05 – which is nice. However I’ve bought a serial to serial laplink cable to transfer the data from my old laptop only to find the new one does not have a serial port 
(at least not an RS232 one which is what the cable is). So can I do direct cable connection using another means?
What about a patch cable between the two Ethernet ports? Or connecting the two modem ports? Or maybe USB to USB except they are both have USB A ports and I don’t have an A-A cable. I could use the IR ports but that would take an age. Any ideas? I only want to do this once to get the data across so don’t want to blow too much cash on cables and software if I can help it. I’d also like to try and sort it tonight as I’ve set the time aside and all the shops are shut!
(at least not an RS232 one which is what the cable is). So can I do direct cable connection using another means? What about a patch cable between the two Ethernet ports? Or connecting the two modem ports? Or maybe USB to USB except they are both have USB A ports and I don’t have an A-A cable. I could use the IR ports but that would take an age. Any ideas? I only want to do this once to get the data across so don’t want to blow too much cash on cables and software if I can help it. I’d also like to try and sort it tonight as I’ve set the time aside and all the shops are shut!
Ethernet is probably the way to go, but you will need a short Cat 5 crossover cable. They aren't expensive, and if there's a PC World or similar near you, they may not be shut for a while yet. In fact nowadays I should think Currys/Comet/Dixons sell them. Once you have one you can just connect the two PCs together and create a small workgroup. Then you can share drives or directories on one machine and use Explorer to copy them onto the other one. You'd have to be very patient to use a serial connection anyway!
Cheers for the info Steve
I don’t have the cable you mention however there is the small oversight on my part of the new 4 port wireless router that’s been sitting under my nose for the past hour and a half
So now I have both laptops connected via the router on the same workgroup but I can’t log onto one or the other. I can see them in network neighbourhood OK but if I double click one and try to log on it says I do not have access. I have enabled file sharing on the source laptop. I have also tried create new network connection then accept incoming connections but that does not allow me to pick the Ethernet port. Is there something else I need to enable? Ta muchly…
I don’t have the cable you mention however there is the small oversight on my part of the new 4 port wireless router that’s been sitting under my nose for the past hour and a half
So now I have both laptops connected via the router on the same workgroup but I can’t log onto one or the other. I can see them in network neighbourhood OK but if I double click one and try to log on it says I do not have access. I have enabled file sharing on the source laptop. I have also tried create new network connection then accept incoming connections but that does not allow me to pick the Ethernet port. Is there something else I need to enable? Ta muchly… Sounds like you're nearly there. If you are using the same user on both machines, then it's a good idea to ensure the passwords are the same. Assuming they are, I would try switching off any firewalls on either (including the built in XP one), and double checking the permissions on any shares you create to allow full control for everyone (obviously you can reset these again later). Alternatively, provided it's NT/2000/XP, you can try using the automatic administrative share (which is \remotemachinenameC$), for which it may ask you for an administrative user and password. Finally, make sure you have the item "File and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks" installed against the network connection you are using, on both machines.
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