Ian,
You could try "Direct cable connect" eg this advice in a computer newlsletter:-
QUOTE
It's the "Direct Cable Connection" software, and it's been part of Windows since 1995. Using an inexpensive cable (called a "crossover," "Interlink," "DCC" or "LapLink" cable, available for about $6 from almost any computer accessory retailer) you can transfer files via either your laptop's serial ports (at speeds to 115K), or better still, via the much faster parallel (printer) port.
What's more, using DCC or any of its several variants, you can connect PCs running the same or different versions of Windows, or even different operating systems! It's so powerful a tool, I carry a parallel port DCC cable with me whenever I travel.
DCC may already be installed on your system: To see if it's there, click Start/Programs/Accessories/Communications. If Direct Cable Connection is there, click on it: A "Wizard" interface will help you get started.
If DCC isn't on your system, click to the Add/Remove Programs icon in Control Panel, and then click the Windows Setup tab. In the Components list, click Communications, and then Details; in the dialog box, click Direct Cable Connection, and then click OK. DCC will then install itself (if your Windows setup files are not on your hard drive, you'll be prompted for the Windows CD.)
[NB: This original article predated XP, but XP still has DCC in it: Go to Start/Help and search for "direct cable" for full info. Win2K info--- and some additional XP info--- is also available at
ftp://ftp.lpt.com/parallel/DCC-SETUP.DOC )
In any case, it's best to set up DCC on your system before you need it: That way, you can test it (at home, or in your normal work environment) and make sure everything on your end is OK. Setting it up in advance also will let you learn the ins and outs so you can assist the person who'll be on the other end of your DCC connection in the event they're unfamiliar with the process. (Again, both PCs have to be running some type of DCC software for the connection to work.)
And there are a couple of "gotchas:" For example, if you're establishing DCC for the purposes of sharing files or a network printer, you'll need to enable "Print And File Sharing" on the PC doing the sharing. But you need to make sure that Print and File Sharing services for your DCC setup are not enabled for any Internet connections you have; otherwise, people on the general Internet also could gain access to your files or printers. To check this, open the Control Panel "Network" applet, and click on each instance of TCP/IP in the Configuration window: Then click the Bindings tab and UNcheck the box next to File and Printer sharing; this will keep sharing services from being offered via your Internet (TCP/IP) connection.
And, as long as you're in the Network Control Panel, you might also want to ensure that adding DCC hasn't altered any other network settings on your PC, either.
All the above makes this sound more complicated than it is--- in part because we've touched on every version of Windows since 3.0, and other operating systems, too! In reality, installing DCC on any one PC isn't that hard. And it's well worth it, because with DCC and a $6 cable, you'll almost always be able to any other PC or network, no matter what!
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