Share files between XP and 98

Discussion in 'Networking and Computer Security' started by zeus, Nov 24, 2004.

  1. zeus

    zeus out of date

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    Ive been trying for months now to try and share files between an xp comp and a win 98 comp but cant do it.

    Can someone tell me how? I keep finding step by step instructions for networking the two but I want to use infrared so never have all the network adaptors in network connections that people have. I cant even get it to install the protocols n stuff. Its all meaningless to me!

    I can send files from 98 to xp easy by using the drivers/built in IR support from win 98, but XP tells me the data in invalid when I try to send to the 98 comp.

    Ive tried doing the Direct Cable Connection thing, but it doesnt work (by accepting incoming connections in xp)

    Whats the best way to do it?
    Apparently its easy "Just place the files to be transferred from the XP machine in a folder on the 98 machine, and receive it from the 98 box"

    Does anyone know what this means?

    Many Thanks
    Rik
     
  2. ProcalX

    ProcalX all grown up

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  3. zeus

    zeus out of date

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    Ive seen the second link before. Ive done all that. My computers know each other are there, but how do I transfer the files?
     
  4. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    You'll have to have some folder (like My Documents) shared for file transfer to work properly. I've never messed with IrDA stuff in networking, but the concepts for networking should remain the same.

    However, you really would be better off with a pair of network cards and some CAT5 cable for starters (get a crossover cable if you're going to link 2 PCs straight to each other, otherwise you'll need a switch).
     
  5. zeus

    zeus out of date

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    Theres nothing to em.
    On the laptop I installed windows 98 and it had a driver for the built in IR lens. I spent £50 in pc world on the IRDA for the xp machine which I later found for £12.99! and installed the driver which came with it.

    I put the laptop next to the pc and a connection was made. I right click any file (regardless of share settings etc) on the 98 machine and click 'send to... Infrared recipient' and the files transfer to the xp machine.
    Do the same on the xp machine and im told the data is invalid.

    I know its got little to do with the matter but ive tried the laptop with DriveSpace 3, FAT 16 and FAT32, it made no difference.

    I started to try and do a normal network but dont know what im doing.
    What is a network? Is is like the internet? ie one computer is a server/host and the other dials up and logs in? It got all too much, creating workgroups and new users, install this protocol uninstall that service...... I get login boxes everytime I turn the comp on now! Id install Client for microsoft networks and Id get Microsoft family login (if that!) Some websites go on about netbui, others netbios, some tcp/ip and others IPX/SPX. Some say do a DCC others say normal network, set xp up for incoming only then another will say set xp for direct connection. It would be so bad but you have to use the same port on each comp dont you? None of my ports match. Ive got 2x com2, 1xcom4 2xcom5, lpt1, lpt3, lpt4 on the 98 machine and infrared port, lpt1 and com2 between two cables on the xp machine.

    I thought it said it was simple on the back of the IR box. It should say simple if your using the same OS, cos ive just wasted £50 on something ill never use! I think ive got a parralell cable somewhere. Will it be just as difficult with that?

    The only work around ive got are cds! Someone gave me cd and it worked in my laptop, they said they just used the copy, paste and write feature in xp, but any cd I write cant be read. Is there anything I need to know about cd roms made around '97? (A Johovo has just fried my brain!)

    Sorry for the long post but ive spannered 2 archaeology reports unless I get the 100mbs onto my laptop. The fact that I can send from my laptop just rubs salt into the wound!
     
  6. ProcalX

    ProcalX all grown up

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  7. zeus

    zeus out of date

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    Im just gonna give up. It cant be done. I haven't even got anything in Network Connections, apart from the one for the internet.
    Ive tried all the 'create new connection' options but only the advanced connection options put an icon in the window.

    Im gonna try n work out how to get burned cds to work in it instead. Someone gave me a cd they had written once and it worked fine, all the ones I do dont! There must be a way.

    Cheers for the help anyway
    Rik
     
  8. zeus

    zeus out of date

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    Well incase anyone else wants to share files with irda my conclusions are that it wont work between xp and 98. Any win 9x OS will share with 9x and 2000 ok just not xp for some reason.
    To share just install the drivers, for the IR devices, put them close to each other so that they can see each other and then simply right click your file to be transferred and press send to Infrared recipient. I can't beleive after all this time it works so easy with win2000!

    Although I haven't usd any of the info here I have certainly learnt from it, many thanks for your replies guys, I now know more about networking than I did. If I ever come to setting up a network I think ill just buy a usb hdd and move it around, or use cd roms where I can! There are too many complications in networking different OSs

    Cheers
    Rik
     
  9. ProcalX

    ProcalX all grown up

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    If you setup a basic network connection with network cable, all you need is one cable (between the two pc's) and one network card per pc..

    you cannot use your network card connection or internet connection to connect to a network as its obviously in use.. so u have 2 have another one.. a network card :good:

    Really sorry none of us were any use to your situation, connecting two computers via IRDa is well rather strange without being offensive.

    IRDa for desktops is very expensive, for £50 you could buy a wireless network!
    for £20 you could setup a wired network..

    So you see why none of us have much hand to hand experience with IRDa networking..
     
  10. MoToR

    MoToR Geek Trainee

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    Hello Zeus and everybody else here :hi:...

    I've encountered the same problem a couple of days ago, and I had found your thread that day, looking for a solution with no success :crash:.

    :ans: HERE'S THE SOLUTION I had found after I understood there's no source on the net available that could help :sad::
    The problem appeared for the 1st time with the Win XP SP2 RC1, and stayed (unfortunately) with the SP2 Release, with SP1 everything worked perfect for me. So I just went to the "WinXP System Root Folder"\$NtServicePackUninstall$\ and copied :tport: from there (replaced) the next files (the SP1 backup'ed files in my case):

    irftp.exe -> "WinXP System Root Folder"\system32
    irmon.dll -> "WinXP System Root Folder"\system32
    irbus.sys -> "WinXP System Root Folder"\system32\drivers
    irda.sys -> "WinXP System Root Folder"\system32\drivers
    irenum.sys -> "WinXP System Root Folder"\system32\drivers

    Verifying that the files are not replaced back automatically with the newer (the problematic) ones from "WinXP System Root Folder"\system32\dllcache (just copy the file again if you see it is replaced back).

    Probaly I shouldn't have copied all of those files to solve the problem. You're invited to try and find out yourself which ones are superfluous since I've no time for this right now. No need to restart, by the way, just be sure the 'irftp' is down when you replace the files.

    And the last - the problem we talk about is solved this way, but the older files may interfere somewhere someday or may not, anyway it is always advised to leave the copies of the replaced files just in case, as I did.

    That's it. IR lives :good:.

    Good luck and may the Force be with you ;).

    MoToR :spin:.
     
  11. Waffle

    Waffle Alpha Geek

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    If it was just for file sharing, I'd have spent the £50 on a USB Memory Stick, and that would have done it nicely :)
     
  12. MoToR

    MoToR Geek Trainee

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    Not every notebook that has an IR has an USB!

    Finding an old compatible PCMCIA Ethernet Adapter also can be pain in the :swear:, it's Win 98 we're talking about here after all, people won't usually use this OS with a Centrino based 17" WUXGA 8xUSB 2xFireWire last model notebook :waycool:.

    At least, it's not my case :sad:, and if you don't plan to setup an IR based network (ICS etc.) I'd agree with you :agree:.

    Regards.
    MoToR :spin:.
     
  13. comradehunt

    comradehunt Geek Trainee

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    Hi there,
    I don't know if this is in the right place, but I have the same problem. I have a laptop with 98SE, and desktop with XP SP2.
    I can transfer via infrared to computer with XP, but not from Xp computer to 98SE laptop. It says data is invalid.
    So the question is If I am determined to use IR, whats an easy way to get it to transfer from XP to 98SE?
    OR I could upgrade to win 2000 on laptop as I have the CD, but don't want to go to this hassle unless it will work.
    My laptop was running XP, and still may have the XP files on it but have no knowledge to tell if it does.
     

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