Win98 & XPpro - no network card

Hi,
Sorry if this is too dumb - but...
Is it possible to connect a Win98SE and a WinXPpro - even though the XPpro
does NOT have a network card?

We have a user who has brought in his XPpro laptop but he hasn't got a
network card - he would like to connect to it via the Win98SE pc (which is
already fully networked) - so he can share files.

Thanks

In article <e1S7cluQEHA.2408@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl>, "Rita King"
<exritaex@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Hi,
>Sorry if this is too dumb - but...
>Is it possible to connect a Win98SE and a WinXPpro - even though the XPpro
>does NOT have a network card?
>
>We have a user who has brought in his XPpro laptop but he hasn't got a
>network card - he would like to connect to it via the Win98SE pc (which is
>already fully networked) - so he can share files.
>
>Thanks

You could make a serial or parallel direct cable connection between
the computers, but that type of connection is slow and hard to set up
and use, and I recommend against it:

DirectParallel® and Direct Cable Connection (DCC) Step-by-Step SETUP
http://www.lpt.com/Support/DCC-SetUp/dcc-setup.htm

I'd buy an inexpensive PCMCIA or USB Ethernet adapter, plug it into
the XPpro computer, and network it with the other computer.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Rita King wrote:
> Hi,
> Sorry if this is too dumb - but...
> Is it possible to connect a Win98SE and a WinXPpro - even though the XPpro
> does NOT have a network card?
>
> We have a user who has brought in his XPpro laptop but he hasn't got a
> network card - he would like to connect to it via the Win98SE pc (which is
> already fully networked) - so he can share files.
>
> Thanks

Since the laptop runs XP, it is probably fairly new. And most recent
laptops include a NIC (Network Interface Chip) built into the MB.

Unless you are sure this laptop does not have a NIC, I suggest
using the Device Manager to see if there is a NIC present. For sure,
the easiest way to network with XP is through a NIC.
--
Cheers, Bob