Question: I'm reformatting my hard drive and reinstalling windows 2000 pro on my desktop PC. I need to transfer files (10 GB) to my laptop (running win 2000 pro). I plan on using a crossover cable to do this. What do I need to do in order to accomplish this task (user ID's, permissions...)?
The IT Guy says:
You need a crossover cable only if you don’t already have a hub that connects both computers to the Internet and network at the same time. If you do, then the standard Ethernet patch cables you are already using will work when both computers are plugged into the hub. If you don’t have a hub/switch, then you do need a crossover cable. While you can make your own, I would recommend just buying one at your local computer store.
As far as user IDs and permissions, you will need to enable file sharing on one of the computers, and need to know the main administrative user ID and password for that computer. You should be able to open My Computer, right click the C drive, and choose “sharing.†If not, choose “properties†and then click the “sharing†tab. As long as you have TCP/IP as a configured protocol for your network adapter, you should be able to file share. (i.e. you shouldn’t have to turn on other protocols like NETBUI.) When you setup the share for the C drive, make sure you assign rights for the drive (at least READ rights) to the main user account for the computer.
I would recommend you turn on file sharing on the older hard drive that you plan to later format. With both computers connected to a hub/switch with standard Ethernet patch cables, or connected together with a crossover cable, go to My Network Places on your laptop and browse to the hard drive of your desktop PC. With file sharing enabled, you should see it and when you double click it, be prompted to login with the main user ID and password for that computer.
After you have logged into the C drive, you should be able to copy entire folders of documents from the desktop PC to your laptop.
Since you are formatting the desktop PC after you finish copying files, you do not need to disable the file share that you set up. If, however, you were not formatting the drive, you definitely would want to disable this share. Some worms propagate across a network using open file shares, which were more common on older operating systems. Check after you reformat to make sure folders are not shared openly without a required password, or (if they are not needed for sharing) are not shared at all.
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