LPT-based File Transfer

Introduction

Neither LapLink nor PC Anywhere support parallel-port connections on Windows 2000, supposedly due to technical restrictions. For some reason, the three utilities below do support file transfer through the LPT port... Remember that you must use a cross-over parallel cable for transfer to work, and that you cannot map drives in both directions at once, ie. a computer is acting either as a client or a server, but not both.

Windows 2000 DirectParallel

This utility is part of the regular setup, so you won't find it as an add-on utility in the Add/Remove Windows Components section of Control Panel. It's actually a nifty utility licensed from Parallel Technologies. Once connected, the icon says that it is connected at 4Mbps, but transfering a zipped 750KB file showed a transfer rate of over 300Kbps (the server was a Pentium III host, while the client was a meager Pentium MMX 233, so that could explain the lower rate.) Still pretty fast for a parallel connection. I've only worked with two Windows 2000 hosts, so check the Resources section for information on how to transfer files between a Windows 2000 host and an 9x host.

Note: The two computers do not need to belong to the same workgroup or NT domain, and you do not need to install Netbeui as a network protocol (stick to TCP/IP.)

Server

  1. Right-click on My Computer | Manage
  2. Open "Local Users and Groups", right-click on Users, followed by New User
  3. Create a new user, using the remote computer name as the account name (eg. W2KClient). No need for any password; Just uncheck "User must change password at next logon", and check "Password never expires"
  4. Select the Member Of tab, and make that new user a member of the Administrators group
  5. Right-click on My Network Places | Properties
  6. Double-click on Make New Connection
  7. Choose "Connect directly to another computer", followed by Host (ie. this host will act as a file server to a remote guest)
  8. Choose Direct Parallel/LPT1
  9. Add the new user that you just created above (W2KClient)
  10. Launch Windows Explorer, and share a directory. Make sure the Permissions section includes access rights for either the computer account that you created, or the Administrators group

A new icon labelled Incoming Connections is now active in the Network and Dial-Up Connections.

Client

  1. Right-click on My Computer | Manage
  2. Open "Local Users and Groups", right-click on Users, followed by New User
  3. Create a new user, using the remote computer name as the account name (eg. W2KSRV). No need for any password; Just uncheck "User must change password at next logon", and check "Password never expires"
  4. Select the Member Of tab, and make that new user a member of the Administrators group
  5. Right-click on My Network Places | Properties
  6. Double-click on Make New Connection
  7. Choose "Connect directly to another computer", followed by Host (ie. this host will act as a file server to a remote guest)
  8. Choose Direct Parallel/LPT1
  9. Finish the setup
  10. A new icon labelled "Direct Connection" is now available in the Network and Dial-Up connections. To connect to the remote server, double-click the icon, and type the name of the computer account that you created above (eg. W2KSRV)
  11. Once connected, you need to map a network drive to access the remote shared directory: Open a DOS box, and type: "net use x: \\W2KSRV\stuff /user:W2KClient"
  12. Open Windows Explorer: You can now exchange files with the remote server!

LinkMaven 1.10

Note: If you are trying it out after playing with the Windows 2000 DirectParallel utility above, remember to delete the Incoming Connections icon in the Network and Dial-Up Connections on the server side. Otherwise, LinkMaven will connect, but fail transfering files. FYI, the 750KB zipped file that was uploaded to the server at over 300Kbps with the Direct Parallel utility transferred at only 40Kbps with LinkMaven.

Server

Run the setup application, and choose either Full (can run either as a server or a client), or Remote (only installs the server utility to allow a remote client to connect to it.)

Client

Install the Full version

WinLink 2001

This is another groovy file transfer application. Unfortunately, its trial version is limited to 8 tests, so watch out while trying it out.

Server

Client

Resources