How to Connect Your HP Laptop Dock to a PC
To connect your desktop computer to the docking station on your HP laptop, you can attach a USB bridge cable to available USB slots on both PCs. While attaching a standard USB cable to two computers simultaneously can lead to hardware damage, a USB bridge cable is designed specifically to allow two computers to share file and network data. USB bridge cables come with all of the software necessary to share data between computers, so as long as you have the appropriate cables, you will not need to download or purchase any extra software to connect your PCs.
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Instructions
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Install to both your laptop and your desktop the software included with your USB bridge cable. Select to install the drivers for "Network Mode," if available.
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Power off both the laptop and the desktop. Connect one end of a USB bridge cable to an available USB slot on the HP laptop's dock.
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Connect the other end of the USB bridge cable to an available USB slot on the desktop.
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Flip the switch on the USB bridge cable so that it is in "On" position, if applicable.
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Power on the HP laptop and the desktop computer and wait for the operating systems to load.
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From the HP laptop, click "Start" then choose "Control Panel." Double-click "Network Connections." Look for a Local Area Connection with a "Device Name" of "USB-USB Adapter" or something similar.
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Right-click the connection, then click "Properties." Select the "Advanced" tab. Check "Allow other network users to control or disable the shared Internet connection."
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Click "OK." Restart both your laptop and your desktop computer.
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Tips & Warnings
To share files across your computers, install the drivers for "Link Mode." After installing the bridge cable and powering on both computers, use the software included with the USB bridge cable to transfer files back and forth between PCs. The software included with the bridge cable will vary based on its manufacturer.
References
- Photo Credit A close-up of a couple of USB connectors. image by Werg from Fotolia.com
