How to Connect Two 95 PCs Together

Connect two Windows 95 PCs using the Direct Cable Connection feature.

Microsoft Windows 95 includes a "Direct Cable Connection" feature that allows a user to connect two Windows 95 computers together and create a two-computer private network. The connection can be made using a cross-over network cable, an RS232 serial cable, or a parallel port cable. This feature is useful when you need to transfer files from one Windows 95 PC to another but you don't have access to a network. You can create a Direct Cable Connection between two Windows 95 PCs using an RS232 serial.

Things You'll Need

• Two Windows 95 PCs with 9-pin serial ports
• Full null modem 9-pin serial cable

Instructions

1. Plug a full null modem 9-pin serial cable into the 9-pin serial port on both Windows 95 computers to establish a serial connection between the two PCs.

2. Click the "My Computer" icon located on the PC desktop of the computer that will be sharing files and then navigate to the drive or directory you wish to share. Click the drive or directory to share. Then, click the "File" menu at the top of the window and click "Properties." Select the "Sharing" tab. Click "Shared As" and enter a name for the share in the "Share Name" box. Click "Apply."

3. Click the "Start" button on the computer that will "host" the DCC connection and share files. Then click "Programs," "Accessories" and "Communications." Select the "Direct Cable Connection" icon.

4. Select "Host" in the "Direct Cable Connection" window that appears and then click the serial port that is displayed in the list to use the serial port to connect to the other PC. Click the "Next" button.

5. Go to the computer to which you wish to copy files and click "Start," "Programs," "Accessories," and select "Communications." Click the "Direct Cable Connection" item in the menu. Select the "Guest" option in the menu that appears and select the serial port from the list of port options displayed. Click the "Next" button and the guest computer will connect to the host computer.

6. Double-click the "Network Neighborhood" icon on the desktop of the guest computer. Then, double-click on the icon that has the computer name of the host computer. Double-click on the shares displayed to access files on the host computer.

References

• Kime: Windows 95 to Windows 95 Direct Cable Connect Setup Instructions
• Computer Hope: Setting Up Direct Cable Connection in Windows 95 98
• Windows Networking: Direct-Cable Connection Introduction
• Microsoft: Support -- How to Install and Configure the Direct Cable Connection Feature
• Microsoft: Support -- Cables that are Compatible with Direct Cable Connection