Step-by-step guide to building a $15 networkStep Two After you select host or guest and click next, you'll get a series of DCC set up dialog boxes. The first looks like this...
In this box, select Parallel port (don't bother with a serial port...parallel is faster and the special cables for Windows95/98 DCC are made for parallel ports). By the way, one very technical note here: the parallel (or printer port) on your computer must be set to ECP mode for this to work. For most new computers, this is the default, but to check do this. Select Start > Settings > Control Panel. When the Control Panel pops up, double click on "System" and select the "Device Manager" tab. Down the list of devices, you'll see "Ports." Click on the plus sign next to it and you should see a list of all your ports, including "ECP Printer Port (LPT 1)." If you don't see that, you'll need to quit Windows, restart your machine and enter the BIOS setup. The process to do that varies from computer to computer, so you'll need to check your computer manual. You can also watch the computer start up and it should say something like "Hit Del to enter set up." So hit the delete key and find your way through the BIOS settings until you find the ports and/or peripherals section and make sure your Parallel or LPT port is set to ECP mode. This is essentially, a faster, two-way mode for your port and will allow DCC to work. Now, back to above dialog box..you'll note that it says "Plug in cable now." I suggest you already have the cable plugged in BEFORE you start either machine. This cable by the way, is a special cable for "Windows 95 Direct Cable Connection." I found mine at CompUSA for about $15. Mail order is probably even cheaper. Just make sure it has connectors at both ends for hooking up to a computer. That is quite different than a "printer cable" that has one end for hooking up to the computer and one end for hooking up to a printer. Once the cable is connected and you click the Next box in the dialog above, you'll get another dialog box confirming that you have successfully set up the computer and to click a Finish button. Once you do this initial set up, the next time you start DCC, you'll simply get a dialog box stating that the computer is set up to be the guest or host, with a button to change that and another button to "Connect." Either way, you're on to Step Three.
All content © 1998-2007 by homePCnetwork, inc.
|
