can't get direct cable conn. to work

I have a W98-standard laptop as host, a W98-SE desktop as guest. I have a
direct connection parrallel port-connecting cable a while ago that has worked
in the past (a former colleague set it up and had it working a couple of
times for me years ago).

When I try to direct-connect, I get a message on the guest desktop "Cannot
connect to the host computer. Make sure you have run DCC on the host and
connected your cable to both pcs." As far as I can determine, the cable is
good and is connected. Both computers have dcc installed. Laptop connection
is on LPT1 (there is only one and it is actually named "Printer Port" but I
don't use it for a printer...usually it's empty); desktop says connection is
on LPT3 (I don't know how to check this...I looked at computer
properties/device manager under Ports but it just shows there is an
LPT1-printer, LPT2, & LPT3 parallel port, but it doesn't actually SAY LPT3 is
a dcc port.
Could it be a cable problem? Is there a way to check it?
Could it be a pc identification problem? Do I need to identify both pcs as
part of the same workgroup (whatever that is) under their network ID? Do I
need to make one of them think it's a server?
Guidance will be greatly appreciated...I have tons of unused gigabits on the
desktop that I would like to use to essentially backup my laptop.

"maggie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:6B09E42A-3B18-4462-BE60-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have a W98-standard laptop as host, a W98-SE desktop as guest. I have a
> direct connection parrallel port-connecting cable a while ago that has
> worked
> in the past (a former colleague set it up and had it working a couple of
> times for me years ago).
>
> When I try to direct-connect, I get a message on the guest desktop "Cannot
> connect to the host computer. Make sure you have run DCC on the host and
> connected your cable to both pcs." As far as I can determine, the cable
> is
> good and is connected. Both computers have dcc installed. Laptop
> connection
> is on LPT1 (there is only one and it is actually named "Printer Port" but
> I
> don't use it for a printer...usually it's empty); desktop says connection
> is
> on LPT3 (I don't know how to check this...I looked at computer
> properties/device manager under Ports but it just shows there is an
> LPT1-printer, LPT2, & LPT3 parallel port, but it doesn't actually SAY LPT3
> is
> a dcc port.
> Could it be a cable problem? Is there a way to check it?
> Could it be a pc identification problem? Do I need to identify both pcs
> as
> part of the same workgroup (whatever that is) under their network ID? Do
> I
> need to make one of them think it's a server?
> Guidance will be greatly appreciated...I have tons of unused gigabits on
> the
> desktop that I would like to use to essentially backup my laptop.

this site may be of help

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/