Direct Cable Connection- Beginner Helpless (and Hopeless?!!)

I would like to link my IBM ThinkPad note book to a Dell.The link only has
to be temporary and in the same room. The Dell is spanking new but the
Thinkpad is a few years old (99 I think!).I would like to plug a wire from
one computer in to the other with the least amount of add-ons as possible.
The ThinkPad has no networkcard.Both are running XP pro.As far as I can make
out reading Xp's Help an Support Center this kind of Network is called a
Direct Cable Connection.Does any one know any good web site that can help a
beginner on this subject. I have searched but any sites I have found are
very technical- full of unexplained jargon.The think pad has a parallel
port, two USB 1 ports, a modem port, a PCMCA modem and a serial port that
doesn't seem to register when I try to set up a "mock" (what I mean by mock
is just going through the motions, there's no actual link) network using the
XP wizards.The Dell has USB 2 and network card.
Any help would be much appreciated
Alan.

"> > > Alan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:c7050n$c8c$(E-Mail Removed)...
> I would like to link my IBM ThinkPad note book to a Dell.The link only
has
> to be temporary and in the same room. The Dell is spanking new but the
> Thinkpad is a few years old (99 I think!).I would like to plug a wire from
> one computer in to the other with the least amount of add-ons as possible.
> The ThinkPad has no networkcard.Both are running XP pro.As far as I can
make
> out reading Xp's Help an Support Center this kind of Network is called a
> Direct Cable Connection.Does any one know any good web site that can help
a
> beginner on this subject. I have searched but any sites I have found are
> very technical- full of unexplained jargon.The think pad has a parallel
> port, two USB 1 ports, a modem port, a PCMCA modem and a serial port that
> doesn't seem to register when I try to set up a "mock" (what I mean by
mock
> is just going through the motions, there's no actual link) network using
the
> XP wizards.The Dell has USB 2 and network card.
> Any help would be much appreciated
> Alan.
>
>

Do a search on Google, here's one: http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/dccmain.htm

If you plan on doing this on a regular basis I'd suggest getting a cheap
network card for the computer that doesn't have one and a CAT5 crossover
cable - it's fast, reliable - whereas Direct Cable Connection is
unbelievably slow (and I found it quite awkward to set up), and the computer
that's getting copied from grinds to a halt!!

"> > > Alan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:c7050n$c8c$(E-Mail Removed)...

> The think pad has a parallel
> port, two USB 1 ports,

> The Dell has USB 2 and network card.

Since they both have USB try something like this....

http://www.usbgear.com/item_102.html

Nice one! That's the kind of thing I was thinking of- and the kind of
price.Thanks
Alan

"CWatters" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:S0wlc.94666$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "> > > Alan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:c7050n$c8c$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> > The think pad has a parallel
> > port, two USB 1 ports,
>
> > The Dell has USB 2 and network card.
>
> Since they both have USB try something like this....
>
> http://www.usbgear.com/item_102.html
>
>
>