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For those of you following my continuing saga of scanner problems, you might be interested in the final chapter.
The new replacement Dell computer arrived yesterday and everything is in order. The scanner works perfectly and everything is set to go again. I guess we will never know what caused the problem with the other one. It was an interesting three months of listening to each tech rep say that the problem was with someone else.
The new system was not without some problems though. Last yesterday afternoon I unboxed the new computer and hooked everything up only to have it tell me that the CD-ROM was not installed, nor would the DVD work. My first reaction was, "Well, here we go again." A call to Dell support had me going through all kinds of procedures. The bios (whatever that is) said that they were installed, but the computer wouldn't recognize them. After a few "try this" and "try that" the tech had me raise the hood and undo all the ribbon cables and reattach them. Guess what, that was all that it took. Somehow, something was just not making a good contact. So now everthing is peachy keen.
If you have read this far I now have a question for you. I have a cable connecting these two computers by the parallel ports, trying to make a direct cable connection between the two to transfer files from the old computer to the new one.
In Windows 98SE there is not an installed file to allow me to do this. I understand that there was one in Win95. I have traced down all the leads in Microsoft Help but without any luck. The Microsoft web site has not yielded anything yet, either (at least, that I can understand). Is there anyone out there that may be able to help me?
If this isn't possible I can just put all the job files on disks and transfer them over, but a direct link surely would save a lot of time.
Thanks in advance for the help, and thanks for listening to the continuing saga of the scanner.
------------------ Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas rchapman@vvm.com
Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I'm not on Win98 at the moment, so I can't check... but it may be possible that the Direct Cable Connection feature just wasn't installed from the Windows CD. Look in the control panel -> Add New Programs -> Windows Setup. Highlight "Communications" or maybe one of the other ones and click the "Details" button. I think it should be in there somewhere, just not installed.
If you do a search on www.download.com , there's a couple of freeware utilities that will troubleshoot your direct cable connection if you're having problems.
I set a direct cable connection up between my old Amiga and my PC, and it was quite slow. Part of that was the Amiga's slower port speed. You might want to set up a small network instead (with network cards and a crossover cable) if you plan on transferring things frequently, or using both machines. If you're only transferring things once, it's just going to take longer with a DCC.
Glad to hear you finally have the scanner problem fixed. Three months? Sounds like a certain hard drive I've been waiting for...
------------------ Bob Darnell London, Ontario, Canada _______________________
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I would suggest you purchase two network cards and put one in each machine, then get a "crossover" ethernet cable.
This way, you can leave the two machines connected as long as you want, and transfer files PLUS share other resources like printers, programs, drives, ZIPs, CD's, and even share the internet connection if two people want to be online at the same time.
A good network card is about $50.. note, this is a really good quality entry level card.. err... basically, the high end part of the consumer level products.. =)
This will allow you to expand in the future too.. say if you get a DSL or cable internet connection, you will already have one piece of the hardware that's required.. or if you obtain another computer, you can have all 3 linked via network cards
------------------ Mike Pipes -----trapped in a box with a computer and a slice of cheese-----
Posts: 145 | From: Lake Havasu City, AZ | Registered: Dec 2000
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I assume Raymond that you are only connecting both computers temporarily to transfer files. If this is so you probably won't want to follow Mike's advice about ethernet. The parallel connection is slow but for just to transfer some files is ok. There is a program called "Aloha Bob's Pc Relocator" that will do the trick. Best Buy had it for around $40.00. Or make your old hard drive a slave on the new system and transfer everything that way. Not your programs though, they should be installed new on your machine. Hey Bob Darnell, don't get to see too many Amiga users around anymore. Had one for years and put together a system last year and then sold it. I did use it as a parallel connected system to my PC using Amiga Explorer. Fun machine. Put tons of money into that in the 80's.
------------------ Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Since 1978 http://www.wrightsigns.bigstep.com
Posts: 2787 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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Bob...You were right. It was there, but just not active. Now I have both computers connected and they recognize each other, but I still can't figure out how to get the plot files from one to the other. As you can see, computers are not my thing.
Thanks for the advice. It's nice to know folks who understand this stuff.
------------------ Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas rchapman@vvm.com
Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I don't know much more about it, other than to set one computer as host in the Dial-up Networking-> Make New Connection, and one as the remote. I used special clients because I was transferring from a different platform.
David, you might want to check out http://codepoet.com/UAE , it's a pretty decent Amiga emulator. I tranferred all my files over and can launch my fake Amiga for kicks. For anyone that doesn't know... these machines really kicked butt way back when. Macs included. Too bad the company wasted it all away. (Incidently, after seeing so much money go down the toilet, that's the reason I now work on a PC and try to buy hardware/software that is very popular... it may not be the very best, but at least it will remain supported much longer.) Otherwise, I would have gotten into Macs, because they were better.
Anyway, the emulator is standalone, and it's kind of funny that I can fit the emulator, all operating system files, and all of my personal files and some pretty sophisticated software on about one quarter of a CD. I could pop it into anyone's PC and load my Amiga. Not that anyone will be too impressed anymore, but it shows you how bloated Windows is...
------------------ Bob Darnell London, Ontario, Canada _______________________
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