First decide whether the connection will be Parallel (faster) or Serial (slower.) Parallel is recommended for speed but if the parallel port is in use with another device (printer, network, etc.) and the serial port is free, it may be used. Note that both computers must use serial or parallel, parallel on one computer and serial on the other will not work!

If using the Parallel connection:

Switch the printer port from ECP to Std Bi-Directional: Click Start/Programs/Toshiba Utilities/Hardware Setup/Hardware Options/Parallel/Printer. Then, click Start/Shut down/Restart the computer so that Windows 95 is configured for the port.

Set up Sharing

Open Explorer, right click on the DRIVE C icon

Click Sharing

Select Shared As

Name the drive DRIVE C or something similar

Put a more extensive comment in the Comment box

Set the Access Type, I use Depends on Password

Enter different passwords in the Passwords box

Duplicate these passwords during the password verification

Click OK

Set up Network ID for Host computer

Open Start/Settings/Control Panel/Network/Configuration

Client for Microsoft Networks must exist, if not, add it

with the Add button

Click File and Print sharing, check the options you want to use

Set Primary Network Logon to Client for Microsoft Networks

Click the Identification tab, enter the following information

Computer Name HOST_COMPUTER (or similar)

Workgroup WORKGROUP1 (or similar)

Computer Description (I left this blank)

Go Online With DCC

Connect the systems with a data transfer parallel cable, used with Laplink, etc. Computer stores sell these for about $10 US

Click Start/Programs/Accessories/Direct Cable Connection

Look at the Settings area, it should say "Guest computer set up to connect to host using Parallel cable on LPT1"

Click Change if the role for this computer is incorrect (Host/Guest)

Select Host or Guest (Mutually exclusive, the other computer must be the one not chosen here.)

Click Next

Choose the port you want to use

One choice must be Parallel cable on LPT1 (may use LPT2 or LPT3.) If no parallel port is visible click Install New Ports

Highlight the Parallel cable on LPT entry

Click Next

Message says You have successfully set up the guest computer

Click Finish

Status box appears Accessing Parallel cable on COMx

Immediately go to the other (HOST) system:

Click Start/Programs/Accessories/Direct Cable Connection

Look at the Settings area, it should say "Guest computer set to connect to host using Parallel cable on LPT1"

Click Change if the role for this computer is incorrect (Host/Guest)

Select Host or Guest (Mutually exclusive, the other computer must be the one not chosen here.)

Click Next

Choose the port you want to use

One choice must be Parallel cable on LPT1 (may use LPT2 or LPT3.) If no parallel port is visible click Install New Ports

Highlight the Parallel cable on LPT entry

Click Next

Message says You have successfully set up the host computer

Click Finish

Status box appears Waiting to connect via Parallel cable on LPTx

At this point the machines should be connecting with each other.

Check that other devices are not using the serial port:

First, check to see that no other device is using the serial port (a serial mouse, for example:)

Click Start/Settings/Control Panel/System/Properties/Device Manager/Ports (COM & LPT) and make sure a COM port has been configured to the serial port hardware; (it will probably be COM1:.)

Check that a Serial mouse is not configured to use the same serial port as Direct Cable Connect.

Click Start/Settings/Control Panel/System/Properties/Device Manager/Mouse

Ensure there are no SERIAL mouse entries. PS/2 entries are OK, do not remove them

If there are serial mice listed, click each serial mouse entry, click Remove

When no more serial mice are listed, click OK. Serial mice will interfere with the COM: port and a serial Direct Cable Connection

Set up Sharing

Open Explorer, right click on the DRIVE C icon

Click Sharing

Select Shared As

Name the drive DRIVE C or something similar

Put a more extensive comment in the Comment box

Set the Access Type, I use Depends on Password

Enter different passwords in the Passwords box

Duplicate these passwords during the password verification

Click OK

Set up Network ID for Host computer

Open Start/Settings/Control Panel/Network/Configuration

Client for Microsoft Networks must exist, if not, add it

with the Add button

Click File and Print sharing, check the options you want to use

Set Primary Network Logon to Client for Microsoft Networks

Click the Identification tab, enter the following information

Computer Name HOST_COMPUTER (or similar)

Workgroup WORKGROUP1 (or similar)

Computer Description (I left this blank)

Go Online With DCC

Connect the systems with a data transfer serial cable, used with Laplink, tc. Computer stores sell these for about $10 US

Click Start/Programs/Accessories/Direct Cable Connection

Look at the Settings area, it should say "Host computer set to listen on Serial cable on COM1"

Click Change if the role for this computer is incorrect (Host/Guest)

Select Host or Guest (Mutually exclusive, the other computer must be the one not chosen here.)

Click Next

Choose the port you want to use

One choice must be Serial cable on COM1:. If no Serial port is visible click Install New Ports

Highlight the Serial cable on COM entry

Click Next

Message says You have successfully set up the guest computer

Click Finish

Status box appears Accessing Serial cable on COMx

Immediately go to the other (HOST) system:

Click Start/Programs/Accessories/Direct Cable Connection

Look at the Settings area, it should say "Guest computer set to connect to host using Serial cable on COMx"

Click Change if the role for this computer is incorrect (Host/Guest)

Select Host or Guest (Mutually exclusive, the other computer must be the one not chosen here.)

Click Next

Choose the port you want to use

One choice must be Serial cable on COM1 (may use COM2 or COM3.) If no parallel port is visible click Install New Ports

Highlight the Parallel cable on COM entry

Click Next

Message says You have successfully set up the guest computer

Click Finish

Status box appears Waiting to connect via Serial cable on COMx

At this point the machines should be connecting with each other.

Note:

If this serial connection does not work after testing a few times, the cable may be mis-wired or the wrong type. If a null modem adapter is available, attach it to the serial cable at either end.

Click Start/Programs/Accessories/Direct Cable Connection and try again.