Exchanging files wirelessly between two computers.
Printing wirelessly on infrared-capable printers.
Connecting to the network wirelessly instead of using cabling, through a computer
connected by Direct Cable Connect.

The Windows 98 implementation of Infrared provides the following benefits:

Device drivers for SIR devices capable of sending and receiving at speeds up to 115.2 KBPS.
Support for FIR devices capable of sending and receiving data at 4 MBPS.

Windows 98 also includes Microsoft Infrared Transfer, an application that enables a suitably enabled computer to quickly send files using their infrared device.

Installing an Infrared Device

This section describes how to install infrared devices.

Note: If you change the infrared adapter model that is connected to the computer, you should reinstall it.

The procedure for installing an infrared device varies depending on whether it is a Plug and Play device. All Fast Infrared devices are Plug and Play-compatible.

To install a Plug and Play device

1. If it is an external device, attach it. The Infrared 3.0 software loads automatically.
2. Double-click the Infrared icon in Control Panel to activate the infrared device. If there is
no Infrared icon in Control Panel, press F5 to make the icon appear.

Using the Infrared Monitor

You can use the Infrared Monitor to keep track of your computer's infrared activity. You can activate Infrared Monitor once your infrared device is installed by double-clicking the Infrared icon in Control Panel or by clicking the animated Infrared icon in the system tray on the Taskbar. The Infrared Monitor contains the tabs and options shown in Table 19.5.

Table 19.5 Infrared Monitor tabs

To verify your connection using Infrared Monitor

1. On one of the computers, in the system tray on the Taskbar, double-click the animated infrared icon. Infrared Monitor appears.
2. Click the Status tab. It shows all devices visible to the computer.
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 for the other computer.

Transferring Files Using Infrared Transfer

Windows 98 includes Infrared Transfer, a new application for transferring files through an infrared connection.

When an infrared device has been installed, an icon called Infrared Recipient is added to My Computer, and a shortcut to it is added to the \Windows\Send To folder. This shortcut adds an item to the Send To menu option that appears when you right-click a file or folder.

The first time Infrared Transfer is used to send a file or folder, a folder called My Received Files is created, and all sent files or folders will be copied to this folder. If a file or folder is sent that already exists in the My Received Files folder, a copy of the file or folder is made.

You can transfer files using one of several different methods. Before attempting to transfer files, make sure the infrared communications driver is properly installed and the infrared devices are enabled by carrying out the procedures in "Installing an Infrared Device" and "Using the Infrared Monitor" earlier in this chapter.

To transfer files or folders using Infrared Recipient

1. In My Computer, double-click Infrared Recipient.
2. Select an available infrared device.
3. Click Send Files.
4. Select the files to send.
5. Click Open.

To transfer files or folders using Send To

1. Select the files you want to send.
2. Right-click the selected files, and then point to Send To.
3. Click Infrared Recipient.

To transfer files or folders using Drag and Drop

1. In My Computer, open Infrared Recipient.
2. If there is more than one infrared device in range, select an available infrared device.
3. In Windows Explorer, select files you want to send.
4. If there is only a single infrared device in range, drag and drop files onto the Infrared Recipient icon in my computer.
   Or-
5. If there is more than one infrared device in range, drag and then drop files onto the computer selected in Available devices within range.

Transferring Files using Direct Cable Connection and Infrared

You can use Direct Cable Connection over an infrared link to connect a host and guest computer. This section describes how to transfer files over an infrared link, using Direct Cable Connection. Before transferring files, you must install Direct Cable Connection on both computers by following the procedure outlined in "Using Direct Cable Connection" earlier in this chapter. Both computers must also use a common network protocol; a broadcast protocol such as NetBEUI is easiest to configure.

Additionally, the files must be in a shared directory, and File and Printer Sharing services for either Microsoft or NetWare networks must be enabled in the Network option in Control Panel. You can also apply share-level security to the shared files.
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To transfer files using Direct Cable Connection

1. Make sure the infrared communications driver is properly installed and the infrared devices are enabled by carrying out the procedures in "Installing an Infrared Device" and "Using the Infrared Monitor" earlier in this chapter.
2. On one of the computers, open the Infrared Monitor and click the Options tab. It lists the virtual COM port the infrared device uses. Note this information.
3. On the host computer, click Start, point to Accessories, and then click Direct Cable Connection.
4. Follow the steps in the Direct Cable Connection Wizard to set up the host computer.
   When the wizard prompts you for it, select the Host option. When the wizard prompts you to choose a port, use the same virtual port you found in Step 2.
   The wizard also offers password protection. It is not necessary to establish password protection on the host computer for this test of the infrared link. When you have finished the wizard, click Finish. Direct Cable Connection starts running on the infrared link and displays the following message: "Status: Waiting to connect via Serial cable on Comx," where Comx is the name of the virtual port the infrared link is using.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the guest computer, except select the Guest option instead of the Host option. When you have finished the wizard, click Finish.
   

When you run Direct Cable Connection to establish the connection between the host and guest computers, the guest computer might display the message "Direct Cable Connection was unable to display shared folders of the host computer" and prompt you to enter the computer name of the host computer. If this happens, check the Status tab of the Infrared Monitor interface screen.

If you are working on the guest computer, and you want to copy a shared folder from the host computer to the guest computer, select the folder's icon in the window that displays all the shared folders that are on the host computer, and drag the icon to the desktop.

To work on a shared folder on the host computer without copying it to the guest computer, double-click the folder in the display on the guest computer. Note that if the host computer is connected to a network, the guest computer can reach shared resources on the network through the connection to the host.

Printing with Infrared Transfer

Before attempting to print, make sure the infrared communications driver is properly installed and the infrared devices are enabled by carrying out the procedures in "Installing an Infrared Device" and "Using the Infrared Monitor" earlier in this chapter.

To print to an Infrared-Capable Printer

1. Make sure the infrared communications driver is installed on the computer.
2. Bring an infrared-enabled printer within range.
3. Your computer might automatically detect and install the printer. If not, make sure the printer driver for the infrared-capable printer is installed on the computer.
4. Try the Print option in a program.

To validate the infrared link to the printer, make sure the correct printer driver is installed for the infrared-capable printer. (Most printers with built-in infrared ports are Plug and Play devices, which are installed automatically.) Then use a program to print over the infrared link.

If the program prints on an infrared-capable printer, the infrared driver installation is validated. If there is trouble printing, see "Troubleshooting Infrared" later in this chapter for more information.