Computer newbies forum: How to? Connect 2 PC's without router?

"Bear in mind however, this will only work between WinXP and Win98 only if both HD's are formatted FAT32 - it will NOT work if they are formatted NTFS, the 2 OS'es wont see each other."

This is not true. Not to be rude but you need to read up on Networking. Networks are based on protocols. You can share regardless of Fat Fat32 or NTFS.


NTFS is just more secure. If you set up your windows 98 computer for file sharing in Network Neighborhoods properties, TCP/IP, and then share the drive without passwords the XP computer will access all the files easily. As for vise versa the windows 98 computer won't see the xp computer unless you set up permissions on the xp computer. Then you would have to log onto 98 with user and password that you set up on xp.

I have a simple 8 port switch with XP,2000 pro, 98,95, 3.11wfw, ms-dos, and Linux computers which can all see and acess files across each other. XP and 2000 are NTFS and linux is a different file structure all together. Sorry I forget the name at the moment. "efh?"

Anyhow it is possible to connect any fat32 or ntfs together it's just fat to fat is "less secure" and easier to connect then fat to ntfs. And accessing a Fat file system without passwords is extremely easy.