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    Can I transfer files laptop to laptop via USB

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by sublime313, May 13, 2009.

  1. sublime313

    sublime313 Notebook Evangelist

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    Can i just use a USB cord to connect them and transfer files? how long would it take for 100GB or so?
     
    sublime313, May 13, 2009
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  2. Hep!

    Hep! sees beauty in everything

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    It's not *just* a USB cable. They sell special cables for this, but they're kinda useless.
    Just use a crossover network cable between the two if they're not already networked.
     
    Hep!, May 13, 2009
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  3. sublime313

    sublime313 Notebook Evangelist

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    man i dont think i have any of these cables. i need to back up my media real quick before i reinstall vista and i dont wanna have to buy anything like an external HDD or cables or anything. f me.
     
    sublime313, May 13, 2009
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  4. TabbedOut

    TabbedOut Notebook Evangelist

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    Like the poster above said, a special USB cable is needed. You cannot just connect a USB cable with 2 male ends together or you risk damaging your computer. The USB transfer cables have a small circuit that facilitates the connection. The crossover cable would probably be the better bet though. If you have a gigabit connector the file transfer will probably be faster, but even if you are using the old 10/100 connection the ethernet crossover cable is MUCH cheaper.
     
    TabbedOut, May 13, 2009
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  5. Chango99

    Chango99 Derp

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    Just use your ethernet cables... you know, that thing you plug in for your internet unless you are using wireless.
     
    Chango99, May 14, 2009
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  6. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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    a ethernet crossover cable will be cheaper and faster, that usb cable is like $30... and I have only seen it advertised as a Vista thing, but it may work with other OS versions.

    I have the stuff to make a cross over cable, after the initial $20 for the crimping tool now I can make my own RJ45 cables dirt cheap and just the right size. A crossover cable just reverses the wiring on one connection.

    while I have not done it, any newer ethernet controller can performe the same setup/function without the special cross over cable it can do all the crossover stuff internally.
     
    ViciousXUSMC, May 14, 2009
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  7. jackluo923

    jackluo923 Notebook Virtuoso

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    90% of the time, a crossover cable is not needed because modern network device will be able to do automatic crossover thus almost eliminating the need for crossover ethernet cables. Thus most of the time, a standard Cat5 cable will be good enough.
     
    jackluo923, May 14, 2009
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  8. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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    I know :p thats what the last sentence says.
     
    ViciousXUSMC, May 14, 2009
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  9. jackluo923

    jackluo923 Notebook Virtuoso

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    .. I know too.

    Your last sentence was
    "while I have not done it, any newer ethernet controller can performe the same setup/function without the special cross over cable it can do all the crossover stuff internally."

    I'm clarifying the facts since I've done it a million times before.
     
    jackluo923, May 14, 2009
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  10. Gophn

    Gophn NBR Resident Assistant

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    yup, crimping a cross-over cable is fast.

    but you can just hook into anyone's router and share files.
     
    Gophn, May 14, 2009
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  11. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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    or if you had to *shudder* a hub would work.

    I wonder if people still buy those.
     
    ViciousXUSMC, May 14, 2009
    #11