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Connect Two Computers Using USB Cable?

Anonymous
2016-03-07T00:31:52+00:00

Split from this thread.

What and where is the 'front knob'?

Is it possible to connect two computers  with a double-ended usb cable, one computer is the primary unit while the other is used essentially like a connected external hard drive? (I've got too much stuff on my old computer I don't want to lose and it's getting messy trying to transfer it all over to an actual ex. hard drive or the new 'puter. Also the old one has Vista so it's no longer useful for internet.)  Thx! :)

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. LemP 74,925 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2016-03-07T00:30:58+00:00

    @ Tazzi2

    You've responded to a 5-year-old thread and your question is completely different from the one originally asked.

    By "front knob" TrekDozer most likely meant a control on the monitor (which might be a knob on the front of the monitor, a switch on the side of the monitor, an on-screen menu, or some other means of switching the monitor's input).

    If all you want is the ability to access "stuff" on your old computer (rather than use any programs installed on that computer), just take the hard drive out, put it in a USB (or eSATA) enclosure, and use it just like your existing external hard drive.  Or if your new computer has a spare internal drive bay, put it in there (you would probably want to delete the Windows folder from the old drive after installing it in the external enclosure or secondary drive bay).

    You can connect two computers with a double-ended USB cable -- as long as you use the correct cable.

    In fact, if you use an A/A USB cable, you can burn the USB ports of your computers or

    even their power supplies. So, these A/A USB cables are completely useless. A/B USB

    cables are used to connect your computer to peripherals such as printers and scanners,

    so they also won’t meet your needs.

    Read more at http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/connecting-two-pcs-using-a-usb-usb-cable/#sPFMDLwwcx6AjhuA.99

    Given that it's highly likely that both of your computers have network adapters, it would be simpler to use a router and connect both computers to the router, either by wire or wireless. 

    If all your hardware is Gigabit Ethernet capable, transfer over the LAN would be faster than USB 2.0; otherwise it would be slower. 

    Wireless-N would be almost as fast as USB 2.0 and Wireless AC faster. 

    AFAIK, USB 3.0 bridge cables are not available.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-03-07T06:27:56+00:00

    Tazzi,

    You can also connect two computers using an Ethernet cable without bothering with a router.

    See  A step-by-step procedure for creating a two-computer Ethernet cable network between Windows 7 & Windows XP Pro with ICS [a Vista user has confirmed that the procedure also works for that OS].

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-03-09T03:38:35+00:00

    Nice research, LemP, many thx! :)

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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