Direct cable connections with Windows 95 and 98

Using PowerSync® with Microsoft Windows 95 or 98 Direct Cable Connect
PowerSync can be used to synchronize between two Windows 95/98 based PCs using the Microsoft Windows 95/98 Direct Cable Connect feature. Usually the synchronization takes place between a desktop and laptop PC.

Here is basically what is required to make the connection.

• You must have Windows 95/98 and it’s Direct Cable Connect Feature installed on both PCs.
• You need a 6 to 10 foot, male to male, DM25 to DM25, LapLink compatible cable. Note that this is not the same as a parallel cable used to connect your printer.
• Once the Direct Cable Connect Feature and the proper parallel cable are installed, you establish a network connection between the two PCs following the instructions given below.
• PowerSync can then used to synchronize your data between the two PCs.
• Once you have made the initial installation and setup, re-establishing the connection is relatively easy.

We have tried to give you a roadmap to help you get set up. Please consult your Windows 95 documentation on how to establish a Direct Cable Connection if you run into difficulties.

Establishing a direct cable connection the first time:

First: Set up the cable connection

1. Turn off both PCs.
2. Connect the laplink compatible parallel cable to the LPT1 port on each PC.
3. Turn on both PCs.

Second: Set up the Win 95 Direct Cable Connect feature

1. Click the Win 95/98 Start button, then point to Programs
2. Point to Accessories, and then click Direct Cable Connection
3. Follow the instructions on the screen. Select the desktop PC to be the Host/Server
   and select the laptop PC to be the client. On this connection the Host PC will "listen"
   for the client PC.
   However, if you do not see Direct Cable Connection in your Accessories menu, then it is not installed. Installing this feature is probably the trickiest part of this setup process. You now must install this Windows component:
4. Click the Start button, then point to Settings and double click on Add/Remove Programs
5. Select the Windows Setup tab
6. Click on the Communications check box
7. Highlight Communications and click on the Details… button
8. Click the Direct Cable Connection check box
9. Now click OK and you will be prompted to insert a Windows 95 disk.
10. Just follow the instructions to complete the installation of your Direct Cable Connection component.
11. Go back to Step 1 above and repeat steps 1, 2 & 3

Third: Use Windows 95/98 to establish the network connection

Step 1 On the desktop PC the Folders to be shared for synchronization must be designated as "Shared Folders"

To share a folder:

1. Open up Windows Explorer
2. Highlight folder to share
3. Select File_Properties
4. Click Sharing tab
5. Click on radio button labeled "Shared As"
6. Choose full access

Step 2 Use the Windows 95/98 disk mapping feature (My Computer, File_Properties) to map the desktop’s disk to the laptop PC.

To map a drive letter to a network computer or folder:

1. In "My Computer" or "Network Neighborhood", click * disk icon on the toolbar
2. Click on the Path box and then type the path or select the correct path
3. Click on "Reconnect at Logon"

Third: Install and use PowerSync

Step 1 Install PowerSync on the laptop PC.
Step 2 Launch and use PowerSync

To re-establish a direct connection once you have installed it:

1. On the host/desktop computer, click the Start button, and then point to Programs
2. Point to Accessories, and then click Direct Cable Connection
3. Click Listen
4. Move to the guest/Laptop computer, and then repeat steps 1 & 2
5. Click Connect
6. Launch and use PowerSync

Like most things, its much easier the second time around.