Microsoft KB Archive/814981

= How to Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home Edition (PART 1) =

Article ID: 814981

Article Last Modified on 11/5/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

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SUMMARY
This article includes Part 1 of the &quot;Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home Edition&quot; guide. Part 1 provides an introduction to this guide.

Note To view the other topics of the &quot;Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home Edition&quot; guide, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base articles that are listed in the &quot;References&quot; section of this article.

The &quot;Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home Edition&quot; guide includes the following topics:

Part 1. Introduction: Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home Edition

Part 2. Connecting the Cables

Part 3. Setting the Computer Names and Workgroups

Part 4. Sharing Resources

Part 5. Configuring the Direct Cable Connection

Part 6. Configuring TCP/IP

Part 7. Using NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS-Compatible Transport Protocol

Part 8. Connecting the Computers



Part 1. Introduction: Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home Edition
For the occasional exchange of data between a laptop computer and a desktop computer, you do not have to use a whole network. If you use only a direct cable connection and a cable, you create a real network connection that you can quickly create and disconnect.

The direct cable connection is a connection between a guest computer and a host computer. When you use this connection, you can connect two computers to each other.
 * The host computer provides resources such as folders, drives, or even a printer.
 * The guest computer uses the resources that the host computer provides.

Strict task sharing results in a one-way direct cable connection. The resources can only be accessed in one direction. To change the direction, disconnect an existing connection, reassign the tasks, and then reestablish the connection.



The guest computer uses the resources of the host computer.

