Microsoft KB Archive/814987

= How to Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home Edition (PART 7) =

Article ID: 814987

Article Last Modified on 8/5/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

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SUMMARY
This article includes Part 7 of the &quot;Configure a Direct Cable Connection with Windows XP Home Edition&quot; guide. Part 7 describes how to use NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS compatible transport protocol.

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 7. Using NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS-Compatible Transport Protocol
If you just want to connect two Windows XP computers, you do not have to use the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol. However, you can use it if you want to.

However, if a Windows 98-based, a Windows 98 Second Edition-based, or a Windows Millennium Edition-based computer is involved, a second protocol is worthwhile, especially if you want this computer to have Internet access. Otherwise, you may have to constantly reconfigure because only one TCP/IP instance exists for the dial-up adapter.
 * For the Internet: automatic IP address, Client for Microsoft Networks and file and printer sharing disabled
 * For direct cable connection: automatic or fixed IP address, Client for Microsoft Networks and file and printer sharing enabled

In this case, a second protocol provides more convenience. You can then optimize TCP/IP for the Internet and configure the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol for the direct cable connection.

By default, the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol is not installed. However, you can install it now on the host computer and the guest computer.

Host Computer
 Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Network Connections. Right-click Incoming connections, and then click Properties.



 Click the Networking tab, and then click Install.



 Click Protocol, and then click Add.



 Click NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol, and then click OK.





 If the direct cable connection occurs only over the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol, you can disable the TCP/IP protocol. To do so, click to clear the corresponding check box, and then click Close. Optimize your other network connections. Disable NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol here and disable the Client for Microsoft Networks and file and printer sharing wherever appropriate. The entries are under Properties for each connection.

Here are two examples:









</li> Restart your computer.</li></ol>

Guest Computer
Follow the same steps on the guest computer: <ol> Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Network Connections.</li> Right-click your connection to the host, and then click Properties.</li> Follow the same installation steps as on the host computer.



</li> Later, you can use the NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol to connect.</li></ol>

The configuration process on a Windows 98-based, a Windows 98 Second Edition-based, or a Windows Millennium Edition based computer is very similar. For more detailed information, see a step-by-step guide for the older Windows versions.

However, you must also enable NWLink IPX/SPX/NetBIOS Compatible Transport Protocol. If you do not, you will establish a connection, but you cannot display the resources. <ol> Look under the installed network components for the IPX/SPX entry for the dial-up adapter, and then click Properties.



</li> Click the NetBIOS tab.</li></ol>



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