I have been given an old dell system and I want to link it to my compaq so that my wife can use it can I do it

Answer 1

If you can fit a 10/100 ethernet card to each (if neither have a built in port) then you can use an ethernet cable to link the two.
Check the rear of each, you are looking what looks like a telephone cable socket, but a little bit bigger, if you do not have one in each machine, you can easily get one/two and fit them in,
If you are stuck, let me know the details of both PC's, and I will check them out and get back to you

Brian
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Answer 2

the only way you can link 2 p.c,s is by a home network,you will both use your own p.c,s but can gain access to files and folders in each others computers
if you are using windows xp there is a set up wizard for this go to start>control panel>network set up wizard and follow the instructions
the hardware you will need is simply a cat 5 ethernet cable,these can be bought from any good computer shop and are around £8 for a 10m length
basically you just have to plug each end in your p.c,s (you will both need a network card,but most p.c,s including dell will have these) and then run the wizard,however if you want to network more than 2 p.c,s you will then need to get a network hub and things start to get a bit more technical
however your wife will omly be able to use the files from the dell and not the actual hardware,she would still be using the compaq to gain access to the dell
there is another way...remote desktop were you can use a different pc to use another one but this would be senseless
why not just connect both your p.c,s to your broadband router and run a seperate internet link
which ever way you choose,networking can be very intresting and save time in transfering files and burning cds
good luck

Answer 3

yes, dont see why not, as long as both have ethernet ports however if your wife wants to use the dell to access the web at the same time as you are on the web then i suggest buying a router, if you connect the dell to the compaq she wont be able to access the web unless your compaq is active aswell.

Answer 4

It really depends on how old the Dell is. It may be too old to network due to processor and memory limitations. Don't run and start buying routers until you determine if your Dell can handle the processing for network useage.

Answer 5

to connect two pc's directly together, you need a crossover cable, which is not just a standard ethernet cable. Once connected you need to "share" the internet connection on the computer that connects to the internet, which will allow them both to use it.

to transfer files you'll also need to share folders or drives on each PC (right click on them and click "sharing")

you'll also need to set them both to be part of the same windows workgroup

once you've done that, they should be able to "see" each other

it's not easy, and normally involves lots and lots of re-booting.

Answer 6

connect them through routers it will make your your compaq master and dell slave in network

Answer 7

Get a router so both you can be online and share files between computers at same time.

Answer 8

You just need an ethernet cable to link the 2...

Answer 9

why do you have to hook it up to the compaq for your wife to use it? you mean network them to send files between them?

Answer 10

don't bother. Women are no good with computers and should especially not be let near the internet. The very thought.