how do i do this

[tumbleweedldc]

Hello,
i have been given a project by my brother in law !! he wants to use his laptop as his main pc which needs to be connected to ntl cable,he then wants to connect a desktop pc to the laptop he wants to use the desktop for storage thats all so no internet conection is required but his old printer/scanner combo will need to be connected to the old desktop as it only has a parallel lead on the printer and the laptop doesn`t have a parallel port can the printer /scanner then be used by the laptop? sorry for the roundabout way i have told it but its confused me big time,hope you can help
thanks

 

[Fensta]

Hi.

You may need a router to do this easily. You can still limit the desktop PCs ability to connect to the internet.

The other way would be to join the laptop and desktop via a crossover ethernet cable, but I would imagine that the Laptop will connect to the NTL modem with a Ethernet cable.

So, two ways there. Router, plug laptop to router, plug desktop to router and remove dekstops ability to connect to the internet. Set up the home network wizard and turn on file and print sharing on the desktop PC. Dont think you can share a scanner. Also, the desktop machine will have to be on in order to share files or print.

This seems a really complicated way to do things. You might be better whipping the drive out of the desktop machine and putting it in to an external USB caddy that the laptop can power. In addition, get a parallel port to USB converter. Then the laptop can do everthing without the need for the desktop.

 

[oddjob62]

can the printer /scanner then be used by the laptop?

The printer facilities can usually be shared to other PCs on the network, but scanners often can't unless they are nice and £££

 

[tumbleweedldc]

thanks

Thanks for the quick responses tried to tell him to use a ext hard drive and get a adapter cable but there you go looks like a router then thanks a lot for that