PC to Mac File Transfer

[John Picard]

I bought a Mac Mini back in January of this year to replace my Windows XP PC. The PC is running XP Home Edition, and I'd like to network the two machines together so I can transfer files to the Mini, wipe the PC, and then sell it. The PC does have a built in network port and I have a cable to connect both machines. The problem is that I have not been able to successfully network both machines, estabilish a connection, etc.

Can anyone provide any guidance so I can do this rather than ferrying data from one machine to the other via CD or thumbdrive?

 

[Hermiod]

The cable needs to be a crossover cable, I believe.

 

[Marc]

First make sure you've given the computers and IP address - use 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.1.2 netmask 255.255.255.0 for simplicity sake (unless you have a router in which case their default behaviour is to provide an IP address). Oh and don't worry about the default gateway.

Once you've given both an IP address, test opening a DOS prompt and try to ping the IP address of the othe computer. If you get a response then you're half way home.

Make sure you share the C: on the PC from the top level so you can get in where you need to.

Now on the make go to finder then press the option key and "k" or if on a PC keyboard it's Alt-k i think. This brings up the connect to server option (server being any other computer).

Enter smb://<ip address of windows computer/<share name> which then should connect to the share from the PC after prompting you for your usename and password then.

 

[John Picard]

Really, I need to give it an IP address? OK. And a regular network cable from machine to machine will work, right? I don't have a router.

 

[Marc]

Really, I need to give it an IP address? OK. And a regular network cable from machine to machine will work, right? I don't have a router.

Yep get a crossover cable to be on the safe side.

Well you can see if both machines have gotten an self generated IP address (starting off 169.x.x.x) but this is a Microsoft driven function so may be on the Mac - so give them both IP addresses just to be on the safe side.

 

[John Picard]

Really, I need to give it an IP address? OK. And a regular network cable from machine to machine will work, right? I don't have a router.

Yep get a crossover cable to be on the safe side.

Well you can see if both machines have gotten an self generated IP address (starting off 169.x.x.x) but this is a Microsoft driven function so may be on the Mac - so give them both IP addresses just to be on the safe side.

Thanks. I'll see if I know someone with a crossover cable.

 

[plague]

Thanks. I'll see if I know someone with a crossover cable.

It'll prob be easier to find someone with a switch and a second patch cable.

 

[John Picard]

Thanks. I'll see if I know someone with a crossover cable.

It'll prob be easier to find someone with a switch and a second patch cable.

A co-worker of mine is a complete computer geek (we're both programmers, but unlike me, he continues with the Dweebness at home) and he had a crossover cable he'll loan me.

 

[Candlelight]

Enter smb://<ip address of windows computer/<share name> which then should connect to the share from the PC after prompting you for your usename and password then.

The Share being the name of the C:/ Drive?

Thanks for the tips. Very handy.

 

[Marc]

Enter smb://<ip address of windows computer/<share name> which then should connect to the share from the PC after prompting you for your usename and password then.

The Share being the name of the C:/ Drive?

Thanks for the tips. Very handy.

correct.

You can also use c$ as the sharename which should give you full access to the drive but only if the account you connect with has administrator access.

just a point to note because I had to check - when you deal with directories and shares under windows it's \ but when you're dealing with the same from OS X due to it's Unix base it's /.

 

[JustAFriend]

Step #1: Learn to use a search engine.

Going to Yahoo or Google and typing in "how to setup a mac to pc network" give you THIS

Good golly, tons of pages with instructions, pictures and even videos. Imagine that....

 

[John Picard]

Step #1: Learn to use a search engine.

Going to Yahoo or Google and typing in "how to setup a mac to pc network" give you THIS

Good golly, tons of pages with instructions, pictures and even videos. Imagine that....

No kidding? Geez, you're amazing. I did all that, but there's a certain element to getting feedback and tips from people who have actually performed the process in question and will answer questions.

 

[hyzmarca]

It's easy to make a crossover cable. The only thing you need is a length of cable, a couple of fresh connectors, and a crimping tool, Wire one end as T568A and the other as T568B.

However, the crosover cable probably isn't necessary. Modern network adapters have a feature known as Auto-MDIX, or Automatic Crossover. So long as both network adapters use the 1000BASE-T standard, it should be fine no matter what cable you use.

 

[TEH BABA]

Please use Fat16 to for pc settings vista loves it.

 

[Marc]

However, the crosover cable probably isn't necessary. Modern network adapters have a feature known as Auto-MDIX, or Automatic Crossover. So long as both network adapters use the 1000BASE-T standard, it should be fine no matter what cable you use.

I thought that auto-midx might be the case but wasn't sure (I've never actually connected two computer with a single cable - I've always used a switch).

But is auto-midx only available on Gigabit connections or also on 100Mbit connections as well?

 

[hyzmarca]

It may be present on 10/100BASE-T adapters. It depends.