USB to USB cable help please

weejenny

I have been politely asked to buy a USB to USB cable as a Christmas present.

Is this so a laptop and desktop can be joined to move files quickly?
If so can someone direct me to a site selling these and tell me exactly what are they called.

If this is not possible tell me an alternative cable that I could buy providing it’s not too expensive.
Thanks in advance

totalsolutions

1 metre Cat5e CROSS OVER cable, a few quid or make your own. You cannot use a USB cable the power in the two units would cause a serious problem connecting them together.

friendly IT guy at work, Maplins, B&Q, pound shop, etc postage would be more than the cable.

5bellies_2

weejenny wrote: »

I have been politely asked to buy a USB to USB cable as a Christmas present.

Is this so a laptop and desktop can be joined to move files quickly?
If so can someone direct me to a site selling these and tell me exactly what are they called.

If this is not possible tell me an alternative cable that I could buy providing it’s not too expensive.
Thanks in advance

By the fact you ask the 'is this' question, I think you need to determine exactly what you need to buy, and what it is for.

What the other respondent is thinking you're asking - what is known as an A-A cable - will blow things to high heaven ... under the wrong circumstances. There are a number of devices that do use an A-A cable, but it is a minority cable on the gerneral scheme of things.

There are two main types of USB connection A and B. A (rectangular, with one half blocked off inside) connects into the PC, B (square-ish, with a hole in the centre) connects into the printer/scanner etc.

There are other cables that specifically connect to certain devices (mini-B etc) but they are not - to the best of my knowledge - available at all as end-to-end cable.

If it is for file transfer you need a USB transfer cable, which is an A-A cable with a box of tricks in the middle and a software disc that enables two PCs to transfer files. It is - generally - slower than the already advised Ethernet cable but not all older PCs have Ethernet ports. Ebuyer, Amazon, and Ebay have those available, search for 'USB transfer' and then ask if in doubt.

whiskywhisky

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Laptop-to-PC-USB-2-0-Data-Link-Network-Cable_W0QQitemZ200275791758QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_Laptop_Accessories_LaptopCables_Connectors?hash=item200275791758&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1300%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

espresso

whiskywhisky wrote: »

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Laptop-to-PC-USB-2-0-Data-Link-Network-Cable_W0QQitemZ200275791758QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_Laptop_Accessories_LaptopCables_Connectors?hash=item200275791758&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1300%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

This is MSE. Why pay £11.68 when an Ethernet crossover cable for £1 would easily do the job?

weejenny

Espresso
The cable Whiskeywhiskey suggests looks as though it would do the job just dandy but as a MSE I'd be happy with the cheaper option as long as it would work OK. Do you or totalsolutions use the Cat5e CROSS OVER cable suggested for the purpose intended.

lee634

loaner wrote: »

If they have a laptop, and a desktop, they probably have a wireless router, in which case they don't need any cable to transfer files.

This is presumption, need to know what the cable is for first

totalsolutions

Hi I do indeed use cat5 cable between several PC's the slight difference I /others would do is use the straight through style of cable to a router/switch/hub. Any PC's can connect by cable (cheap,fast and secure) or by wireless (costs more,less secure, less than half the speed of cable)

note to think about
If you need to connect more than two PC's together you would "daisy chain" them (one cable in and one out), there is only one network socket on the PC, so the way to do it it to cable to a multi output "HUB" then connect as many as you need allowing just one cable run to each PC and all talk to each other and have internet access at the same time - cool.

Linbox

weejenny wrote: »

Espresso
The cable Whiskeywhiskey suggests looks as though it would do the job just dandy but as a MSE I'd be happy with the cheaper option as long as it would work OK. Do you or totalsolutions use the Cat5e CROSS OVER cable suggested for the purpose intended.

Both are totally correct Cat5e CROSS OVER cable is the way to go. Last resort PCworld do them - made by Belkin

Sput2001

If only members of my family would be happy with an ethernet cable for christmas!

PZH

totalsolutions wrote: »

...If you need to connect more than two PC's together you would "daisy chain" them (one cable in and one out), there is only one network socket on the PC, so the way to do it it to cable to a multi output "HUB" then connect as many as you need allowing just one cable run to each PC and all talk to each other and have internet access at the same time - cool.

I personally would go down this route - it allows for future expansion very easily. How many times have you bought hardware and wished that we had gone for the next product up in the first place...