Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

SimeyTheLimey · Dec 29, 2002, 03:55 PM

OK, I switched almost a year ago.

Sitting under my desk taking up space is my old Windows 95 box. It has a bunch of files on it which i would like to transfer over to my Mac. Is this something a non-technically smart person can easily do? Or should I just break out the floppies and e-mail my documents from a friend's PC?

I have done some searches here, but none indicate if I can link the Mac to a Win 95 box. Most refer to less archaic MS OSs. A lot of the other posts I just don't understand. Either they refer to things beyond my level, or they are terse to the point of uselessness. I'm looking for a generous soul who wouldn't mind giving me step-by-step instructions to a near idiot.

Hardware-wise, the Win 95 box does have an ethernet card. Would I need a crossover cable? Software-wise I'm running 10.2.3 on the Mac. Of course, I'm only looking for one way transfer. I don't care about two way connectivity.

Thanks!

OreoCookie · Dec 29, 2002, 05:59 PM

For a technically non-smart person, I think the easiest way to do it is an ethernet cross cable. If you do have a PowerMac and you feel safe using a screw driver, I'd put the old harddisk in your Mac and copy it.

Other than that, the cross cable would be the easiest way. Assuming that your PC automatically selects its own IP address, you basically have to share your whole drive (I assume it's called c

. Connect the cable and in the MacOS X Finder choose �Go To > Connect To Server'. After a while your windows share should appear. Mount it on the desktop and copy all the stuff you need to a location on your Mac drive. (I'd copy the whole drive, assuming it is small compared to your Mac drive.)

CyberGreg · Dec 29, 2002, 06:23 PM

Easy.... here's how:

Items you'll need:
* One cross-over cable OR an ethernet hub and two patch cords.
* Your Windows 95 CD.

1. Connect the two computers via the ethernet cable (again cross-over or hub/patch).
2. Set the IP addresses as follows:
Mac 192.168.1.1 mask 255.255.255.0
PC 192.168.1.2 mask 255.255.255.0
(let me know if you need help with configuring the PC).
3. On the Win 95 PC, turn on (install) file and printer sharing. You'll have to reboot after you do this. Oh and make sure the TCP/IP protocol is loaded (it's not installed by default).
4. Right-click over your "C:" drive and choose sharing. Set it to share and give it a simple name like Drive_C
5. To make sure you have a working connection, open a DOS prompt and type ping 192.168.1.1 and press enter. It will list 4 entries if its working.

If all is well, go to your Mac and choose the Connect to Server menu under Go and just type in the 192.168.1.2 address and choose connect. With any luck you'll see a dialog box with the Drive_C share and you'll be able to mount it on your desktop.

Good luck

SimeyTheLimey · Dec 30, 2002, 08:05 AM

Thanks very much!

OreoCookie · Dec 30, 2002, 02:02 PM

Did it work out?

j45degrees · Dec 30, 2002, 02:23 PM

This might be a dumb question; does this work the same with Windows 98?

SimeyTheLimey · Dec 30, 2002, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by OreoCookie:
Did it work out?

I haven't been able to try yet because a. I have misplaced my Win 95 disc. I think it is at my Sister's and it will be a while before I see her. And, b. I haven't picked up the cable yet.

I could borrow a Win 95 disc. Can it be any one, or does it have to have the same serial number as the one that installed the OS on my particular machine?

In the mean time. I did transfer most of the files I was worried about using a floppies to another PC and then sending them to the mac via e-mail (thank you broadband!). It was a pretty silly way to do it, but cheap.

CyberGreg · Dec 30, 2002, 03:29 PM

Originally posted by SimeyTheLimey:
I haven't been able to try yet because a. I have misplaced my Win 95 disc. I think it is at my Sister's and it will be a while before I see her. And, b. I haven't picked up the cable yet.

I could borrow a Win 95 disc. Can it be any one, or does it have to have the same serial number as the one that installed the OS on my particular machine?

In the mean time. I did transfer most of the files I was worried about using a floppies to another PC and then sending them to the mac via e-mail (thank you broadband!). It was a pretty silly way to do it, but cheap.

Yes, any Win95 CD will work, you may not need it but most likely when you choose to "install" or turn on File and Printer sharing, your PC will ask for the Win95 CD. I was just trying to save you some frustration (hmm isn't that why we use Mac's!)

PS To the other question, yes it it the same for Win98, except that Win98 by default installs TCP/IP so you probably wouldn't have to install.

SimeyTheLimey · Dec 30, 2002, 03:45 PM

Originally posted by CyberGreg:
Yes, any Win95 CD will work, you may not need it but most likely when you choose to "install" or turn on File and Printer sharing, your PC will ask for the Win95 CD. I was just trying to save you some frustration (hmm isn't that why we use Mac's!)

Very cool. Thank you. Now all I need is the cable. Then I can get the last of my files and retire the PC!

ghporter · Jan 1, 2003, 02:09 PM

Originally posted by j45degrees:
This might be a dumb question; does this work the same with Windows 98?

Actually, it's simpler with a 98 machine, since networking is already built in. You probably will be asked for your install disk when you save the setting changes in the 98 box, but it is a lot smoother than networking a 95 machine.

designbc · Feb 17, 2003, 09:22 AM

I'm having the same questions, but my PC runs Windows 2000. I tried Connect to Server menu under Go and my Mac (1G Ti PB) could find the PC, but gave me error (Error -50), then I restarted my Mac, it spent some time "checking network propierties" or something like that and after that, it doesn't even detect the PC. Should I enable/disable anything?
Please help!

vmarks · Feb 17, 2003, 08:44 PM

you don't HAVE to have tcp/ip on the windows machine- Apple Connect to Server understands MS Netbios file sharing.

This makes it easy for simey to do it without the windows cd if he already has netbeui/netbios already set up in the network control panel.

Don't put a windows password and user in if you don't need to when connecting from the mac.

You only have to use the password if you put password authentication on your shared points on the windows machine.

CyberGreg · Feb 18, 2003, 05:07 AM

Originally posted by designbc:
I'm having the same questions, but my PC runs Windows 2000. I tried Connect to Server menu under Go and my Mac (1G Ti PB) could find the PC, but gave me error (Error -50), then I restarted my Mac, it spent some time "checking network propierties" or something like that and after that, it doesn't even detect the PC. Should I enable/disable anything?
Please help!

A couple of things for Win2k:

1. TCP/IP is loaded but set to DHCP by default.
2. Win2k is much more secure, you have to either setup sharing permissions for Everyone with full control or create a user. If you login as Administrator, you can also use that account / password if need be.

You didn't say what type of connection you were using, cross-over cable, hub, router? Are both computers set for Internet access?

Here's what you can do:
* Set the PC to 192.168.1.1, mask 255.255.255.0
* Set your Mac to 192.168.1.2, mask 255.255.255.0 (it sounds from your description of the restart, your Mac is set to DHCP)
* Right-click over the "C:" drive (Open My Computer) and choose sharing. Again set it to either Everyone and full control (this should be the default).
* Connect to... from your Mac, type in 192.168.1.1

Good luck, feel free to email me or repost if you need more help.

christ · Feb 18, 2003, 07:01 AM

With MacOS X 10.0 thru 10.2.1, I couldn't get SMB browsing to work, with 10.2.3 and 10.2.4 (I can't remember about 10.2.2) I can.

If browsing doesn't work, then after 'Connect to Server' then type:

"smb://<workgroup>;<PC Name>/<sharename>"

Workgroup is the bit that is easy to miss, as it is not a concept with which most mac users are familiar - It often defaults to 'WORKGROUP'.

PC Name can be replaced by IP Address.

The default sharename for the Shared Documents folder on XP (I don't have an earlier windows to check) is 'Shareddocs'.

If successful, this will bring up a dialogue box in which you have to fill in the workgroup, username and password. (if unsuccessful, you get a -50 error)

This seemed to work consistently for me, until I upgraded to 10.2.3 (& then 4) in which browsing works perfectly.

YMMV

designbc · Feb 19, 2003, 12:14 PM

Originally posted by CyberGreg:
A couple of things for Win2k:

1. TCP/IP is loaded but set to DHCP by default.
2. Win2k is much more secure, you have to either setup sharing permissions for Everyone with full control or create a user. If you login as Administrator, you can also use that account / password if need be.

You didn't say what type of connection you were using, cross-over cable, hub, router? Are both computers set for Internet access?

Here's what you can do:
* Set the PC to 192.168.1.1, mask 255.255.255.0
* Set your Mac to 192.168.1.2, mask 255.255.255.0 (it sounds from your description of the restart, your Mac is set to DHCP)
* Right-click over the "C:" drive (Open My Computer) and choose sharing. Again set it to either Everyone and full control (this should be the default).
* Connect to... from your Mac, type in 192.168.1.1

Good luck, feel free to email me or repost if you need more help.

Thanks CyberGreg:
I did as you seggested and everything worked perfect. I have the 2 computers connected with a cable. I have DSL Internet access via USB in the PC and I could even share the connection and browse the net from the Mac.
Now I have a new question: If I install a router, connect the DSL to it and then to the 2 computers, everything is gonna work the same? Both computers will access the net and will have access to each other?
Thanks again

Frank

CyberGreg · Feb 19, 2003, 04:57 PM

Originally posted by designbc:
Thanks CyberGreg:
I did as you seggested and everything worked perfect. I have the 2 computers connected with a cable. I have DSL Internet access via USB in the PC and I could even share the connection and browse the net from the Mac.
Now I have a new question: If I install a router, connect the DSL to it and then to the 2 computers, everything is gonna work the same? Both computers will access the net and will have access to each other?
Thanks again

Frank

Glad I could help Frank,

Once you get your router installed and configured with your DSL account information, about the only change is to the IP addresses.

1. If your router is set to run DHCP (which nearly all of them do) then reset your PC and Mac to obtain IP address from DHCP server. You'd want to restart the PC (easy way to obtain a new IP address) and for your Mac just apply the changes in the network configuration.
2. If you want to keep the "fixed" IP addresses, make sure the router is something like 192.168.1.1 (or 192.168.1.100). Then on the PC set the default gateway and on the Mac set the Router setting to 192.168.1.1 (or 192.168.1.100, the routers IP address).

Just a note, check your routers documentation, many use 192.168.1.1 (my LinkSys does) as a default address. If that's the case, simply set your PC to 192.168.1.3 so you won't have a conflict. If your router uses 192.168.0.1 then you should set your Mac's IP to 192.168.0.2 to configure it.

Good luck