[Griffon UK]

a Null cable is literally a serial connection that acts like 2 computers connected via 2 modems  

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Temporal Mechanics

[Ypoknons]

I have heard that a program called Alolha  Bob (spelling? it's Hawaii for hello) is useful for this once you have a cable set up, although Windows XP reportedly  has this feature too...

Since I'm also switching to a new computer, I would like to ask for some advice too... Assuming a LAN is too expensive for the meantime, do those USB cables that link one computer to another work fine? Also, when I do get DSL acess, would I use a LAN or else a USB connection between one computer and another so that both computers can acess the internet? Sorry, I'm fairly new to this...

[Ryx]

Putting the new harddrive in the old system is the easiest way.
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The LAN option is the one i would use, because it's considerably faster than a null-cable (think modem connection). It's also a convinient way to share files. And, of course, share an internet connection.

You can use a cross-over cable, if you are only connecting 2 PCs, or connect the PCs through a hub (or switch). The first is inexpensive, the latter is... not quite inexpensive, but you can connect more than 2 PCs for you home-LAN. Great for Multi-Player.

For the first you will need:
 2 NICs (10/100 Mbps, Full Duplex** if possible)
 1 Cross-over Category 5 UTP cable*
 

And the second:
2 NICs (10/100 Mbps, Full Duplex** if possible)
1 hub (10/100 Mbps), or switch (10/100 Mbps, Full-Duplex**)
2 Straight-Thru Cat. 5 UTP cable

* See Kazan's post if you have to make it yourself.
**Full-Duplex means transmitting and receiving at the same time.

[Vertigo1]

Click here

Hope that helps.    If you can't read the text, I'll be more than willing to type it all out for you.

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"You know you've played Freespace too much when you're driving along trying to use countermeasures to shake off pursuing highway police." - Top Gun

Material Defender Studios

[Nico]

by this time, if you haven't made your transfer, well, none of those ideas will help you  

[Thorn]

Yeah.. I leave the covers off both of my computers right now... I dont have any of the parts screwed in cause I'm always having to take something out...
I also have a huge floor fan next to the case cause I have the thing overclocked like a sonofa*****....
If you do decide to just put the other hard drive in, make sure you change the jumper on it to slave.. or else you'll have two masters and the bois wont know what drive to set as master. It will just ignore them both...

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Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Study hard kids! Be evil!

[Fineus]

Thanks for all the advice guys, The new computer came through and I've managed to shift everything I wanted by pluging the old HD into the new computer and copy/pasting what I wanted. Again - cheers for everyones help, it was all appreciated