First Time Installation of Direct Cable Connection

1. Click the Start button in the lower left hand corner of the screen. Click the word Settings that appears on the menu, then click the word Control Panel to open it.
2. Double Click the Add/Remove Programs icon. Across the top of this window are three tabs: Install/Uninstall, Windows Setup, and Startup Disk. Click the Windows Setup tab to view this screen.
3. In the Components: section at the top of the window, highlight the word Communications. Click the Details button in the lower right hand corner of the window.
4. The Communications window appears. In the Components: section, click the box next to Direct Cable Connection and Dial-Up Networking to place a check marks beside these selections. Once these selections are made, click the OK button at the bottom of the screen.
5. Click the OK button at the bottom of the Communications window. Click the OK button on the Add/Remove Programs Properties window. Setup prompts for the correct Windows '95 media to be inserted. Insert the Windows 95 CD disc in the CD-ROM drive and click the OK button.
6. Setup copies the necessary files. A window appears stating that the system settings have been reconfigured. Click the OK button at the bottom of the window. At the System Setting Change window, a message appears prompting you to restart Windows 95. Click the Yes button to restart restart Windows 95. A message appears stating that the Direct Cable Connection is now installed.

File and Print Sharing

1. To allow file transfers, both systems must enable File and Print Sharing. At the Windows 95 desktop, right click the Network Neighborhood icon. Click the word Properties from the pulldown menu.
2. At the Network Properties screen, click the File and Print Sharing button located in the lower center of this window. A File and Print Sharing window appears.
   • Click the box beside I want to be able to give other access to my computer to place a check mark.
   • Click the box beside I want to be able to allow others to print to my printers to place a check mark.
   Once both boxes are selected, click the OK button at the bottom of the window. Click the OK button at the bottom of the Network Properties window for the changes to be made.
3. Click on the Yes button to restart Windows 95.
4. Once the computer has rebooted to Windows 95, double-click the My Computer icon. Right click the (C:) drive icon and click the word Sharing from the pulldown menu.
5. Across the top of the C: drive Properties screen are two tabs: General and Sharing. Click the Sharing tab to view this information. Click the Shared As button. Select the appropriate access type and security. Once this is completed, click the OK button.
6. Repeat steps 1 through 4 on any other computers you wish to access with Direct Cable Connect.

Configuring Direct Cable Connection as a Host

When using Direct Cable Connection, File and Print Sharing must be enabled first.

• Using Infrared Devices - The Infrared lens on the portable should be pointing directly to a Infrared lens on an external desktop module or to another Infrared lens device.
• Using a Cable - Connect the cable to the portable computer and the desktop computer. Note: Both computers must use the same type of port, such as LPT1 or a COM port.

1. Click the Start button in the lower left hand corner of the screen. Click the word Programs, then click the word Accessories. Click Direct Cable Connection to open it.
2. The first Direct Cable Connection screen gives the choices of either Host or Guest. Click the option next to Host to place a bullet beside this selection. Click on the Next button at the bottom of this window.
3. The Direct Cable Connection window re-appears. In the Select the port that is to be used: section, click a communication port for the connection. Click the Next button at the bottom of this window.
4. A Direct Cable Connection screen appears stating that the Host computer has been successfully configured. Click the Finish button to continue. A Direct Cable Connection window appears, providing the status for a quest computer to connect.
   • If you are using an external cable - If the connection is not recognized, shut down the system, reseat the cable and turn the computer back on.
   • If you are using Infrared devices - If the connections is not recognized, make sure the Infrared devices are approximately four to six feet apart. Make sure that the Infrared lens on the portable is pointing directly to the Infrared lens on the external desktop module or to another Infrared lens device.

Configuring Direct Cable Connection as a Guest

When using Direct Cable Connection, File and Print Sharing must be enabled first.

1. Click the Start button in the lower left hand corner of the screen. Click the word Programs, then click the word Accessories. Click Direct Cable Connection to open it.
2. The first Direct Cable Connection screen gives the choices of either Host or Guest. Click the option next to Guest to place a bullet beside this selection. Click the Next button at the bottom of this window.
3. A Direct Cable Connection screen appears stating that the Guest computer has been successfully configured. Click the Finish button to continue. A Direct Cable Connection window appears, providing the status for a host computer to connect.
   • If you are using an external cable - If the connection is not recognized, shut down the system, reseat the cable and turn the computer back on.
   • If you are using Infrared devices - If the connections is not recognized, make sure the Infrared devices are approximately four to six feet apart. Make sure that the Infrared lens on the portable is pointing directly to the Infrared lens on the external desktop module or to another Infrared lens device.
4. A Direct Cable Connection window appears prompting the connection status verifying the userís name and password. Note: If the Direct Cable Connection is unable to show the shared folders, a screen appears prompting for the host cmputer name to be entered. Type the name of the host computer and click the OK button to continue.
5. While a connection is established, the Direct Cable Connection screen provides a View Host button which allows access to the host computer. Click the View Host button.The next window displays the shared folders on the Host computer.

Special Considerations for Connecting the Computers

There are some special considerations as to how the two computers are connected. Various connections are available to use, Infrared, Serial, and Parallel. The same connection must be used on both computers, Infrared to Infrared, serial to serial, or Parallel to Parallel. When deciding what connection to use check the following setup considerations.

Serial to Serial Connection

This connection is made by using the 9 pin connectors on the back of the two computers. It is slower and requires a special cable to link the computers.

On the Gateway portable computers the first serial port is COM 1 by default. COM 1 should be available, unless the configuration has changed or another device, such as a modem, is installed. Check your CMOS settings to see if the serial port is setup to COM 1. If you have a serial mouse or other device that is connected to the serial port, either remove it, or use another connection method.

On a desktop system there are normally two serial ports on the back of the computer, a 9 pin port and a 25 pin port. The use of connectors that convert ports is not recommended. For example a 9 pin serial cable should be connected to the 9 pin serial port. Gateway does not recommended the use of devices that allow the 25 pin connector to be used as a 9 pin connector.

Another consideration should be made for an internal modem on the desktop computer. If a modem is present in the system, it is using a COM port, even if it is not being used. The most common port for the modem would be COM 1. Check the documentation and CMOS settings for verification.

For a Gateway Portable system the CMOS would be as follows:

Serial port A - COM 1

Serial port B - COM 2
Note: Serial port B may be the onboard Infrared Port.

For a Gateway Desktop system the CMOS would be as follows:

Serial port A - Disabled

Serial port B - COM 2
Note: This configuration assumes the internal modem is assigned to COM 1.

Parallel to Parallel Connection

This connection requires a parallel transfer cable connected to the Parallel ports. It is faster than serial transfer but still requires a special cable to connect. Confirm that the cable is a Parallel Transfer Cable and not a Printer Extension Cable by checking the documentation for the cable. Make sure that both ports are enabled in CMOS and Bi-Directonal support is enabled.

Infrared to Infrared Connection

The Infrared connections require special drivers and setup configurations. Refer to the following documents for specific installation instructions:

Installing IR Monitor Drivers for Infrared Devices in Windows for Workgroups on a Gateway Solo 2100.
Installing 32-Bit Infrared Support in Windows 95 on a Gateway Liberty or Gateway Solo System Printing to Other Computers Using Infrared Devices and Direct Cable Connection In Windows 95 How to Install 32-Bit Infrared Support in Windows 95 on a Gateway SoloTM 2100 Series Portable PC

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