Networking DOS PC's

Hi,

I would like to network 2 DOS PC's so that I can transfer the files from one to the other. They would be connected via a router (as there are Windows XP PC's on the network).

Both PC's have LAN ports, and are currently connecting via a serial port . How would I go about connecting the two PC's to the network, so I can access the files like I would in Windows (eg I type \\mypc into explorer and I can see all the shared folders).

Thanks, Thomas

 

To get networking in DOS, you'll need the MS-DOS Networking utility. Look at this.
The only thing you need is the installation disk of Windows 2000 or XP and a floppy disk.

 

Hmmm I have Windows 2000 and XP discs, but I couldn't find the files necessary. I don't have the NT 4.0 Discs as the article mentions.

I've installed the Microsoft Network Client Version 3.0, installed TCP/IP Protocols etc... I think it's connected to my network (it shows up in the router settings, and can be pinged from an XP PC). However, I cannot access the files on the DOS PC, nor access shared directories on an XP PC. I will try and obtain the files required for the link you sent me tomorrow. Thanks, Thomas

 

I've got it sorted now! For anyone who is interested, here is how to view files on another PC from a DOS PC, and also view files from another XP that are on a DOS PC.

Setup LAN Network in DOS 6.22 by Thomas Wormald

1. You will need 2 files from Microsoft, called DSK3-1.EXE and DSK3-2.EXE. They should fit on a 1.38mb floppy. Copy these onto the DOS partition (in a folder called network) and run them from within DOS. They will extract some files. You will also need to DOS Drivers (Windows For Workgroups 3.11 drivers seem to work also) for your network card. A good place to try is the manufacturers site,or driverguide.com
2. Run setup in the folder which you extracted all the files to.
3. Press Enter to setup the network client
4. Allow setup to place the files in c:\net
** If you get an error stating setup has run out of memory, the only workaround I have found is to re-install DOS. It seems to happen when setup has already been run once. **
5. Select Network adapter not shown below, enter the path where your drivers are located, and then select the network adapter.
6. Allow setup to setup for best performance.
7. Enter a name for the PC on the network.
8. Go up to ‘change names’, change the workgroup name to whatever your workgroup is (at Lords, I think it was MSHOME). Leave all other fields and press enter.
9. Go to change setup options, change the top option to use basic redirector, and then accept all the other settings.
10. Go to change network configuration. Use tab to get to the top section, move down to NWLink IPX Compatible Transport, tab to the other section, and press remove. Choose Microsoft TCP/IP. Press Network configuration is correct.
11. Select the listed options are correct. If asked to specify the location of the OEM Driver disk, make sure it’s C:\Network, where the files were extracted to earlier.
12. Allow the PC to reboot. You should notice that things appear which are to do with TCP/IP. Press enter twice (allowing blank username and password). Press N and Enter to not set a password.
13. Go to the directory c:\Net. Type in ‘net’. Use tab to move to browse, press enter, and allow the PC to search the network. Fingers crossed it should find all the PC’s in the workgroup specified. No luck? Me neither, it worked last time! If it fails to find the PC’s, I find if you type the location of the PC in (not in the browse screen), press enter and press connect. If there are no errors then you should be ok! The path to my laptop was \\Acer5050\Shared, where shared was a folder that is allowed to be viewed on my network. Press escape, and try and get into the drive the network share was allocated. It works for me! I can modify (delete) files with no problems.

Setting Up File Sharing on the DOS PC by Thomas Wormald

This tutorial assumes you have followed the Setup LAN Network tutorial already.
1. You will need a file from Microsoft called WG1049.exe, place this file in the C:\NET folder on the DOS PC.
2. Run the file, and allow it to overwrite any files.
3. Type: net share sharedstuff=c:\files /FULL , where sharedstuff is the share name, and c:\files is the directory you wish to share (I am unsure if C:\ can be shared).
4. Edit Autoexec.bat in the root, add to the bottom:
C:\DOS\SHARE.EXE
C:\NET\NET START SERVER
C:\NET\ NET SHARE
5. Save, go into c:\net, and edit system.ini so that filesharing and printersharing = yes.
6. Reboot.
7. Move to the Windows PC (presuming you want to access the files from Windows XP). Go to Start Menu, Run, type CMD and press ok. In the CMD box that opens, type:

NET USE Q: \\PCName\ShareName

Where ‘PCName’ is the name you assigned to DOS PC, and ShareName is the name which you assigned to the files you want to share, if you used the same as this tutorial, the sharename would be sharedstuff. Also, Q: is the drive letter you wish to assign to the shared files.
8. Quit the CMD Box, in my computer now there should be a new network drive. In there are your shared files.