No -- that was never the purpose of USB.

I'm learning some about all the protocols and what not, but still don't get why not. If my PC can TX an mp3 file to a player, why can't a program, on 1 or both PC's, say, ok just go ahead and TX, and the other to do nothing, except listen.

I remember something about how the clock signal used (or not) is not like how a simple 555 timer running 2 chips would work. Is that type of issue's?

 

I'm learning some about all the protocols and what not, but still don't get why not. If my PC can TX an mp3 file to a player, why can't a program, on 1 or both PC's, say, ok just go ahead and TX, and the other to do nothing, except listen.

I remember something about how the clock signal used (or not) is not like how a simple 555 timer running 2 chips would work. Is that type of issue's?

It has to do with the internals of the protocol. Windows in particular makes certain assumptions about the properties of the devices it is negotiating with. It is not prepared for other boxes running Windows to ask it what kind of device it is because -- in the protocol -- there is no appropriate answer. Read the USB specification if this concept is beyond your understanding.

 

I can't belive in 2020 that PC's still can't be easily hooked up just like OP said, with a USB cable. Shouldn't it be trivial to write a program, that does this ? Shouldn't there be freeware, and professional products for this ?

There is. Apparently it is part of windows. See post #4.

 

There is. Apparently it is part of windows. See post #4.

I guess somebody will have to get a USB-A to USB_A cable and try it. On the link it wouldn't let me get past step 2, so what is the rest of the procedure.

PS -- I consider it rude to post links to sites that throw up obstacles to getting and evaluating information that want you to subscribe or allow advertising.

 

I guess somebody will have to get a USB-A to USB_A cable and try it. On the link it wouldn't let me get past step 2, so what is the rest of the procedure.

PS -- I consider it rude to post links to sites that throw up obstacles to getting and evaluating information that want you to subscribe or allow advertising.

It doesn't complain when I go there.

 

Can I just use a USB cable(s) from the main unit to the tower?

No. Not a standard USB cable anyway. There is a USB cable called “bridged” (or “USB networking cable”), because it has a small electronic circuit in the middle allowing the two PCs to talk to each other. This results in a simple two computer peer to peer network. You can also network two computers using a simple Ethernet cable or Ethernet Crossover Cable. Depends on each OS (Operating System). Newer software will recognize the cable used as standard or crossover negating need for a crossover cable. This is also a peer to peer network. I suggest you Google both. Finally two computers can also be networked (really old stuff) using RS 232 ports if the computers even have them. Any of these methods give the same results but the operating systems need to be set up for networking and from there you enable file sharing and permissions. Anyway those are a few options and only two systems. Toss in a simple wireless router and there are dozens of possibilities.

Ron

 

I’ve done networking over FireWire, which also supported “target disk mode” on Macs. It was a handy tool where you could boot a Mac in TDM and get at its hard drive over the fast FireWire interface.

Modern USB3 should have enough bandwidth to be practical so I’d be surprised if there’s not a solution out there. USB 1 would be a waste of time and I suspect USB 2 would not be better than Ethernet.

 

It doesn't complain when I go there.

Do you have an adblocker? I think that not having one might be the reason.

 

No. Not a standard USB cable anyway. There is a USB cable called “bridged” (or “USB networking cable”), because it has a small electronic circuit in the middle allowing the two PCs to talk to each other. This results in a simple two computer peer to peer network. You can also network two computers using a simple Ethernet cable or Ethernet Crossover Cable. Depends on each OS (Operating System). Newer software will recognize the cable used as standard or crossover negating need for a crossover cable. This is also a peer to peer network. I suggest you Google both. Finally two computers can also be networked (really old stuff) using RS 232 ports if the computers even have them. Any of these methods give the same results but the operating systems need to be set up for networking and from there you enable file sharing and permissions. Anyway those are a few options and only two systems. Toss in a simple wireless router and there are dozens of possibilities.

Ron

Actually a cellphone can be used to connect two computers together. It works pretty well actually.

 

Actually a cellphone can be used to connect two computers together. It works pretty well actually.

Does that assume both computers have wireless capability?

Ron

 

Does that assume both computers have wireless capability?

Ron

Yes it does, but wireless routers have been around for about a decade so it does not appear to be an onerous requirement.

 

Yes it does, but wireless routers have been around for about a decade so it does not appear to be an onerous requirement.

Yeah absolutely. Reading the thread starter's first post I had a feeling we were not quite savvy, computer literate or quite state of the art. Hell if both computers have wireless capability use a router. That or connect them through anything including a cell phone. I assumed, maybe wrongly, anything wireless was out since this began with wired. Beats me? I have a pile of old Linksys WRT 54G stuff lying around. While I don't know why the thread starter began with wired solutions that is what I tried to address. I did mention...

Toss in a simple wireless router and there are dozens of possibilities.

So what does the thread starter have?

Ron

 

Yeah absolutely. Reading the thread starter's first post I had a feeling we were not quite savvy, computer literate or quite state of the art. Hell if both computers have wireless capability use a router. That or connect them through anything including a cell phone. I assumed, maybe wrongly, anything wireless was out since this began with wired. Beats me? I have a pile of old Linksys WRT 54G stuff lying around. While I don't know why the thread starter began with wired solutions that is what I tried to address. I did mention...


So what does the thread starter have?

Ron

He did not specify in sufficient detail to answer the question. He did not specify the vintage of either "the Tower" or his current main machine. Only the hard drives which may be older than the hills without mentioning their interface.

 

You can use USB to connect and backup two computers. If you find the right cable that satisfies the protocol. And you have the right USB interfaces in both systems. And you obtain and learn the software.

But it’s not easy because that’s not what USB was designed for.

Most backup and sync solutions were designed to be performed over a network connection. A NAS server, or a network share for example.

And you can optimize the speed to be real-time. Use a fiber NIC. Use high-speed caching. Separate software to reside on ONLY one machine (and mirror the drives). With a fiber connection, store ALL data on a clustered/mirrored machine. Use an online backup utility to back up your data drive and system/software drive.

This will be pretty bulletproof.

 

If I remember correctly, maintaining a spare network computer as a backup was a real PITA.

At one time I was using both a networked backup machine and a direct connected PC...good riddance to both.

It's actually really easy. I have a setup like this now and it works seamlessly.

 

Never said it didn't work, one of the things that annoyed me was WU on the backup PC.

Always having to start the PC to do a backup was also annoying, especially when the backup PC was upstairs in a secured area, that needed to be un-alarmed and un-locked.

And NO I wasn't about to leave it on at all times.

And there were different issues with my shop PCs, that was always giving me grief, but I can't remember those. (the two that were direct connected)

Like I said...good riddance. USB drives are a godsend.

 

I guess it didn’t fit your work style.

Like I said...good riddance. USB drives are a godsend.

Yes...there good..until they fail.
A raid array is much better for a reliable backup.

 

Well, on my home LAN I backup to three external drives using RichCopy, so I don't worry much about failures.

 

My PC is RAID 5, my wife's PC is RAID 5. I back up my PC to her's and vice versa. Then there's the Cloud I have a server off site I can backup to. When I was working my data was important to me but over the past 6 years there is less and less data I am worried about. I guess the extremes one goes through for backing up and protecting one's data is a function of how important the data is to them. Critical data aside and based on the original post I am not seeing very high end systems or networks. Been using Cobian Backup software for years and I guess just never had reason to change it.

Ron

 

I use one of these:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/SATA-PATA-IDE-Drive-to-USB-2-0-Adapter-Converter-Cable-for-2-5-3-5-Inch-Hard-Drive-5-inch-Optical-Drive-with-External-AC-Power-Adapter/706363896?wmlspartner=wmtlabs&adid=22222222222147481895&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=c&wl3=74354541385811&wl4=pla-4577954110440683:aud-807612879&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=& wl10=Walmart&wl12=706363896_10000004663&wl14=ultra ide to sata usb converter&veh=sem&msclkid=437b73a2327017e8cae42d3af2a3a430

I use it mostly for cloning drives.