help needed connecting 2 PCs via LPT1 (parallel port)

[Dragon Mech]

i need help connecting a Windows 2000 Professional computer to a Windows XP Home Edition machine via the LPT1 port. so far i've got the bios settings on both computers set as follows:
Port: 378
IRQ: 7
Parallel Port mode: EPP

i can setup the connections on both computers just fine. but for some reason is just dosen't work.

[Hot Trout]

What are you using to make the connection? Laplink? What are you trying to acheive?

[Dragon Mech]

i'm not using Laplink (to be honest, i've never heard of laplink before today). i'm using a cable that i bought a radioshack a year or two ago and the network connections wizards in win2k and win xp. i'm just trying to find a more convenient way of transfering files between my win2k machine and my newly acquired winxp machine that dosen't envolve constant use of a usb flash drive.

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Update:
i just read on the cable that it is complient with the IEEE 1284-1994 standard.

[Hot Trout]

A parallel connection would be too slow, you are better off with USB.

Why not stick in a network card into each computer (you may already have a NIC on the MB) and then just make your own small network. Costs almost nothing and will give you at least 100Mbit and possibly 1000Mbit connection speeds.

That is what I would do.

[Dragon Mech]

your right, Ethernet LAN would be far better. plus i can connect all three of my computers to the LAN. thanks