Connecting Windows NT to Windows 95 with a Null-Modem Cable

 Last reviewed: February 4, 1998
Article ID: Q142065
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

If you do not have network adapters, you can use a null-modem (serial) cable to connect a Windows 95 computer to a Windows NT computer. There are two ways to configure this connection:

  • Windows NT is the host and Windows 95 is the guest

    -or-

  • Windows 95 is the host and Windows NT is the guest

MORE INFORMATION

Windows NT is the Host and Windows 95 is the Guest

If you use Windows NT as the server, start the RAS Server Service on the Windows NT computer and make sure the user who is connecting has RAS Dial- in permissions. The Windows 95 guest should connect using the Direct Cable Connect utility and should have their serial adapter configured for the same speed connection as the Windows NT computer.

Windows 95 is the Host and Windows NT is the Guest

If you use a Windows 95 computer as the server, configure the Windows NT computer with a Phonebook entry that uses the null modem 19200 speed (or whatever speed is set on the Windows 95 computer) and dial the Windows 95 computer.

Notes

Windows NT 4.0:

The serial cable device is installed/configured in the Modem utility in Control Panel and is listed under Standard Modem Types as "Dial-Up Networking Serial Cable between 2 PCs."

Windows NT 3.5x:

The serial cable device is installed/configured in the Remote Access Setup and is listed as Null Modem 9600, Null Modem 19200, or Null Modem 38400.

Windows 95:

The serial cable device is configured in the System utility in Control Panel. Click the Device Manager tab, double-click Modems, and then double- click Serial Cable On ComX (where 'x' is the COM port where your cable is attached.) Make sure the speed set here matches the speed of the Windows NT serial connection. The client (guest) and server (host) must be the same for the serial connection to work properly.

For additional information on null-modem (serial) cables, such as the proper pin-out configuration to work with the setups above, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q142324
   TITLE     : Cables That Are Compatible with Direct Cable Connection

Additional query words: 4.00 3.50 3.51 95 win95 win95x dcc winnt Remote Access
Service
Keywords : nthowto ntnetserv NTSrvWkst kbinterop kbnetwork kbfaq kbnetwork
Version : 3.5 3.51 4.0 95
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbhowto

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Last reviewed: February 4, 1998
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