Cannot Create Direct Cable Connection from Windows 95/98 to Windows 2000 with Infrared Port (259819)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q259819

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to create a direct cable connection from a Windows 98-based or Windows 95-based computer to a Windows 2000-based computer by using infrared (IR) ports, you may receive the following error message:
Cannot connect to the host computer. Make sure you have run Direct Cable Connection on the host computer and you have connected your cable to both computers.

CAUSE

Direct cable connections over IR ports between computers running Windows 95/Windows 98 and Windows 2000 are not possible or supported.

RESOLUTION

Use a serial or parallel cable between the computers to make the direct cable connection.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows 98 maps virtual COM ports to IR ports to enable direct cable connection over IR ports. Windows 2000 uses a new technique for enabling direct cable connection over IR ports that allows a direct cable connection over IR ports between two Windows 2000-based computers.

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

252795 Windows 2000 Does Not Support Mapping Virtual COM Ports to Infrared Ports

For ore information about IR networking and Windows 2000, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/HWDEV/infrared/default.htm

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/20/2004
Keywords:kbenv kbprb KB259819
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.