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Using FastLynx 3.3 to Transfer Files To/From Old/Newer PCs

VIA SERIAL CABLE


FastLynx 3.3 is a 2003 dated commercial product that is capable of file transfers, via serial or parallel cable, between an 'old' PC running DOS and a 'newer' PC.

By 'newer PC', I am referring to a PC that is running Windows of either 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP.
Being dated 2003, the user's manual for FastLynx 3.3 does not specify a Windows version later than XP.  I have successfully used 3.3 on Windows 7.

By 'old PC', I am referring to either an 8088 or 80286 or 80386 or 80486 based PC, running DOS.



Warnings

	•	On the newer PC, motherboard based serial ports work fine, but expect possible problems if you are using a USB-to-serial adapter.
	•	If small files transfer okay, but you encounter errors when transferring large files, try dropping FastLynx 3.3's connection speed to 38400 baud (or slower, if required).

Assumptions

	•	The operating system on the newer PC is Windows.
	•	FastLynx 3.3's DOS slave program, SL.EXE, is not already on the old PC.  If it is already there, skip step 2 below.

Requirements

	•	That the old PC has at least 320 KB of conventional memory (a requirement of FastLynx 3.3's DOS slave program).
	•	That the old PC has a serial port, configured as COM1 or COM2.
	•	That the old PC can be booted to DOS, and the DOS program MODE.COM is able to be run.
	•	That the newer PC has a serial port, configured as COM1 or COM2 or COM3 or COM4.
	•	You have a serial Laplink cable.  The same cable is used by Laplink and FastLynx and INTERSVR/INTERLNK.

NOTE:

The term 'null modem cable' describes many cable configurations - it describes a class of cables. A serial Laplink cable is a particular configuration/wiring of null modem cable. For this procedure, you can only use that cable - not any null modem cable will do.

STEP 1: Preparation

1.1     [newer PC] Install FastLynx 3.3 on your newer PC.

1.2     [newer/old PC] Connect the Laplink cable between a serial (COM) port on your newer PC and a serial (COM) port on your old PC.



STEP 2: Transfer FastLynx 3.3's DOS slave program to old PC

Here, FastLynx 3.3's DOS slave program, SL.EXE, will be transferred via the serial cable from the newer PC to the old PC.

2.1     [newer PC] Run FastLynx 3.3

2.2     [newer PC] On the menu bar, select FILE and then UPLOAD DOS SLAVE.

2.3     [newer PC] In the window that then appears, click on the NEXT button.

2.4     [newer PC] In the window that then appears, select which port (COM1 or COM2) you are using on the DOS computer, and then click on the NEXT button.

2.5     [newer PC] In the window that then appears, you are instructed to type two commands at the old PC. Do that.

SL.EXE will now be transferred to the old PC, a process that will take about 30 seconds.
What you will see on the two PCs during that process is shown here.

2.6     [newer PC] Click on the FINISH button.



STEP 3: Run the DOS slave program

3.1     [old PC] At the DOS prompt, type SL and then press the ENTER key.

SL.EXE will run. Click here to see what it looks like running on my old PC.



STEP 4: Establish connection

4.1     [newer PC] In the right pane, you will see:

          

4.2     [newer PC] If not already selected, select the 'Connect as client' option.

4.3     [newer PC] If not already ticked, tick the 'COM1' box. (Assumption: COM1 is the serial port you are using on the newer PC.)

Connection will be establed between the two computers, and in the right pane, you will see the contents of the old PC.
You can now transfer files.