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Using Laplink 3 to Transfer Files
From a Modern PC to an 8088 or 80286 Based Old PC


This procedure is intended for people who cannot get any files whatsover on to their old PC.


By 'modern PC', I am referring to a PC that is modern enough to run say, Windows 2000.

Important

By 'old PC', I am referring to either an 8088 or 80286 based PC.  I have used: IBM PC, IBM XT and IBM AT
An 80386 or 80484 based PC may useable (I haven't tried them).
I cannot get this procedure to work when the 'old PC' is Pentium based.


Preliminary

The following procedure will have you install DOSBox on the modern PC.  It is freely available on the Internet from www.dosbox.com, and can be run on Windows XP/Vista/7 (32-bit and 64-bit versions).

The following procedure will have you install Laplink 3 on the modern PC.  We'll get that from the Internet.  You do NOT need to have Laplink 3 on on the old PC - this procedure copies it from the modern PC to the old PC via a serial Laplink cable.

The following procedure was tested using DOSBox version 0.74

Once Laplink is up and running on both computers, you may need to 'slow' DOSBox in order to stop timeout errors from occuring.  See STEP 8 for detail.


Assumptions

• The operating system on the modern PC is Windows.

Requirements

• That the old PC has a serial port, configured as COM1


• That the old PC can be booted to DOS, and the DOS program MODE.COM is able to be run.


• That the modern PC has a serial port, configured as COM1.  Click here for issues about 'USB-to-serial adapters'.


• You have a serial Laplink cable

Note:

A serial Laplink cable is a particular type of null modem cable.  For this procedure, you can only use that cable - not any null modem cable will do.  For those who argue that Laplink 3 can use a three-wire null modem cable (to do so, one starts Laplink 3 using "LL3 /3" at both ends), that is true, however Laplink 3 needs a serial Laplink cable to be able to transfer itself to the old PC (something this procedure does).

STEP 1: Install and Configure DOSBox on Modern PC

1.1     [modern PC] Install DOSBox software on your modern PC.  Get it from www.dosbox.com

We will now create a folder on C: drive that we'll get DOSBox will use.

1.2     [modern PC] Run Windows Explorer.

1.3     [modern PC] Create the folder C:\DOSBOX

1.4     [modern PC] Close Windows Explorer.


STEP 2: Install and Configure Laplink 3 on Modern PC

2.1     [modern PC] Download the zipped copy of Laplink 3 at  laplink3-com1-noturbo.zip

2.2     [modern PC] Unzip the contents of that file and place the contents in the C:\DOSBOX folder that we created at step 1.3

For information, that copy of Laplink 3 is preconfigured to use port COM1 and has the Turbo Copy option turned off.


STEP 3: Other Preparation

3.1     [modern PC] If you have folders or files that you want to transfer to the old PC, place them somewhere under folder C:\DOSBOX


STEP 4: Connect the Laplink 3 cable

4.1     Use a serial Laplink cable to connect the COM1 connector on the modern PC to the COM1 connector on the old PC.


STEP 5: Power on the Old PC

5.1    [old PC] Power on the old PC.  Wait until you see the C:\> prompt.


STEP 6: Run DOSBox/Laplink on Modern PC

6.1     [modern PC] Run DOSBox.

DOSBox should now be running.  The default prompt is "Z:\>"

6.2     [modern PC] At the Z:\> prompt, enter:  serial1=directserial realport:com1   (lowercase) (assumption: the serial port appears to Windows as COM1)

The text "Serial1: Opening com1" should have been displayed in the DOSBox Status window (a separate window to the one where you type commands).

6.3     [modern PC] At the Z:\> prompt, enter:  mount c c:\dosbox

The text "Drive C is mounted as local directory c:\dosbox\" should have been displayed.

6.4     [modern PC] At the Z:\> prompt, enter:  C:

The prompt changes to "C:\>"

6.5     [modern PC] At the C:\> prompt, enter:  LL3

Laplink 3 will run.
At this point we'll verify that Turbo mode is turned off.  If on, it will create problems later.

6.6     [modern PC] With the DOSBox/Laplink window active, press the [O] key ("O" for Options).  

6.7     [modern PC] With the DOSBox/Laplink window active, press the [ENTER] key.

The Laplink 3 options are now displayed.

6.8     [modern PC] Verify that "Transfer Mode:" is set to "Serial".  

6.9     [modern PC] Verify that "Port:" is set to "COM1".  

6.10   [modern PC] Verify that "Turbo Copy Mode:" is set to "No".  

6.11   [modern PC] With the DOSBox/Laplink window active, press the [Q] key ("Q" for Quit).  

You are now back at the Laplink main screen.
In the right pane of Laplink, you should see "Press F10 to install LL3 on remote system".


STEP 7: Copy Laplink 3 to Old PC via Cable

7.1     [modern PC] With the DOSBox/Laplink window active, press the [F10] key.

7.2     [modern PC] With the DOSBox/Laplink window active, press the [ENTER] key.

We'll now enter some commands on the old PC.

7.3     [old PC] On the old PC, enter:  mode com1:2400,n,8,1,p

7.4     [old PC] On the old PC, enter:  ctty com1    (note: the C:\> prompt will not reappear after the command is entered - we expect that)

Now, back to the modern PC.

7.5     [modern PC] With the DOSBox/Laplink window active, press the [ENTER] key.

Laplink 3 will now transfer itself to the old PC via the Laplink cable.
The Laplink screen will show the progress of that transfer.
Ignore any serial errors that appear in the DOSBox status window.
When the transfer is complete, you'll see Laplink 3 start up on the old PC.


STEP 8: Use Laplink 3 to Transfer Folders/Files

Transfers, both to and from the old PC, can all be initiated from the modern PC.

If your old PC is an IBM PC or IBM XT, you may see timeout errors when transferring files, and consequently be forced to terminate Laplink.  If that happens, reduce the 'CPU speed' of DOSBox by doing multiple uses of a CTRL-F11 key combination within DOSBox.  When communicating with my IBM XT, I found that I had to reduce DOSBox's CPU speed from 3000 cycles to 1444 cycles to stop the timeout errors from occuring.


It is beyond the scope of this document to cover operation of Laplink 3, however, here are the basics:


TRANSFER FOLDER OR FILE FROM OLD PC TO MODERN PC

[modern PC] With the DOSBox/Laplink window active, note that the right pane is titled "Remote Drive (C:\)".

[modern PC] With the DOSBox/Laplink window active, if the selection block is in the left pane, move it to the right pane by pressing the 'right arrow' key.

[modern PC] With the DOSBox/Laplink window active, in the right pane, navigate to the folder (or file) on the old PC that you want to copy to the modern PC.  Note that Laplink 3 is not mouse-aware.  Use the arrow keys until the desired folder (or file) is highlighted.

[modern PC] With the DOSBox/Laplink window active, press the "C" key.  The highlighted folder (or file) will be copied.  You'll see an indication of progress.


TRANSFER FOLDER OR FILE FROM MODERN PC TO OLD PC

[modern PC] With the DOSBox/Laplink window active, note that the left pane is titled "Local Drive (C:\)".  That C:\ corresponds to the C:\DOSBOX folder on your modern PC.

[modern PC] With the DOSBox/Laplink window active, if the selection block is in the right pane, move it to the left pane by pressing the 'left arrow' key.

[modern PC] With the DOSBox/Laplink window active, in the left pane, navigate to the folder (or file) on the modern PC that you want to copy to the old PC.  Note that Laplink 3 is not mouse-aware.  Use the arrow keys until the desired folder (or file) is highlighted.

[modern PC] With the DOSBox/Laplink window active, press the "C" key.  The highlighted folder (or file) will be copied.  You'll see an indication of progress.