Q I have a desktop computer running Windows 95 and an old laptop with Windows 3.1, and I'd like to link them together using a parallel or serial cable. I've found ways to do this if they both run Windows 95, but not across the two operating systems. I have tried using freeware programs and DOS 6.22's Interlink ù without success. What do you recommend?

A Interlink should work here. Let me go over how to set it up.

To make a parallel connection (which is faster than a serial one), you need a bidirectional, male-to-male parallel cable. These only cost a few dollars.

Once your computers are connected, use a floppy disk to "sneakernet" a file called intersvr.exe (Interlink Server) from your laptop's C:\dos directory to your PC's C:\Windows\Command folder. While that folder is still open, drag intersvr.exe to the desktop to create a Shortcut.

Right-click the Shortcut and select Properties. Click the Program tab, and then the Advanced button. Check MS-DOS mode and then click OK.

Back on the laptop, go to Program Manager, select FileûRun, and run the command sysedit. This brings up several files for editing. Click the CONFIG.SYS title bar, and add the line device=c:\dos\interlnk.exe to the bottom of that file or before any other line that starts with device=. Press <Alt>-<F4> to close Sysedit, and confirm that you want to save the changes.

Now you're ready. On your desktop machine, launch the Interlink Server Shortcut. If you're asked about exiting Windows, click Yes. (Sorry, but you can't multitask on the server.) Wait until you see the Interlink Server screen.

Now move to the laptop, exit Windows, and reboot. If everything works properly, your desktop drives should appear as very slow drives on your laptop. Just remember that you won't get any long file names.

You should be able to access these drives just fine in Windows 3.1. Conflicts being what they are, however, you may run into problems. If Windows doesn't behave properly with the extra drives available, exit it and do your file handling from the DOS prompt.

If that doesn't work, I have one other suggestion: Format a floppy on your laptop, using the option to copy the system files (from the DOS prompt, the command is format a: /s). On this bootable disk, create one file, config.sys, consisting of one line: device=c:\dos\interlnk.exe. Boot from the floppy when you need to access your desktop computer. That way, there won't be anything else in place to conflict with Interlink.