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China
3rd January 2020, 03:14 PM
A question to the computer gurus, I wish to down load a program plus license Key to my lap top, problem being that my lap top does not have internet access, can I connect the lap top
to my PC with USB cable and treat it like a separate drive and download straight to the lap top

Chris Parks
3rd January 2020, 04:14 PM
Ignore

poundy
3rd January 2020, 05:06 PM
Without other software and potentially special cables, no, you can't inter-connect the laptop and PC as a USB drive.

The simplest way to do what you want is to download everything to one PC and then copy it to a USB drive, then move teh drive to the laptop. But that will only work with "files". If the licensing for example actually tries to validate against a server in the internet, that won't work when using a USB drive.

Might be worth being specific with info here. Which program do you need to be installed? Do you know whether it can be downloaded along with the license file without being "installed" with a connection to the internet?

Why doesn't your laptop have internet access? Does it have connections like an ethernet connector or wifi at all? Often times, that's the easiest thing to resolve - get the PC that needs to download something onto the net. Even for something like a CNC controller PC, it's often beneficial to be able to get an updated CAM app or download someone else's gcode they want you to carve...

Skew ChiDAMN!!
3rd January 2020, 05:06 PM
You can, with a special USB cable.

If you just use ordinary USB cables you run a risk of burning out the USB ports or their power supplies.

What you'd want is a "networking" USB cable that has a crossover bridge in the middle... and these are becoming increasingly harder to find. I guess they're considered old technology. (Like the old Parlink cables and sw. :sigh:)


In the long term you're probably better off getting a USB to RJ45 adapter (or to Cat5E) which'd give you a port on the your laptop you can plug a modem/LAN/whatever into.

eg. From Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com.au/UGREEN-Ethernet-Adapter-Supports-Nintendo/dp/B00MYTSN18/ref=asc_df_B00MYTSN18/?tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341791782377&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13108980427747547926&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9072387&hvtargid=pla-379048174242&psc=1)


Or, if you're in an area with good cell reception, just grab a cheap USB wifi/modem.

eg. From AusPost (https://auspost.com.au/shop/product/telstra-4gx-usb-wi-fi-modem-76899)


FWIW, I'm not recommending the above examples... they're just to give you an idea of options. Whatever you do, DO NOT just plug an ordinary USB cable in and "give it a try." ;)

China
3rd January 2020, 05:19 PM
Thanks for the replies, the USB drive option did not work most likely I just don't know what I am doing The program, Forscan, downloaded without out any problem and copied to the lap top
I just can't seem to get the license to work, will check the other options above.

apple8
3rd January 2020, 05:27 PM
You could try a USB WIFI adapter. I bought one of these (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NETGEAR-N300-WNA3100-300M-USB-Wireless-N-WiFi-Adapter-Card-802-11n-300Mbps/181666268583?epid=12009498037&hash=item2a4c2745a7:g:IVYAAOSwqu9U3d6Y) more than 12 months ago and after upgrading the firmware it’s been rock solid running 24/7 on a PC logging solar and weather station data.