I am trying to connect my laptop to my desktop via serial port with a serial cable. Unfortunately, they will not communicate.

Any advice on what I am doing wrong? No difference if I make the laptop Host or Guest. Can't tell if they are even transmitting via the port.

Also, I only have one COM listing in Device Manager for my desktop, but I have 2 physical serial ports. How come I only have one COM listing? (COM1) I have 4 COM's for my laptop and it has only 1 physical serial port.

BTW, I'm using a Direct Cable Connection DB9 Female/Female Serial cable. It says it is for PC to PC file transfer, and the picture shows a desktop connected to a laptop.

Laptop is an IBM 600X.

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ATHLON 750, GA-71XE, 256 SDRAM, 20 GB 7200 Maxtor, 32 MB G400, SB Live, win98se, Centurytel DSL