How do I network a computer without a network adapter?

I have a very old notebook that i want to network with my desktop computer. The notebook does not have a network adapter, any USB ports or a phone line connection and i dont want to by a network card for it. I want to know if there is a way to network the computers without spending to much money (no more than a few bucks for adapters). I have 25-pin serial cables i can use (I heard that you could netork two computers like that). I dont care what kind of network it is, i just want it to work. Oh, and my desktop is windows xp and the notebook is windows 98SE and i hav a wired/wireless router. Thanks in advance to anyone who helps me.

How do I network a computer without a network adapter?
You could connect it using serial or parallel cables using Laplink or something similar, for file transfer etc., but it won't be able to surf the web or anything like that. Reason, you can't bind TCP/IP to Parallel or serial port.
Reply:Good luck
Reply:Go out and spend the 45$ and get a router...hard wire the 2 PC's together and go nuts...have fun
Reply:Use lap-link. That's what I used before. You will need a lap-link cable( it looks similar to a printer cable or a parallel port connector) connect one end to the parallel port of you desktop and the other end to the same parallel port of your laptop. There are lots of software for this from the web(usually in DOS mode). This technique only works for file access. I hope this helps...
Reply:yes you can use 25 pin serial connectors. it won't be a fast connection and you will also have to get software for that. Also, when you start up the network wizard on xp it will give you an option to make a new network boot disk for the older comp to recognize xp.
Reply:When I had my old 486 compaq contura aero - I used Lap Link.


I just hooked up a db25 pin to db9 pin serial cable, fast and reliable connection.