Hi,
You can send to, and receive data from a PC without handshake. But both side must have all handshake options disabled.
Hardware hanshake through RTS/CTS control must be disabled. Software handshake through XON/XOFF must also be disabled.
On your PC, if you are working with hyperterminal, you can easely do that by changing the properties of the serial COM you want to use.
In your post you took about TD and RD pins. Dont forget to connect GND pin between the equipements.