Hardware Question

[Starshine]

I have 2 older desktops ( One runs WinME the other WinXP ) and a newer model laptop ( Vista )

My laptop connects to the web via a wireless connection. I rarely go in the "office" anymore to use the desktops unless my fiance' is on the laptop.

What I'd like help with is finding some inexpensive parts to kinda upgrade at least one of the desktops or get an external HD and set it up so I can access it from the laptop ( like to put all the games we have, photos, school assignments, music, etc )

If I can get by with just getting a HD or two ( external / internal ) then that would be great. And then find out how to set it all up so I can access the information from the laptop.

Any suggestions? ( I have about $200 - $250 I can spend total right now )

[xPlozion]

well, how often do you use the windows me comp? you can actually convert that into a headless server (no monitor, kbd/mouse), just the tower and a connection to your network, but you can put your peripherals on it too (it won't hurt). With that, you can then store all the files on there, such as backing up your important files in the event of a hard drive crash or other event. BTW, you don't need a good comp for file storage, trust me ;).

then you'll need to have the other computers connect to WinME through network places, and you might want to share the whole C: drive, since it's being used as a private server (if you've got a good router that blocks attacks, but a good firewall will be perfect (and a good setup, asking for a password, etc...).



then the windows xp comp, really all you can do as far as a cheap fix is to buy more ram. if you want to get into upgrading processors, not only is that investing a good deal of money depending on the speed of the proc, but you would also have to buy a new mobo in most cases (unless it's got the same socket), and then you can't use the copy of windows that came with the comp because it checks the processor and motherboard in most cases.

[Starshine]

well, how often do you use the windows me comp?

I don't. Its the older of the two and I think I removed windows a while back to install a Unix OS, but then forgot my password on it and gave up entirely with that machine.

What I'd like to do is just buy a bigger HD ( internal ) and an external one ... and put it off the XP computer. I would like to turn the older WinME into a Unix system and somehow tie that into the XP and the Vista machines.

I am interested in a 1 TB HD, but again, I don't know which would be best to get ( because I am on a limited budget )

The space would be enough for me to store the music, photos and games - and hopefully be able to use it to connect to when needed to play the music / games.

So, instead of using the ME as the server, I'd like to actually use the XP one as the server ... Just not sure how to go about setting it up.

[supajason]

check this out its the best bit of kit i ever brought
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSLU2

[Starshine]

check this out its the best bit of kit i ever brought
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSLU2

Looks interesting. It says it was discontinued in '08 ... and probably costs more than I can afford at this point. I'd just be happy with a new HD and a way to link my XP system and maybe turning the other desktop into a unix box and being able to connect to both from my laptop ( that connects to the net wirelessly )

[xPlozion]

i've got a linux box with samba installed on it, and that's my server. from there, my windows boxes can connect to it in the network places. I stream music from it to all the windows machines, as well as videos. i want to install a nother hdd for all backups, but have yet to find an exceptional windows backup program to do so...

[Starshine]

i've got a linux box with samba installed on it, and that's my server. from there, my windows boxes can connect to it in the network places. I stream music from it to all the windows machines, as well as videos. i want to install a nother hdd for all backups, but have yet to find an exceptional windows backup program to do so...

Thats what I'd like to do. I don't care which desktop is the main one. I plan to buy a 1 TB external HD to attach to one of the desktops as extra storage ... but I'd like to set up one of the computers as the main system ... then connect the other desktop and the laptop through it into the net.

[xPlozion]

I use Arch Linux for all of my linux installs. It's really fast (even on old hardware), and since you don't need a good de like gnome or kde, you can get away w/ ultralight de's like (flux|open|black)box or the slightly more intensive (but still lightweight) xfce. that's if you need a desktop environment in the first place :D.

install archlinux, dl the latest updates, install xorg, then the de (if you want one). then follow this guide to setup samba on linux: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Samba . the only thing i did different was change the share settings from user to share (might be wrong name, but there should be a list, and i'll check my samba conf and post it if you want).

[diabolo]

for $150 you can get a 1TB External HD and from Lacie too, I think that's a pretty good bargain especially since lacie is pretty good.
http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-301315U-.../dp/B00170M64K

[Starshine]

I use Arch Linux for all of my linux installs. It's really fast (even on old hardware), and since you don't need a good de like gnome or kde, you can get away w/ ultralight de's like (flux|open|black)box or the slightly more intensive (but still lightweight) xfce. that's if you need a desktop environment in the first place :D.

install archlinux, dl the latest updates, install xorg, then the de (if you want one). then follow this guide to setup samba on linux: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Samba . the only thing i did different was change the share settings from user to share (might be wrong name, but there should be a list, and i'll check my samba conf and post it if you want).

Right now, I don't have a linux os installed on the one machine. I think I do, but its been a while and probably best to start from scratch. So I need to find a free OS that is relatively easy to learn from ( I'm new to linux / unix / etc ) ... I have some DVDs and I think a decent sized HD right now to download an OS to copy to a DVD ... if needed.

for $150 you can get a 1TB External HD and from Lacie too, I think that's a pretty good bargain especially since lacie is pretty good.
http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-301315U-.../dp/B00170M64K

Thank you. I found a 1TB and a 320GB external HD and a 16GB USB "jump" drive ( with shipping ) for $225.00 ... which I am considering.