I don’t think I’d even want to try. :dubious: YNK what telcos will do. I probably won’t get one with wireless capability; locking that out sounds as though it could be a hassle.
That sounds straightforward enough. Thanks again for all the help; sorry to be so slow getting back; it’s been a busy week.
OTOH, I’ve used mine several times, and had no problems with it, though these days there are generally better alternatives. PCLink worked fine, though it’s not something you want to use for more than an occasional transfer, and the cable connection is kind of slow, so it will take a while to suck a large amount of data over it. Whaddya expect for ten bucks?
It’s actually quite simple; the configuration of routers is all web forms and wizards nowadays; all you have to do to turn off the wireless is to check a box - all you have to do to use it securely is type a few words in a different box.
Rather than mess with networking, can I suggest an external USB HDD? Back everything up to the external USB HDD, move the USB HDD to the new machine, and copy everything back on to the new PC.
a 5 year old machine will be USB 1.0/1.1 the 20+ gigs he wants to move would take hours. IMHO mounting the old drive in the new machine would be the fastest, turn on the PC and its there.
You can suggest it, but it wouldn’t work for me. I can’t do the hooking and unhooking part. (a) I’m getting to be an old lady; (b) I have a bad back, neck, and knee, and (c) severely arthritic thumbs; can’t do the bending and reaching to the backs of the CPUs, or use a screwdriver anymore. Somebody else will come in - once - to hook it all up for me. Afterwards, I’m on my own for most intents and purposes.
I bought the old computer in 2003, and it’s not desperately out of date. They’re still selling new machines with slower chips and smaller HDs; it’s only in the last 6 months or so that I stopped seeing new machines with less RAM; I bought the very best machine I could afford, at the time. I want to use it as a backup. For that, I’ve gotta keep it functional, as well as keeping it backed up (I do realize that swapping out an external HD would obviate that problem, but it’s a non-starter because of my physical limitations).
Thanks anyway for trying to be helpful, guys, but Mangetout has already gone through my laundry list of cans, can’ts, and wants, and has tailored the recommendations accordingly. Clearly, there are a number of different solutions to my situation, but most of them don’t seem very compatiible with my circumstances and needs. I thought about it for at least three months before deciding that I should buy/keep a second computer. It was a very painful decision, financially (I’m on disability), even though I managed to get a really good price on the new CPU.
I didn’t think to ask at the time, but I’ll need to buy RJ-45 cables, won’t I? One each for the two CPUs, and one for my printer, right? The one that came with the modem from the phone company will go into the new router, correct?
I’m thinking about this router. Or, alternatively, this , or this one. Anyone see anything wrong with my choices?
You’ll need patch cables for the computers - you might get one free with the router. If your printer is network-capable (which may not be the case), then you’ll need one for that too, or you could just attach it by USB or parallel to one of the computers and tell Windows to share it on that machine.
I’m thinking about this router. Or, alternatively, this , or this one. Anyone see anything wrong with my choices?
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Those are all the right type of router for your setup. D-Link is the only brand (out of those three) that I have any experience of, and they’re fine.
If price was not a consideration, my recommendation for an inexperienced user would favour Netgear
It would actually be quite simple to trail a short USB extension cable around to the front of the computer(s) to faciliate connection of removable drives (if your computers don’t already have front USB ports).
I’m happy that I have described a system that will work and is logically sound, but it’s important to remember that I won’t be there to support it - You mentioned that you’ll have someone come in to set everything up for you - I think it’s important that this person (and indeed others in this thread) sense-check my recommendations.
I rather like disk caddies
There is a slight problem with XP as it senses changed hardware as a reason to contact Microsoft
I don’t think it matters if it’s a second hard drive - i.e. not the one on which Windows is installed.
Speaking to the general case, does it really matter if it takes hours? Just leave it going overnight. USB 1 is 12 Mbps, so that’s only about 4 hours.
But I’m surprised the OP’s PCs don’t have USB ports on the front: most do.
Most do now, I think they only became a standard item in the last couple of years though. Having said that, I’ve surprised several users by flipping down the little door to access their front USB ports - they didn’t know they were there.
The old one has several ports on the front; the new one has even more, but I vastly prefer the LAN, as - once set up - it makes me less dependent on needing someone to come do bending, stooping, plugging and unplugging for me.
I was always much better with hardware than software, while I was able to work on computers; the only one that ever flummoxed me was the first HP scanner that required Windows 3.1. It was SCSI (no other options), and I was new to Windows as well, at that point (1992); first time setting it up took 4 hours with tech support. :smack: :rolleyes: So long as I have a clear notion of what has to happen, I can direct the installation (I get help from people with sound electrical experience and some computer familiarity here; it works okay. When I’m finally able to move back home to MI, I’ll be able to get an EE to do whatever - or his wife, who has more knowledge than I regarding setup.). I don’t take chances of somebody damaging stuff through ignorance.