New computer, old router and modem - trouble?

Factual Questions
1

I bought an XP box while they were still selling new machines with it. I haven’t yet switched my ADSL because I’m spooked to. In past, I’ve made what should have been simple changes to my computer and ended up in a couple days’ worth of hassle, fixes, etc.

But this switch-over of the router should be easy to do, right? All I have to do is plug the network cable into the new machine and I should be good to go, right? I mean hardware-wise. I have my configuration manual so I’m probably ok to do the configuring.

If it turns out the new machine starts acting up, would it just be a matter of switching the router back over to the old machine or would it be a problem? It’s a D-Link router, if that helps.

2

Assuming your router is set up to dish out IP addresses with DHCP (most are), yes, it should really be every bit as simple as just plugging in the new computer.

3

In fact, you don’t have to unplug the old machine in order to plug in the new one - both of them will talk to the router at the same time, although perhaps this isn’t a workable solution, as you probably don’t have an additional monitor, mouse and keyboard (or a KVM switch).

But yes, if the new machine doesn’t plug and play, then plugging in the old one should get you back to where you are now.

4

Great! Thanks :slight_smile: I do have new everything (it came as a package and I wanted a flat-screen monitor). What I don’t have is room on my desk for two machines.

I appreciate the help. I loves me my computer but computing machines can be a passle of trouble to keep happy sometimes.

5

Here’s how I handle mixing and matching computer hardware.

Plug.
And.
Play.

It almost never causes any kind of serious problem, even if it fails to work out of the box. The risks are low.

6

Use a box or card table and set both up temporary until the new one is all settled and has all the files and stuff. Then sell, or give away to the needy, or store the old one in case you crash and need access the net to download stuff to fix it with or just to ask for help like you are doing now.

(*proud owner of 5 old computers all of which are up and running. *)

7

:smack: Why didn’t we think of that! :smack:
All hail GuanoLad.
Who has saved us from all hardware incompatibility’s.

Try googling ‘problem’ and ‘xp’ together with ‘router’ or ‘modem’ and: yes, before GuanoLad I got several billion hits and after…wait…that’s not right.
:smack:

8

I wasn’t suggesting there aren’t issues to resolve sometimes, but nothing is going to explode if you just plug it in and see what happens.