OnlineOK, I've got this old computer sitting here that I have been trying to set up so I can give to a friend. It's turning out to be more complicated than I had anticipated, and I think I'm in over my head right about now.
Ideally, I'd like to have my old computer networked to my newer one, so that I can share the internet connection between the 2 PCs. My DSL service was coming in through my only network opening, so I switched it to come in through the USB Port. This has created problems, my connection is noticeably slower, I get randomly logged offline, some web pages just won't load, and some of my programs simply can't find the internet at all. Like, yesterday, I was able to use FireFox, download a free game, and successfully install it, only for the registration part to not find the internet. Not a huge deal, since I plan on switching it back to the network connection once this project is done, but certainly not making things any easier in the meantime. So, if I'm slow getting back to anyone trying to help, please be patient, internet access is kind of sketchy right now.
So, right now my old PC is sitting here right next to me, with my shiny new blue network cable sitting on top waiting for me to connect them. Theoretically I think I know what I have to do, but I have no idea how to go about it. I think I have to switch the monitor, keyboard and mouse over to the old PC, and open a network connection.
Once that network connection is opened, I should be able to switch all my peripherals back to my main PC, connect the network cable, and tell my new PC which port it can use to access, or enter the old PC. Once that's done, the old PC should show up as an extra drive under "My Computer".
If I'm correct with the above, can someone dumb down for me exactly how to do it? I'm not even sure where to start, how to tell the old PC which connection to open, any of it.
Thanks so much!
Looks like a no go on the KVM switch, but, I'm working on the next best thing. I know I have a spare, working mouse, Boyfriend can snag a keyboard from work tomorrow, and Neighbor even has a spare monitor! However, I have a busy day tomorrow and again on Wednesday, so you might not hear back from me on this until Thursday or so. Thanks again!
"How do you know I'm mad?" asked Alice.
"You must be", said the cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here"
Ummmm....I have no idea about the modem being a 4 port router, I don't even know what that means. I have Verizon DSL, and am using a Westall modem, if that helps any.
My main PC is running WinXP. It's been forever since I've used the other one, but I'm pretty sure it's also running XP. If not, that's part of what I plan on changing.
Thanks for your help, and do your homework first, get back to me later when you have free time. Really, this isn't an emergency, it's a favor for someone, and as long as I get it done and shipped by Christmas, everyone involved will be happy, honest.
"How do you know I'm mad?" asked Alice.
"You must be", said the cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here"
AARRGGHHH!!!
I just hit the back button on a lengthy response....hang on while I take a break.
P.S. I will need it confirmed what the other PC is running - it changes the whole equation.
Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free
Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free
I'm guessing the only way to find out for sure would be to switch the keyboard, etc over and look?
"How do you know I'm mad?" asked Alice.
"You must be", said the cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here"
Well..
If you're definitely going to load XP, then we know for sure what the OS is...
<Being honest here>
If you are going to set up this computer with a clean install and all the internet updates - why not just direct connect it to the internet?
</Being honest here>
Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free
I don't want to connect the other PC directly to the internet, because it'll just be more stuff for me to uninstall when I'm done. I'd like to give the old PC to her with as little software as possible, and she has no need for my Verizon internet connection, since she uses something else. Besides that, I know where everything is on my PC, and would like to just be able to transfer programs over, instead of having to spend hours downloading Firefox, SpyBot, AdAware, Panda, AVG Free, etc.
Like I said, I'm almost positive the old machine has XP, but I guess I'll have to swap over the hardware to find out for sure. Once I do that, I'll make sure it's running XP, and if not, install it. What do I do from there?
"How do you know I'm mad?" asked Alice.
"You must be", said the cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here"
I've always found it difficult to transfer programs over to another PC because of the way it writes itself to the registry, and in some cases (AV), uses the computer's SSID.
You may be better off with a clean install - if you think the key can handle it;-)
That, and I would never be comfortable with my past information floating around...even if it was deleted.
However, we haven't had a topic dealing with Internet Connection Sharing - so if you want to do it the hard way - I'm game...
Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free
Internet connection sharing---good topic ashton. Can you explain how to do it with that stupid $40 crossover cable I bought-cause I could never get it to work! LOL
I've always found it difficult to transfer programs over to another PC because of the way it writes itself to the registry, and in some cases (AV), uses the computer's SSID.
I didn't know that, I thought it would be easier the other way. If that's not the case, then I guess it would be easier to hook the old PC up to the internet.
That, and I would never be comfortable with my past information floating around...even it was deleted.
By "clean install", I'm assuming you mean reformatting the old PC and starting from scratch? Again, I think I did that just before I stopped using it, but I can't quite remember, it's been almost a year, and remember, blonde here
. I've just had too much to do to take the time and swap hardware over to check, I should be able to get to that this evening when the BF gets home and can move the heavy bits for me.
However, we haven't had a topic dealing with Internet Connection Sharing - so if you want to do it the hard way - I'm game...
;-)
I had thought my way would have been the easy way, but that's why I posted, I'm just guessing about this stuff, got myself in a bit over my head on this one
. Whatever method you think is easiest, I'm all for it, just let me know what my next step is.
"How do you know I'm mad?" asked Alice.
"You must be", said the cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here"
I do quite a bit of data transfers at work, but I don't install the old programs from the old computer to the new one. It just doesn't work...
Of course, I'm a little luckier then most because we have an unattended software install package on our network share. I still have to spend some time pulling the software related "data" and making sure it works with version installed.
In a word, no, I don't recommend that you go that route.
If you think the old computer has a new install, well, you just knocked off a couple of hours doing what the rest of us "techie -type" people do - which is babysit the "brand new installs" that you downloaded over the net, while drinking coffee and watching Youtube on the other computer (or playing Battlefield 2, or actually multi-tasking on the other five machines that need the same installs).
Us, techs, are so overrated;-)
So I'm afraid to take care of your friend, you may have to do a little more than switch over the mouse and such...(am I sounding like a pompous A-hole? I swear, I'm just having a little fun;-)
I would also switch the connection to your modem back to the CAT5(E) network cable - there is supportively little difference in the connection speed - unless you're running USB 1.1 - but I disagree.
ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) was mainly useful for dail-up customers that only had one phone line or two that they didn't want to tie up and multiple users.
If there is data that you want to transfer between two computers, we can talk a little about peer to peer networking or a really good link here, that I'll go find for the next post.
Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free
Switching the internet back to the ethernet or whatever would be great, this is ridiculous. I'm using Firefox, and some pages tell me they can't find the internet, even though other pages are currently working just fine in other tabs. Grrrrr....
Anyway, what exactly do I have to swap over to get the old PC up and running? Monitor, keyboard, mouse, install Verizon, then what..... Seriously, I'm this clueless.
Once that's done, I'll be able to check if I have already reformatted or not. If I have, I'll let you know, if not, well, I guess we know how I'm spending my evening, huh?
"How do you know I'm mad?" asked Alice.
"You must be", said the cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here"
If you have one of these hanging around...
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/K/KVM_switch.html
Then it would make life a little easier. Otherwise, everything you just stated... must be done.
(I'm smiling - can't help it)
Give yourself credit, at least you know that you have to go through the Verizon install to gain internet access.
Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free
If you have one of these hanging around...
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/K/KVM_switch.html
Then it would make life a little easier. Otherwise, everything you just stated... must be done.
(I'm smiling - can't help it)
Give yourself credit, at least you know that you have to go through the Verizon install to gain internet access.
Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free
I don't have one, but I might be able to get one by this evening. I'll ask Boyfriend if there's a chance he's got one laying around his shop, and my neighbor might have one I can borrow.
Did I miss anything there if I can't get one?
"How do you know I'm mad?" asked Alice.
"You must be", said the cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here"
IT TAKES 1-2 MINUTES TO SWITCH THE CONNECTIONS!!!!
<Edit by Moderator - I know better;-)>
Okay, okay...<break>
Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free
Yeah, but they're in the back of the computer, and I need a big strong man to move it for me *giggle*. Seriously, though, I do, because of my wrist
So, I'll post again once it's all swapped over and I'm online, sometime after Boyfriend makes it home, and we can go from there.
Thanks again!
"How do you know I'm mad?" asked Alice.
"You must be", said the cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here"
If the BF is connected and knowledgeable about hardware - ask him to pick you up an old hub, router, or switch with the KVM switch. Then you can freely switch between two computers while sharing the same internet connection.
Sorry about the wrist...
Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free
Moving data between two computers.
http://grownupgeek.com/transfer-programs-to-new-computer
Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free
See, I was thinking I could do everything the way Isaac had mentioned, with the patch cord. Guess not, huh?
"How do you know I'm mad?" asked Alice.
"You must be", said the cat, "Or you wouldn't have come here"
Oh crap...
I was so hoping to get some homework done today;-)
First statement - way easier to dredge up an old hub, switch, router. I don't suppose your DSL modem is actually a four port router?
First question - what two operating systems are on your computers that is handling the internet connection and the client (the old computer)?
Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free