Linkmeister

I assume you're running Windows XP on all your PC's? If not, then it gets a little more complicated. If so, then all you have to do is plug both the PC's into the 4 port router! XP will let you see all the files on both machines very easily.

Well, no. The only PC I have still runs on Win98; the new one would be XP, since that's what's installed on them these days.

So then what? :)

There are some major weirdnesses doing Windows filesharing between XP and Win98, but I forget exactly how because my Win98 laptop died a forlorn death years ago. However, if you can't get the filesharing working between the two machines, you can always install an FTP server on the Win98 machine. (I like slimftpd.)

You don't have to worry about drive conflicts between the two machines; just configure both to use the router as their gateway, and be careful not to assign both the same IP number (not a problem if you're using DHCP), and they should coexist happily.

An FTP server? Not the same thing as CoreFTP or other FTP transfer programs, I assume. Hmm. I'll go look at slimftpd to see what it is. ;)

Ah. Ok, a file server. Gotcha.

I'd be inclined to remove the h/d's from the old PC and for each in turn connect in the new PC and copy all the data off onto the new PC.

I linked up Shelley's old machine (Win98) and her new machine (Xp) last weekend through a router and just yanked all her files over to the new box.

...and Soli's correct about the horror stories about Win98 and Xp not playing nice together, but I have to wonder if some of that is coming from places logging into domain servers; I had no problem getting the Xp box to see the shares on the Win98 box...

No, that wasn't me. I've never had a problem hooking up Win98 and XP. Sorry, I should have just said "Windows" not Windows XP. Setting them up to see each other's files is a piece of cake.

Allow me to spout off... I network Windows 98, ME, XP and 3 Macs running OSX - everyone plays nice on the network. We share files and printers, no problem. The *ONLY* computers that ever give me any grief are the XP machines - and that's only because my sons keep locking me out. Rotten kids.

My two cents would be to do what you said you want to do (new machine is the master, old machine = file server) - but I'd spend your money on one of the purported "Headless Macs" coming soon to an Apple store near you. ;-)

So from the practical point of view I just plug the new box in and then ensure that it's the one I turn on first in the morning, so I get XP as the OS I'm running?

(This is submitted in the vein of "the only stupid question is the unasked question," a mantra I used to preach while training DP personnel.)

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Ok, I'll try to make this as painless as possible - and I'm ASSUMING you're using DSL or cable for internet and that it's going to be plugged into your router.

It won't matter which you turn on first, because basically, they will still be their own boxes, just boxes that can now share things back and forth.

Think of it as neighbors in the neighborhood and the router is the intersection that everybody uses to go back and forth between each other's house. Nobody has to move their house every time they want to go visit the neighbor - they just have to walk across the street. ;-)

And if you are not using cable or dsl, to connect to the Interent, then I have to get into things about "borrowing a cup of sugar" from the next door neighbor (Internet Connection Sharing).

Does that help? I've got a few more analogies if it doesn't. LOL

Yes, I do have DSL, and I think that explains it pretty well. I just turn 'em on and move back and forth as required. I hope my solitary monitor doesn't get too confused about which desktop to show me!

I hope my solitary monitor doesn't get too confused about which desktop to show me!

Ok, that's a whole other thing -- you either need to have monitors on BOTH, or get a KVM switch to share one monitor, keyboard and mouse. Thing is - the two computers would require the same type of connector for the mouse & keyboard (both small and round or both USB).

I'm thinking I should just fold on this one. I'm making a mess. LOL

Oh, no. I don't have space for a second monitor. So now I need a switch?

So this is a KVM switch (a cheap one--$30 at Amazon).

Should I go a little higher-end?

Yep, that one is a nice little unit that parasites its power from one of the boxes. The only trick is to make sure (repeating CNL, 'cause she's ... well ... correct) that both boxes are running ps2 connectors for the keyboard and mouse (or USB for both, but that takes a different kind of KVM).

If you have an Office Depot close by, they carry at least one version of the 'simple' KVM switch (Belkin as I recall); I'm using that one for the oldest's lashup. I use an Aten four-port unit here. {Both IoGear and Aten are made by the same folks; it's a consumer/industrial marketing thing}).

Dan... I'm willing to bet the "old" computer is ps2 and the new one is usb...

question: if you used a USB KVM switch - would the "old" computer read it???

CNL, I'm not sure because I haven't tried that combo just yet. I have hooked PS2 KVM cable into a PS2 to USB adapter and fed it into a laptop's USB port.

You're thinking Mac, huh?

LOL! You guys resolve this and tell me what to do, willya? :)