Small question re: 2 computers

smicer07 · 11-09-2007, 10:48

Hi guys,

I'm currently using a PC but it's getting a bit slow and I'm interested in buying another base unit. If I bought a new base unit (without a monitor), could I use the files on my old computer, i.e connecting them somehow so that I can access the files on the old one? I've looked into it and it seems I need the old one to be connected to a monitor too- or is this wrong?
Thanks in advance.
Simon.

southwell · 11-09-2007, 11:29

If you have the old one connected via a router you can just share your files and folders so you can browse them via your new pc.

Another way is to activate remote control, although iam not sure if you can do this with XP home. With XP pro you can remote into your old PC and control it via your new one.

Uncle Peter · 11-09-2007, 11:34

You can connect both machines to a switch (assuming they both have ethernet cards) and use windows file & printer sharing. The donor PC doesn't have to be connected to a monitor, it just needs to be able to boot to the desktop from cold.

If there's a relatively small amount of data, ie. not tens of GBs you could use a big memory stick and shovel it across in chunks.

Tightscot · 11-09-2007, 11:54

or you could look at removing the hard drive from the old pc, and installing it as a slave into the new pc, giving you a second hard drive with all your old data on it.

Or you could buy a KVM which would allow you to hook both PC base units up to one keyboard/mouse/monitor and just jump between pcs by hitting a button.

smicer07 · 11-09-2007, 15:43

Thanks for all your replies- I'm looking into this KVM switch, I've never even heard of this before so could be interesting!

Uncle Peter · 11-09-2007, 16:22

Are you actually looking at using both systems or just copying the data from your old PC to new PC?

Delta Whiskey · 11-09-2007, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by smicer07

Thanks for all your replies- I'm looking into this KVM switch, I've never even heard of this before so could be interesting!

I use a KVM (Keyboard Video Mouse) switch all the time, as the name implies it allows you to use the same Keyboard, Monitor and Mouse with two computers. This will enable you to use both computers separately, it won't help you if you want to move files between the two machines.