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[Nickbat]

I currently have an Athlon Dual-core 4200+ on an Asus mobo, with two IDE HDDs and running Win 2k. I have decided to upgrade to XP Pro (I know, a bit late!) and, while I'm about it, get a second PC for the kids.
I've recently bought a new SATA drive.

What do I do? I am toying with the idea of getting a new case, PSU, etc., then putting the SATA drive and loading XP Pro. Basically a new system for me. Then in the adjacent room, I want to set up a second PC for the others. Question: Can I make my PC a server? Would that mean that I can run two PCs with just the one copy of XP, or would that be against the MS licensing agreement? Also, I recall TB saying that it's not right to set up XP as an administrator. Would I need to in the suggested setup? And how should I best connect the two PCs? Wireless or ethernet cable?

I've got a headache coming on...  :-/

Cheers
Nick    

[Baron Von Spongebob]

I find Nurofen are good..HTH...

[Nickbat]

I find Nurofen are good..HTH...

Where would I be without your sage advice, mate?  

[Leomas]

If you are going to setup a new PC for yourself then you could just leave the old one on Win2K. Connecting the two could be easy or hard depending on what internet connection you have (if any). Most ISPs now provide a router rather than a USB modem so you will have 4 ports to connect PCs in. Just connect both PCs in and setup a shared drive on each one to swap files.
Just make sure both are running a good anti-virus and firewall to avoid anti-social types playing games for you.

Nearly forgot to mention, the PCs don't have to be servers to connect to each other.

[Nickbat]

If you are going to setup a new PC for yourself then you could just leave the old one on Win2K. Connecting the two could be easy or hard depending on what internet connection you have (if any). Most ISPs now provide a router rather than a USB modem so you will have 4 ports to connect PCs in. Just connect both PCs in and setup a shared drive on each one to swap files.
Just make sure both are running a good anti-virus and firewall to avoid anti-social types playing games for you.

Nearly forgot to mention, the PCs don't have to be servers to connect to each other.

Thanks for that.  

So, when I install XP, should I setup as an administrator?

[jereboam]

So, when I install XP, should I setup as an administrator?

I think you have to have an Administrator account on the PC - you will use it during setup.  But you don't have to use it on a daily basis - you can create non-admin accounts.  If you have other people using the machine whose PC competence you don't trust, make sure they log in on a non-admin account.  

Some software won't install on a non-admin account.  As you won't have a server, your network will be peer-to-peer, and you will have to set up a workgroup - the default workgroup is called WORKGROUP.  I'm not sure, but I think there's only a very limited choice of user categories available with this set up - basically "admin" or "not admin".  

[Mr Skrunts]

If you are going to setup a new PC for yourself then you could just leave the old one on Win2K. Connecting the two could be easy or hard depending on what internet connection you have (if any). Most ISPs now provide a router rather than a USB modem so you will have 4 ports to connect PCs in. Just connect both PCs in and setup a shared drive on each one to swap files.
Just make sure both are running a good anti-virus and firewall to avoid anti-social types playing games for you.

Nearly forgot to mention, the PCs don't have to be servers to connect to each other.

Thanks for that.  

So, when I install XP, should I setup as an administrator?

No, Tis more trouble than it is worth.  I think TheBoy gave a brief explanation on it in a thread last month.

Either way for a home based PC there is no need for it, even for networking.

[Leomas]

If you are going to setup a new PC for yourself then you could just leave the old one on Win2K. Connecting the two could be easy or hard depending on what internet connection you have (if any). Most ISPs now provide a router rather than a USB modem so you will have 4 ports to connect PCs in. Just connect both PCs in and setup a shared drive on each one to swap files.
Just make sure both are running a good anti-virus and firewall to avoid anti-social types playing games for you.

Nearly forgot to mention, the PCs don't have to be servers to connect to each other.

Thanks for that.  

So, when I install XP, should I setup as an administrator?

No, Tis more trouble than it is worth.  I think TheBoy gave a brief explanation on it in a thread last month.

Either way for a home based PC there is no need for it, even for networking.

Unfortunately a lot of stuff for Windows (especially Games) needs to do stuff which needs Administrator level access and not just when you initially install it. Had this run-in a few times on my son's PC and ended up giving him Admin access. Was less grief than putting up with the whining and if he breaks it he just has to wait until I can get round to rebuilding it.
From memory, if you have XP Home or similar it handles this differently so you don't bump into the problem but I may be wrong there.

[Mr Skrunts]

I run XP Pro but admit that all the games I have have never asked for Admin permission, and if they did I think I would be a tad concerned as to why.

[Plomien]

http://www.dunedin-computers.com/
this site has some great deals on pcs
as for running your pc as a server you can do that if you want (i assume for the other pc to access the net?)
I would advise just using file sharing over a router

[TheBoy]

To answer original Qs:

Often not cost effective to build PCs now - you simply can't get components as cheap as HP/Dell/Acer.  If you have specific requirements, thats different.

You can set up a server.  MS Servers are a bit dear for home use unless special requirements again.  MS Home Server, afaik, is only available preinstalled.  Servers make backup easy and data access easier.

You need a seperate licence for each copy of Windows on each PC you install - so you can't go out and buy 1 copy of XP and install on 2 PCs.  Additionally, Retail versions are transferable between PCs (when you scrap one PC, you can put it on another), OEM copies are not (when you scrap/sell PC, you have to scrap/supply licence with it).


Outside of a domain, you have Computer Administrator accounts and Limited User accounts.

[dbug]

To answer original Qs:

Often not cost effective to build PCs now - you simply can't get components as cheap as HP/Dell/Acer.  If you have specific requirements, thats different.

You can set up a server.  MS Servers are a bit dear for home use unless special requirements again.  MS Home Server, afaik, is only available preinstalled.  Servers make backup easy and data access easier.

You need a seperate licence for each copy of Windows on each PC you install - so you can't go out and buy 1 copy of XP and install on 2 PCs.  Additionally, Retail versions are transferable between PCs (when you scrap one PC, you can put it on another), OEM copies are not (when you scrap/sell PC, you have to scrap/supply licence with it).


Outside of a domain, you have Computer Administrator accounts and Limited User accounts.

Agreed.
However no need to set up a server - simpler to access network and internet via a router either wired or wireless.  If wireless secure your network!

[TheBoy]

To answer original Qs:

Often not cost effective to build PCs now - you simply can't get components as cheap as HP/Dell/Acer.  If you have specific requirements, thats different.

You can set up a server.  MS Servers are a bit dear for home use unless special requirements again.  MS Home Server, afaik, is only available preinstalled.  Servers make backup easy and data access easier.

You need a seperate licence for each copy of Windows on each PC you install - so you can't go out and buy 1 copy of XP and install on 2 PCs.  Additionally, Retail versions are transferable between PCs (when you scrap one PC, you can put it on another), OEM copies are not (when you scrap/sell PC, you have to scrap/supply licence with it).


Outside of a domain, you have Computer Administrator accounts and Limited User accounts.

Agreed.
However no need to set up a server - simpler to access network and internet via a router either wired or wireless.  If wireless secure your network!

Yup, agree. Downside or home peer-peer networking is files tend to get scattered across various machines, making backups nigh on impossible.  If you have an old PC, a central always on file and print server isn't a bad idea (even if its still using peer-peer network, rather than paying out for Windows Server).

[Nickbat]

To answer original Qs:

Often not cost effective to build PCs now - you simply can't get components as cheap as HP/Dell/Acer.  If you have specific requirements, thats different.

You can set up a server.  MS Servers are a bit dear for home use unless special requirements again.  MS Home Server, afaik, is only available preinstalled.  Servers make backup easy and data access easier.

You need a seperate licence for each copy of Windows on each PC you install - so you can't go out and buy 1 copy of XP and install on 2 PCs.  Additionally, Retail versions are transferable between PCs (when you scrap one PC, you can put it on another), OEM copies are not (when you scrap/sell PC, you have to scrap/supply licence with it).


Outside of a domain, you have Computer Administrator accounts and Limited User accounts.

Thanks, everyone.

Could you still upgrade a peripheral, e.g. mobo or processor without having to scrap the licence? Also, as someone has suggested, is it perfectly feasible to have XP and Win2K PCs talking to each other, or at least sharing a router?

[TheBoy]

To answer original Qs:

Often not cost effective to build PCs now - you simply can't get components as cheap as HP/Dell/Acer.  If you have specific requirements, thats different.

You can set up a server.  MS Servers are a bit dear for home use unless special requirements again.  MS Home Server, afaik, is only available preinstalled.  Servers make backup easy and data access easier.

You need a seperate licence for each copy of Windows on each PC you install - so you can't go out and buy 1 copy of XP and install on 2 PCs.  Additionally, Retail versions are transferable between PCs (when you scrap one PC, you can put it on another), OEM copies are not (when you scrap/sell PC, you have to scrap/supply licence with it).


Outside of a domain, you have Computer Administrator accounts and Limited User accounts.

Thanks, everyone.

Could you still upgrade a peripheral, e.g. mobo or processor without having to scrap the licence? Also, as someone has suggested, is it perfectly feasible to have XP and Win2K PCs talking to each other, or at least sharing a router?

XP and W2K will happily coexist.  Older versions will need tweaks to cooperate.

As to the OEM copy, and upgrades, gets very grey.  If bought with a piece of hardware (only way to buy in retail channel), then that piece of hardware has to remain. If bought with PC, then upgrades are allowed as long as it can still be considered the same PC - clear as mud