How do I connect to a secondary computer?

Experiment time again. (Oh God, why does he have to post here?) Yeah yeah I know, I can come up with some zingers from time to time and this is no exception.

I have a HP OEM computer which I would like to connect to my main computer. The experiment is to see if I can use the hdd from the oem without having to remove it and place it in my main computer. I am hoping I can access the hdd and format, install Windows XP from disk, not their recovery disk but my windows disk, thus removing all the excess they have installed. If this won't work I am hoping to at least format it and use it for storage for my main computer. Any ideas on this? Thanks.

John

 

I would install windows xp on it and network it.

 

Hi John,

The Win XP install might work, but I think you will find that the HP "recovery" disks are the only place that the "correct" drivers are available. Check the HP website about Win XP upgrading, I am pretty sure you will find that they will be more than happy to sell you their Win XP recovery version, but that is the only way to do it. As I said, it may work, but I don't think it will work correctly (hardware won't work correctly). They want you to purchase their version.

Running the drive as storage in your main computer may be less headaches (knowing HP, it probably won't physically fit into another computer )

Matt

 

?????? Why do you say " Install XP and Network it ????????? "

XP is not needed to set up a LAN. Proper Hardware and Software and setup of same is.

I have two 98SE machines, one XP Pro machine and a Printer all on a LAN via a Router and Switch. But other than the printer the machines are all home built. And I ( not Windows ) messed up SEVERAL times before I got it right.

And believe me the two 98SE machines were A LOT easier to setup than XP Pro.

OEM machines may ( as mattman says ) require special hardware and especially software. ( drivers ).

BillyBob

 

Hi dopey,

Another option would be to put the HP's drive into an external HD cage and connect via USB, it certainly would take up less room

Regards - Charles

 

Upon further investigating I realized my idea won't be easily done. I went into the bios and surprise surprise I found that there are no options. The only options are HP's. You do not have any other choices. I'm also thinking that flashing the bios would be out of the question because I'm assuming the motherboard is set up only for HP also. And I agree with you Mattman, the hdd is probably set for them also. And since you have to have their drivers installed, I think it best to just leave it alone because I'm not even sure now if changing the motherboard and bios would be applicable.

What a waste. HP, along with Dell and other OEM manufacturers, would have a popular computer if it wasn't for the unwanted installations they choose to install for the customer. Let the customer choose. But I guess OEM manufacturers are after a quick buck instead of popularity. Oh well. No more OEMs for me.

So, is there any way to connect these two computer together without networking them. I don't know how anyway. I just want to use HP's hdd as a secondary one to my main computer. Use it for storage if nothing else. I want to make it useful for something other than it being in the way. Thanks.

John

 

John,

I think you finding out how hard they make it to modify anthing.

I think you will find that a different motherboard will not fit into the case (hey, got us again! ).

The HDD should run on another computer. They "allow" you to add extra drives without having to buy a HP OEM type (wow!). There will be an information label on the drive with the model number, put the model number in a Google search and you find the drive manufacturer that made it From there, find information on it's jumpers, how to install it, etc.

Do you keep the drive and throw the rest away? As you said, it would be useful connected to another computer. A network would be best way, all you need is two NIC cards and a "crossover" cable (unless you want to get a hub/switch/router and use standard cables). Setting up a network is fun (sometimes HA-HA sort of fun ). If you have Win XP on one computer it can be easier.

Tutorials at:
www.practicallynetworked.com
www.homenethelp.com
The others might know of some more.

I feel akin with your sense of adventure
Matt

 

I very much dis-agree with that. My two 98SE machines were no tougher than XP.

But all I can say to dopey is;

I believe a better ( and MUCH easier ) way would be to get a Router.

Read my prevous post. All I did was to hook things together and set the NICs to Auto optain the IP address.

I know my setup works for DSL and Cable Modems. But if it works for Dial-up I do not know.

Aslo If you connect the two machines together with a Crossover cable I believe ( but not sure ) it would require the use of ICS ( Internet connection Sharing which I can not print my opinion of ) which does require XP I believe. And if the main machine is off nobody gets anywhere.

But if you do not need Internet on the 2nd machine I guess Crossover would be OK.

So now is the time to think about what you want to do.

But I believe that overall a Router is the better way. It makes it very simple to add more machines later if you wish. And it also keeps each machine as a Stand-Alone unit. As I said previously I have 2 98SE and 1 XP and nothing is shared unless I want to transfer something from one machine to the other.

In other words. With A Router no one single machine has to be on at all times.

But something that I forgot. You are using OEM machine. Mine are all home built.

BillyBob

PS
I have used both ways. With and without the Router. And believe me the Router way wins big time.

BB

 

Hi BillyBob,
My first attempt at networking was two 98 machines connected with a crossover cable. It does not need ICS (I put ICS on for a while and, like you, removed it, although I think it can help with the initial network setup if the computers won't start communicating). I still use the crossover cable when I need to. The router sounds like it would make things easier.

I have found that sharing needs to be turned on at least for the computers to start communicating with each other.

When connecting to my existing network, I have found the networking wizard in Win XP to work reasonably well (no problems). You still need to run your setup checks...like are the machines set in the same Workgroup.

Matt

 

?????? I have NEVER used ANY sharing ????????

I do not really SHARE anything between the PCs either. Not a CONSTANT sharing any way. I do not need to. I do however sometimes set up a temp share on ONE machine so I can transfer something If I need too. But it is turned off ASAP after the Transfer is done.

For instance. Bob is using a COPY of the HD that Nancy has. So other then the OS it is setup the same. If I add new games to this machine that Nancy likes too I will install on BOTH machine and then we play them over TCP/IP just the same way we do when we play Golf on Tuesday evening with our Friend in Canada. We use his IP address to connect. such as 70.80.xxx.xx. BTW. , COMMAS , DO NOT work. Nancy uses mine or I use hers whichever way we happen to setup the game. And 95% of the time the IP is picked up automaticly.

But of course the games do need to be network capable.

???? What in heavens name is Networking Wizard ????

?? What setup checks?? You mean the ones where you try to connect to play a game ?? If so that is the only one I use.

BUT. I AM USING a ROUTER. I never had two machines connected before I built the 2nd one. I installed the Router at the same time. I just installed the NICs and set them to Auto Optain IP address and GO !

And the Router makes it nice when I can have all three machines online at the same time. I do not think ( note that I said THINK ) that can be done with sharing.

I do not think ( there is that word THINK again) the machines even need to be in the same workgroup UNLESS you do actually use sharing. (again. the Router may come into play ) I do however keep them in the same workgroup for easier overall handling.

Another thing that MAY happen with sharing. ( I do not know for sure ) If something gets into one machine ( virus etc. ) it may be able to get into ALL machines. ( I am GUESSING there )

But my main concern is too keep each machine as close to 100% independent as possible. That way if one does go South it will not take anything on the other with it.

OK. Time to get off the Soap Box and go join the Wife for Dinner.

BillyBob

 

Soapbox, maybe, good info for me

I run Win XP pro. The wizard is actually called the "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard" and set up Win XP on my network without any fuss.

Your router setup sounds a lot different from my "grass roots" manual setup. I don't have broadband, but I think I would have to completely reinstall my network if I got it (as you say, because of allocation of IP addresses).

Matt

 

My adventure with this HP OEM machine is quickly turning into frustration. My frustration with this is turning into more adventure. HaHaHa (evil laugh). I shall overcome.

BillyBob this machine I'm using now is a build one. I finally got smart about a year ago and had it build for me. And believe me, I have no complaints with it. The HP machine is a spare which just sits around collecting dust.

I thought if I could connect the two together I could at least use the hard drive from the OEM without having to take it out and put it in this one.

This is my plan for the HP machine: To connect it to the build one, use the built machine to wipe the HP hard drive (if possible) and use the HP hard drive for storage. I am hoping to set it up in such a way that the built computer would see the HP hard drive as an extra partition in the built machine (if possible). I am hoping doing this would be easier than taking the hard drive from the HP and installing in the built one since I'm concerned the the HP hard drive won't be able to be installed in the built one. My trust with OEM has vanished.

I have dial up so not sure if router would work. I don't plan on connecting to the internet with the HP machine anyway. If I can get away with it I won't even turn it on. I just want to connect the two machines together just to use the hard drive from the HP, making the built machine think the hard drive from the HP machine is installed in it rather than the Hp machine (if possible). My thinking is that if I want to sell the HP machine one day all I would have to do is disconnect it from the built machine, format it with the recovery disks and have it back to store condition when I bought it. Then I could let it go but in the meantime I'm hoping to use it to store files on it from the built machine. The big question is "Is it possible?" And if so, how?

Hi charlesvar, I'm skeptical about doing so since its a HP OEM hard drive I'm talking about here. I'm afraid that if I remove it from the HP computer it will self destruct or something. I'm not too concerned about the room tho cause I got a big desk.

 

I’ve done this on a temp basis, but maybe it’s the easy solution you are looking for. If you sit the machines close enough together with the sides off you can usually manage to get one of the IDE ribbon cables and one of the power cables to stretch far enough to plug into the hard drive in the other machine. If you have them facing different ways and then push them together I suppose you could maintain decent air flow through the main machine. There would be no need to have power to the HP unit. Of course only feasible if you have a free ribbon cable that does not need to also be connected to a drive in the main machine.

 

John, if you can connect your IDE cable to the HP's HD, per McTavish, you can certainly either put it into your case or use an external drive cage. AFAIK, HP does not mfg. drives, internal ATA drives are a standard size, the only question may be either the pin settings or the cable connections.

Regards - Charles

 

Great Dinner is over. Time now to get back to ATTEMPTING to help.

OK Folks. I see a couple of things that my well send my ideas down the drain in this case.

#1 an OEM ( HP ) machine.
#2 Dial up Internet. I do not know if a Router will handle it. I already had cable before I got the Router.

Also all three of my machines are home built. The oldest one goes back to the days of Win95. ( maybe even before ). But it plays the Network games just as well as the newer machines. I believe because of the IP use.

We were playing Internet Golf with 98SE before I upgraded to XP. I even still had 98SE for awhile after the Friend in Canada upgraded to XP.

Soapbox, maybe, good info for me

Thank you

Your router setup sounds a lot different from my "grass roots" manual setup.

Deffinetely.

Don't you have room to just install it in the main machine. That would surely be the easiest way. If it will fit and work that is.

BillyBob

 

More thoughts......

Assuming you don't want to access applications and just data or have a place to store files you can just setup an FTP server on the OEM system and access your files that way. I you want to remotely manage or run applications then connection via LAN in either standard LAN or Peer to Peer works....in LAN environment you cna use RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) from Microsoft....or some other remote access program....RDP does not support file transfers but access to data remotely and running applications.

If you can be more specific in your requirements you will get a more specific answer....and what OS are you looking to run ?

 

This may be just another one of my wild thoughts but;

Even if the Router would not use the Dial-Up connection I believe it could still be used between the machines.

From my own experience it is MUCH easier and more reliable.

And with the Router the OS makes no difference as long as a NIC is installed and setup properly. My Wife and I play games between 98SE and XP Pro with no problems because each machine is running on its own OS.

And I have no problems transfering files via sharing between the two if I so choose.

BillyBob

 

Also. If one has a Router and chooses to do so, a Networkable Printer can be plugged into the Router and then be available for use from any machine at any time.

Then no one certain machine has to be on in order to use the Printer.

JUST DON'T Forget like I did and shut the printer off. My wife got a bit upset when she could not prrint.

My Modem, Router, 4 port switch and the Printer are all plugged into a separate surge protector which only gets shutdown when we are going to be away for several days at a time.

BillyBob

 

lol boy do I have options. Considering what I want to do I'm going to try to install the hd from the oem to the built one, hoping there will be no trouble with the cable and switches but also hoping any difference can be easily rectified.

BillyBob, I like your setup. My problem is that dial up is my only option in my neck of the woods so I'm not sure a router would be a way to go for now. I don't want the oem to access the internet, I just want to access its hard drive from the built one, wipe it clean, and use it to store files. I was looking for a way to do this without having to remove the hd but I think it best to just install it in the built one, if possible.

Thanks to everyone who responded. Considering I'm not too hardware savvy, it helps to be able to ask people who know.

 

That reads like a good idea and works for me.

BillyBob

PS.
You may like my setup but if you think it was all fun and games to get it that way, please think again. It took many hours of trial and error ( and bad language ) to get it that way. What worked for one machine and/or OS did not always work for the other.

Then toss in a typing error ( 90% of the trouble ) once in awhile sure did not help. But it has proven to be well worth it.

BillyBob