file storage help....

[rubberman]

i got a home network. Dell desktop with ME and a laptop with XP. I have them networked so i see files off of each other. I have a 200mhz machine with a 2.1gig HD that i want to use for file storage (pictures and mpeg video clips). Do i need to put a OS on this machine? how would i go about this? thanks

[redwudz]

So you are saying you have a third computer with a 200MHZ processor with a 2.1GHZ HD? If that's so, I would take the HD out and put it in an external case, maybe USB 2.0 and use it that way.

[rubberman]

yes i have a 3rd computer that is 200mhz with a 2.1gig HD. I think i might have another 2 gig HD that i could add for more storage. what do you mean USB? hook it what?

[redwudz]

OK. With such a small size HD, it's not worth running a separate computer for storage. You can purchase an external HD enclosure with USB or Firewire in the box, and put the drive in that. Then, if you have USB 2.0 (Or USB 1.0 which is slower) you can plug this into one of your computers on the network and access it from any of the other computers on your home network. You could also get an enclosure that will take more than one drive.

As an alternative, you could also place those drives into one of your computers on your net, if you have the space in the box. You may have to get a PCI ATA controller if you have run out of IDE slots on your computer.

Or, you could go with the original idea and put the drives into the older computer. You would need an operating system on that computer of Win 95, 98, Win2000, XP or others. You would have to boot that machine and leave it on when accessing. Seems too complicated to me.

[mike1061]

A 2.1 gig hd is nothing. There is not enough space to do anything with a mpeg file. I'm in favor of getting an external unit, with a USB 2 port. With USB drives you can just plug them into any computer you want (hot swapable). This is useful if your working on one computer already. Just plug the external drive into the other computer and away you go. If you only have a USB 1 port, buy a USB 2 card. It makes a differance.
Thanks Mike