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Pastimes : Dream Machine ( Build your own PC ) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Frank Buck who wrote (116)	2/3/1998 11:27:00 PM
From: Zeuspaul	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 14778

Welcome aboard, we are looking for additional expertise. I hope you keep us informed about your network. A network can add a lot of value to a PC. Why buy several backup devices when one will do if it is accessible through the Network? I use an Ethernet network and a Token ring network at work but did not set them up. I tried once at home (network in a box $50+/-, installs in minutes) but gave up. I will try again with a name brand card (3 com??). Microsoft has left islands of computer users stranded in their many operating systems. Many programs will work in NT but there is no guarantee that all will work. NT is a great operating system but it is best if you "start from scratch" with NT compatible programs. Some of the machines that I work with are set up with a dual boot option. If you load DOS first and then NT you can select a dual boot during set up. When you turn your machine on you will have a screen that offers you a choice between NT or DOS. If you choose DOS you will totally skip NT and all of your old DOS programs will work. I don't like working with the dual boot configuration but am forced to do so as some of my DOS/Win 95 programs will not work in NT. Programs that require a hardware lock in the parallel port will probably not work. You may also find that many old drivers will not work. The problems I have with the dual operating systems are generally hardware related. For example it will probably be a lot harder for you to configure your network to work in both systems. I have little trouble With Win 95 and DOS. Most basic DOS programs will work from the DOS command line in Win 95. Those that will not run as they run in protected mode will run if I restart in MS DOS mode. You can have all three operating systems. One of my dual boot configurations gives me the choice of going to DOS or NT on turning on the computer. If I choose DOS it goes to Win 95. I can then work in Win 95 or choose shut down and restart in MS DOS mode. When I can figure out how to do it I am going to remove NT because it is driving me nuts. If you opt for multiple operating systems you should get some advice from someone that knows more about this stuff than I do. I believe it is best if you can install all of the operating systems in their respective directories. For example, if you install Windows 3.1 in its own directory you will always be able to go to DOS and then execute Windows 3.1. My recommendation is if you have a lot of old software and you do not have a need for NT, don't use it. Hopefully someone else will give us some additional input What size computer are you thinking about? We can work on more configurations. So far we are looking at two high end machines, one graphics oriented and one for daytraders. Maybe we need a network machine. Regards Zeuspaul

To: Frank Buck who wrote (116)	2/4/1998 9:50:00 AM
From: Ken	Respond to of 14778

Frank, Setting up a dual boot configuration with NT is very easy. It would simplify things to keep both OS on the same drive, but you could keep your old apps on a separate drive if you wish. As an alternative, you could have your main machine running NT and another networked machine running Windows95 or 3.11 for your legacy apps. I have a network at home and have used all of these approaches at one time or another. It is now set up with an ISDN line and configured so that any machine on the net can have independent Internet access using Wingate gateway software. One suggestion; use name brand PCI network cards. Much of the initial trouble I had was because of the noname Chinese-made network cards I used. Good luck, Ken