Posted: 8/2/2010 6:11:00 AM EDT
|
I am in process of setting up a home network system. I have a old computer.
Vista Home Premium 32 bit OS Pentium 4 3.00GHz 1GB What, if anything can I use this system for? Also in need of HD Media center or can I use this system? I am waiting for FIOS to be installed today. Over past week I have installed CAT6 lines for phone and internet and ran everything to a ON-Q centralized system. I also have access to Windows7 Professional and Windows Server 2003 if either will make a difference. I already know I will probably need to upgrade RAM, I was just curious if there is any use for this older system. Thanks. |
| Since you're going to have FIOS, maybe you should just go for a new system with Windows 7. You can setup simple file sharing with other computers on your network, or if you want to have a dedicated file/media server to act as a central repository for all your music/pics/movies, etc why not get an inexpensive (you can find them for $200-$400) NAS server? So for less than $1,000 you can be ready to rock with a new computer, NAS, and your new FIOS service (I wish I could get FIOS)! |
|
Just to clarify.
I have a new laptop XPS running Windows 7 Pro w/ Intel Core i7 and 6GB dual. I just thought that there might be a use for older system. I am looking at a Network Media center but don't know which to go with. If I use say a Seagate 4TB NAS is it going to give me the same as using a HD Media Player or which will benefit me more? Am looking at basically using it for movies, pic, song, storage and it needs to be accessible by at least 3 computer and 2 TVs. |
|
OK - well you're way more up to speed than it sounded like at first. Is that the Blackarmor unit you have? Personally, I'd probably use a main (NAS) file server (the way I have my own network setup), then a media center unit connected to the TV which would save/pull media from the NAS. That way, all your computers save/pull from the same place. So when people in the family are all using different cameras to offload pictures from, and downloading music from different sites, etc - all that media goes to one place and is shared/accessible by everybody on your network. I'd probably go for a new basic computer rather than trying to use the old machine - but it might be good for a "surf machine" for the kids, or in a public area of the house...
Works for me - We don't have orphaned/duplicate media floating around on different computers. Have fun! 
|
|
Quoted: Quoted: Why don't you just turn the desktop into a NAS? You already have the hardware (unless you want to drop in some more HDD). You just need some software on that thing. That's what I was originally asking about. The who, what and how to do it. Openfiler and FreeNAS are free but take some time to setup and learn and tune if you are not familiar with Linux. Windows Home Server for $100 which I hear is pretty easy to use. |