Hi
If the computer is 486 you should forget about such an arrangement any
Dollar that you put in it is a waste.
Search eBay there are Dell Optiplex GX270 P-4 class computers that are going
for about $100.
They are small form computers and many of them come with Windows 2000, or
WinXP COA.
By enabling the File sharing they can be used as NAS' as is.
Better Off spending extra $140 and implementing Al's suggestion of WHS.
I have few Optiplexes with Celeron 2GHz and they are running WHS very nice.
http://www.ezlan.net/WHS.html
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)
"ChrisOfTheOT" <NoSpam@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Og0%236bJKJHA.3460@xxxxxx
Quote:
> I'm trying to sort out a backup solution for our two laptops. We don't
> have a network at home, per se, but do use a WiFi router for internet
> access. We have been using a straight forward USB 2.0 drive for backups
> but as picture files get more numerous and huge, we need something
> considerably faster. (And I want to be backing-up more often - ideally,
> daily.)
>
>
>
> I have read bits and pieces about network attached storage and, if I went
> down that route, I'd probably go with the Freecom 1TB Network Drive Pro.
> It seems really good, but pricey.
>
>
>
> But I've also read that many people use an old PC for backup storage. I
> have an old PC - it may even be a 486, not a Pentium! - so wondered if
> that would do, especially if it saved some cash. (I'd need to buy a
> gigabit LAN & USB cards (to access a printer through), plus the hard drive
> but it'd still be so much cheaper.)
>
>
>
> The WiFi router is downstairs and, other than WiFi 'B', can only be
> accessed via a Homeplug AV adapter. (For occasional maintenance I can take
> a laptop downstairs, obviously.) Would it be possible - for me, a PC
> amateur - to use two routers in one network? Could I use a Homeplug AV
> adapter upstairs to link a new gigabit router to one laptop and the backup
> PC or NAS? How naive am I being? (The second laptop would need less
> frequent access to the backup PC/NAS as it has two hard drives.) The first
> laptop would need best-speed gigabit access, so the Homeplug AV/WiFi
> options are no good.
>
>
>
> I've spent many hours looking for these answers but have not got anywhere.
> Usually the website or book does not address my particular situation
> (understandably), or else everything gets way too technical - often
> because the business environment is in view. So any help would be much
> appreciated (especially, 'This is how I did our home NAS/backup PC'
> stories).
>