Swapping Computers Today: I completed some projects, so I am going to take the time to remove this Dell from my desk and get Big Red back where it belongs. The Dell is in a lower...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I completed some projects, so I am going to take the time to remove this Dell from my desk and get Big Red back where it belongs. The Dell is in a lower compartment of this computer rolltop desk, but the big guy is too big for that slot, so it will go on top of the desk. That means re-routing all the wires. So many wires. It will be nice having it running again with is 64GB of memory and two optical drives. It has no HDD, just an M.1 and a 4TB SSD.

I think I'll spend a few more hours killing time here, though. 🤔

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yea, it's a pain replacing/moving desktops.
I put our new desktop on a horizontal filing cabinet next to the desk. Only had to get one USB extension cable for the powered USB hub on the opposite side of the desk.
Opening/swapping should be easier for me now as the old one was on the lower level of the desk.
The new box has a wireless keyboard and mouse, two less cables.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Longshadow wrote:

Yea, it's a pain replacing/moving desktops.
I put our new desktop on a horizontal filing cabinet next to the desk. Only had to get one USB extension cable for the powered USB hub on the opposite side of the desk.
Opening/swapping should be easier for me now as the old one was on the lower level of the desk.
The new box has a wireless keyboard and mouse, two less cables.

My son and I lifted this heavy machine without scratching it. It's resting on a piece of cardboard, and that makes it easy to slide around to get at connections. If I removed the two drawers and slots from the computer side of this rolltop, I could get the big one in there, but I don't want to give up the storage.

ddgm Loc: Hamilton, Ontario & Fort Myers, FL

Pictures

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

jerryc41 wrote:

I completed some projects, so I am going to take t... (show quote)

You shouldn't have a computer in a compartment anyway. Heat heat heat.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

The Dell will make an excellent backup machine.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

cahale wrote:

You shouldn't have a computer in a compartment anyway. Heat heat heat.

I was concerned about that, but I always keep the door open, I added two fans, and there is ventilation within the slot. I cut a hole in the front for the second fan, and I have magnetic filter screens on them. I monitor the temperature, and it has never gotten hot, even in the summer.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

TriX wrote:

The Dell will make an excellent backup machine.

Yes, it will, but I have to find a place to set it up.

This might sound odd, but I'm glad to see adds here. That means there is no secret adblocker running somewhere. I'll be able to watch YouTube videos and open all web pages. I think ot only way to solve that problem on the Dell would be to format the drive and start fresh.

KillroyII Loc: Middle Georgia

jerryc41 wrote:

I completed some projects, so I am going to take t... (show quote)

I already swapped computers, putting the new WIN11 PC in use a few weeks ago. At that time, I stripped all of the hard drives out of my old PC… on a path to trash it… but now thinking about putting 2 drives back in it and placing it in a slot between my computer desk and a filing cabinet… that way my monitor can be connected to both new and old PCs (monitor allows 3 connections and has a switch between the 3). This old PC can not only be used in backup but it also has an internal DVD writer (HD/ M-disc) and slots for camera memory cards that are not built into the new PC (have externals but dislike the wire & device clutter.

Thinking about trying to NOT connect old PC to our LAN but connect to a 2nd LAN connection I would add to the PC. Have you tried that… can I keep the old PC off the internet that way… restrict it to communicate only with new PC?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

KillroyII wrote:

I already swapped computers, putting the new WIN11... (show quote)

I think Windows can block internet access for a computer. That way you can put it on the same network with the other computers so they can talk to each other easily.
Is your router PW protected? I would imagine the world shouldn't be able to get to any computer without the router PW.

KillroyII Loc: Middle Georgia

Longshadow wrote:

I think Windows can block internet access for a computer. That way you can put it on the same network with the other computers so they can talk to each other easily.
Is your router PW protected? I would imagine the world shouldn't be able to get to any computer without the router PW.

Thanks… that should make it easier. Yes my router is PW protected… a long and complicated password.

BebuLamar

Hi Jerry,
Do you use Photoshop? And if you do can either of your computers (Dell or Big Red) handle the nef files from the Z8?

Schoee Loc: Europe

jerryc41 wrote:

I completed some projects, so I am going to take t... (show quote)

M.1 or M.2 ? M.1 not common

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

KillroyII wrote:

I already swapped computers, putting the new WIN11... (show quote)

You can do that physically if both NICs are auto sensing (which most are) if not, you can use a crossover Ethernet cable. Having not tried that (I’d typically just create a subnet), I’m not sure how Windows will know which network to use for what. Any of you networking gurus in the forum know?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

TriX wrote:

You can do that physically if both NICs are auto sensing (which most are) if not, you can use a crossover Ethernet cable. Having not tried that (I’d typically just create a subnet), I’m not sure how Windows will know which network to use for what. Any of you networking gurus in the forum know?

Not a Guru, but I have used a crossover cable to connect my laptop to my desktop to copy/transfer files.
In Explorer it just shows up as another network drive device location. I did find that I had to turn WIFI off on the laptop. For some reason the laptop wanted to transfer via WIFI, which if encrypted, is so slow.