A computer without a hardrive?

[Ekj530]

I have all the components to put my boys' a computer together except a hardrive. I could take one out of my machine, but, I really do not want to do that. Hence, my question. Is there a way to network my machine to theirs and just let them access my hardrive resources. I know that allot of business applications have dummy nodes without hardrives and I was wondering if I could do that with their machine until I can get them a hardrive. I know I could use Knoppix or something like that and perhaps allow them to save to a Fat32 partition on my machine through the network. Any suggestions or is what I am proposing even possible. If so, anyone have any links to any websites that would explain the best way to do this. Thanks! Oh, btw, I am running W2K on my machine.

 

[MournSanity]

You can always run a live Linux distribution through a CD Rom drive. I believe Knoppix is one of those, but I am not sure.


EDIT: Yes, knoppix is one. There are also others out there if you look for them. Check out Linux Iso if you want to download it or others.

 

[jfall]

I think it would be a heck of a lot easier to get a hard drive 🙂

Oh, and I believe the QNX dist will boot off a single floppy

 

[Ekj530]

I am not against that idea. And, as long as they can access my FAT 32 partition, it might be the best temporary solution. If I take a hardrive out of my machine, I will have to completely redo everything since my setup is RAID and I would loose the whole array. But, I would also like to explore the other idea of somehow running their machine off of my drive or a partition that I select for them. Can't you boot from a network?

 

[mechBgon]

You'd be in violation of your Windows licensing if you did that, for starters. Hard drives are not very expensive and are far, far faster than a measly 100Mbit network connection or a CD-ROM drive, so why not spend $40-60 for a hard drive (assuming you have an OS license to use on it).

 

[Ekj530]

That is my final solution. I was just thinking about a temporary solution for a few weeks when I can afford a drive for them. I never really thought about license issues. I only have one W2K license and I have one Win98 SE license which I was going to put on their machine once I get the hardrive. Well, for now, I think I will go the knoppix route. Thanks! 🙂

 

[chocoruacal]

Originally posted by: Ekj530
I have all the components to put my boys' a computer together except a hardrive. I could take one out of my machine, but, I really do not want to do that. Hence, my question. Is there a way to network my machine to theirs and just let them access my hardrive resources. I know that allot of business applications have dummy nodes without hardrives and I was wondering if I could do that with their machine until I can get them a hardrive. I know I could use Knoppix or something like that and perhaps allow them to save to a Fat32 partition on my machine through the network. Any suggestions or is what I am proposing even possible. If so, anyone have any links to any websites that would explain the best way to do this. Thanks! Oh, btw, I am running W2K on my machine.

What would a used 10 to 30 gig hard drive set you back....maybe $20 max

🙂

 

[piasabird]

I was reading about some Lindows computers that boot off of a CDROM. They would probably want some money for that. Might be possible to run it off of a Flash drive or a flash reader if you had one. WWW.idot.com had some flash readers that can plug into an IDE port. However, by the time you bought that you could afford a hard drive.

WWW.IDOT.COM was selling those Lindows computers that boot off of a CDROM I think. I think they give you Lindows if you buy a system or possibly a hard drive from them. They make a lot of Mini-ITX mini computers.

 

[piasabird]

Check it out:

Bootable Lindows OS CD