My new system

[nhdonny]

Elsewhere I asked about the DVD this is about system config. issues.

emachines AMD XP 2600 2.12
512 mb
120 gig
DVD +/- RW
and XP Home -yech

I'm me a contractor or two and a summer intern come May. I got this to act as a file/project server and a design station when I have an intern in house.

I'd love to install Small Business Server or just Win2003 and go crazy testing .net stuff but I need to keep the perifs like the DVD working and I'm worried about using SBS as a workstation too. My Virtual PC 2004 is arriving this week so that may be an option but I have no experience with it.

I really don't have the budget to get another so sharing the resource is the only way. If XP Pro is the most sensible I can live without the SBS etc.

Any ideas on the best way to set this up. ? Much Appreciated

[jmbeach]

I don't know, but some of the computer deals going around right now make it hard to just consider another machine for testing purposes. That way you don't need to worry about messing it up

I just use an old Athlon 1000 with Win2000 Server as my file/web server and have an even older P3 450 box that I'll be using to try something new. Don't know what yet. I would personally not want to share my workstation with any testing server because I want to be able to abuse it and not be afraid of doing anything that I'd regret.

Get yourself on the Dell small business list and you'll get great offers every couple of weeks. The latest one is a Dimension 4600 for only $399 after rebate.

http://dell1.m0.net/m/s.asp?HB122895...108573X312041X

You get a P4 2.8, XP home, CDRW drive, free shipping. Just get yourself a cheap monitor/input device switch and you can share the workstation monitor, etc. with both towers. I've picked up a couple of these recently for customers, and they're great for $400.

Sale ends today!

[nhdonny]

good Deal but I like the Tigerdirect.com refurb price I paid. Dell also is great for refurbs and they give a full warranty.

emachines
AMD XP 2600 2.12
512 mb
120 gig
DVD +/- RW
DVD ROM
Speakers

$499