How to replace the main computer in a network without losing the network settings...?

Question

Hi I really need help with this one
3 Computers in a network 2 pc s are running win2000 and the 3rd win98. The main PC we will call W2000 is the main PC and the other pc's connect to this one for internet access and folders etc... Problem is W2000 is slowly dying and keeps shutting down. How do I replace the entire PC and start using the new PC with windows XP or Vista. Can i just plug in the new PC and the other PC's will connect via the router? Or are their settings to write down from the old W2000 pc to input into the replacment pc ?
thanks

Answer 1

You can save the configuration into a thumb USB drive (Win XP has a wizard for exactly that). Setup the new PC and then use the thumb drive as a source to load the configuration from. That also is a wizard.

Answer 2

This is a difficult question to answer in such a short space. This is why they pay me the big money (yeah, right). You should get Windows XP Professional. Not MEDIA addition, not Vista.

Set up the new computer and get it running. Use the USER MIGRATION TOOLS that come on the Windows XP setup disc or within the Windows XP computer. At the HELP prompt of XP, type MIGRATION. There will be a FILES AND SETTINGS TRANSFER WIZARD overview.

Now some questions: Is the Windows 2000 computer that is dying a file server, print server, DHCP server, and all in one? If so, you will need to disable the Internet Sharing section as this computer is likely the one handing out the addresses to all the other computers. From a COMMAND prompt(Dos prompt, or C:\) on the other 2000 computer, type

IPCONFIG /all

Locate the IP address. If it starts off with something like 192.168.xxx.xxx it is possible that the dying computer is acting as a DHCP server.

I'd need to know many more things than what you have provided to be affective. Migrating from one server to another is a lot of work.

Answer 3

To switch the server from win2k to an XP machine, there are definitely going to be settings that need to be set up.

Keeping it offline, work on the new PC until you have all the network settings you need set up. Then add it to your router WITHOUT removing the current browser and get it to working that way. Once you have everything going, you can pull hte old PC and let the new one take over.
That's a very simplified description. You might want to ask this question on a dedicated newsgroup such as
Microsoft.public.windowsxp.network_web located in msnews.microsoft.net. You need more assistance than can be given here.

If any of hte above doesn't make sense to you, then I respectfully submit that you need to find someone to assist you or commit to a few days of downtime while you get things set up again. Things like this never go smoothly, especially for the inexperienced.

HTH
Tom`

Answer 4

Hi, once you get the new pc, name it the same as the old one, and install the software for the router, etc. You should be ok. If not, it is easy enough to create your new network by running the Network Set up WIzard in XP

See this: http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/hnw_setupw.mspx?mfr=true

Answer 5

It depends on the network setup. If you are using DHCP you should be able to install a new pc and copy old pc's data to it. If not using DHCP, you are using static IP. You will need to write down the IP Subnet Mask Gateway DNS settings so you won't have network conflict while you set up the new pc. As long as you have DNS and your gateway you should not lose internet access unless old pc was internet connection sharing gateway.

Answer 6

with out the community drivers there is not any internet. . . Sigh. . . . Get a buddy's USB flashcontinual, or get one among your self. Then to flow the Dell internet website and get carry of the right drivers. next time you ought to genuinely keep a replica of the drivers. you ought to also use a public computing device and placed them on some form of memory. frequently Dell reinstall discs contain drivers. you are able to order new backup discs.

Answer 7

well i get it
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Hope this helps :-)
Best
Abhinav
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