Upgrading My Very Old system - Experts Please Help Me Out

[navino87]

Hi guys,

Iam Planning to upgrade my old system im my office. It is very old... Think its p1...

In our office there are 2 system:
1-> Server: Its an old p1 based system. It stores all our Companies a/c... Very important datas...(dos based)

2-> Client : It is also an old system. it is connected to server by an old model lan card (Picture attached). On it startup it will ask whether it should start with lan. If "y" given it will start in dos mode(for accounts purpose). If "n" given it will start windows98 (which is installed in system itself)...

Now i wanna update System2 (client). I hav few que regarding it...


1. Is it possible to install thiese old type of lan card in latest system???


as it doesn't fit pci slot(its huge). If so the problem ends here. Any other way???

2. Is it possible to install the hdd of the server to the new machine??? So tat the comp cud work without server. My service man tells tat the hdd in the server is very old n it cannot be installed in new systems...

3. Is it possible to backup the hdd of the server to new hdd n install it in new system???

4. is it possible to upgrade the server itself??? so tat the client can be easily upgraded...

5. Is it possible 2 install new model lan card in the server??? As the client already has new model lan card... if so how 2 install driver?? as its dos based n it doesn't hav any cd r floppy drive

Please help me out... Now iam in critical situation tat i sud upgrade my system for other office purpose...

Thanks in advance

Regards,
Navin.

[navino87]

Some 1 please help me out...

[gulgulumaal]

1. The card u have is not PCI, it's ISA. It's very old standard. U wont find ISA slots on any of the newer motherboards (ISA has been obsolete for the past 10 years atleast). So pretty much u cant use the card

2. If the HDD is IDE, then yes, you can use it on any motherboard. Just attach a snap of the HDD connector and cable, and I'll tell u if it's IDE.

3.If it's IDE, u can backup and copy.

4.I have no clue. Not enough details.

5.If server has PCI slot u can install new model LAN card. Even in DOS mode, u can install the drivers.

U r asking too many questions without giving details

BTW how r the client and server connected? Is it using normal ethernet cable?. The connector on ur LAN card looks very wierd. Is it using coaxial cable or something?

[navino87]

^^^ thanks for ur reply... n sorry for less details...

Lan card: ISA-Bus Ethernet Adapter with BNC connectors.

A 1990s Ethernet network interface controller card which connects to the motherboard via the now-obsolete ISA bus.

Exact image : http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...twork_card.jpg

now-obsolete ISA bus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industr...d_Architecture

Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi.../3/36/Isa1.jpg

Exactly wat i wanna know is is there a pci card with BNC connectors...

I will check whether the hdd is ide n tell later... as now iam at home...

I cant give more info because its very old tat i cannot understand anything...

[infra_red_dude]

The HDD should be EIDE. This standard has been existant since about more than 10 years now!

[navino87]

so now wats the way 2 upgrade my office system??? another que, is it possible to connect 2 comp to 1 monitor???

[Charan]

Originally Posted by navino87

is it possible to connect 2 comp to 1 monitor???

Yes its possible using a KVM Switch ..

[navino87]

Thanks a lot for ur valuable reply guys.... Today i explored my server... It has 3 pci slot, think the hdd connected 2 it is ide but not sure of it... i took tat hdd n connected it to my new system... it worked fine it started up with tis hdd... every thing gone fine. when the server started it said some error with memory... (i hav 1 gb ram in my new comp) another error msg tat network cable unplugged. then started up normally...

Think tis info is sufficient... If more info required please ask me guys...

Now please help me out for my upgradation guys...

[gulgulumaal]

^^^My understanding is that u want to upgrade both ur machines (client and server).

Things that are holding u back are

1. Whether u can connect/get data from ur HDD. I think that problem is solved now, since u r able to connect it to ur new system

2. Connecting ur client to ur server.

Am I correct?


I suggest u check the following

See if u can connect ur client to server using ethernet cable instead of BNC. If that is possible, it shud be easy to upgrade both machines. After upgrade u shud be able to use the onboard ethernet connectors to connect the machines.

If u have to go with BNC connectors, check with some computer stores whether ethernet cards with BNC connectors are available. I dunno if these are available.

Check this out

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10BASE2

[MetalheadGautham]

I suggest you conect the HDD to a new system(not DOS) and copy all files from it to a new HDD. such an old system having critical files is a bad idea

edit: sorry, I mistead your point. I see that you WANT to upgrade the system. still, my tip holds good. I advice you to make a backup of the HDD and ditch the old one. Use a SATA II disc this time.

you may try an external case for coppying the files from.

[navino87]

Thanks a lot for ur suggestions guys....

Now the thing is tat When i connect the servers hdd as Master hdd in my new sys it starts up as server... When i connect the servers hdd as slave hdd in my new sys it it does't starts up with my new hdd... i get some error ...

Another thing is tat now i dont want tis server client system... i wanna make it in to a same system... But data1, data2 are 2 drives which has all our datas... but tis can only be assessed in the client when the server in loaded... I cant even see tis 2 folders in the server when it exits to dos mode... n when server is loaded i get "DPL:" instead of "c: or d:" i cant give any command in the server except "down"(tis will down the server mode n enter in to dos mode... n when the server in down the client cannot access server files data1 n data2) n in dos mode there is no data tat is relevant to our company...

1.now how can i access server's hdd in windows xp (new system) so tat i can take backup...

2.If the hdd is accessed in windows xp then where can i find data1 n data2???

I am mush confused now... Now i am pushed to the situation to upgrade my office system for other office purpose except accounts...

Please help me out guys...

[navino87]

Y dont u reply guys???? Is the info provided not sufficient??? please help me guys....

[gulgulumaal]

^^^dude...seriously...ur problems are too complex to discuss this way on a forum. U need some expert help...get the service of some knowledgeable computer guys in ur city. Since it is for your office, I suppose u wouldn't mind paying for service.

[navino87]

really i dont mind paying for tis... but the fact is tat none i met has knowledge in tis...

[g_goyal2000]

Originally Posted by gulgulumaal

^^^dude...seriously...ur problems are too complex to discuss this way on a forum. U need some expert help...get the service of some knowledgeable computer guys in ur city. Since it is for your office, I suppose u wouldn't mind paying for service.

I totally agree with him. But if u can't find someone who's able to help, then would be better if u bought an entirely new system.

[crystal_pup]

Why are you spending time waiting for others to reply to help you out with ur upgradation...Better go and buy a new system itself.