Networking pc's?

ORIGINAL: zentatonic
I just bought a new PC, and hope to use it strictly for audio (no internet connection).

How extensively can you network two computers together? Is there a way for me to freely access everything on my old PC (iTunes, internet connection, web design program etc.) through my new computer like an external drive through a USB connection?

Is it difficult? Am I better off just moving to the new pc completely?

Thanks!

You can share anything on your old machine with your new one, including its usb hard drives.
I do it all the time with my laptop, desktop and mac. I generally only "share" a few directories, however.

Have the DAW machine access shares on your other PC though... not the other way around, particularly if the other PC is connected to the internet. Shares have a security vulnerability associated with them, since shares look like folders to the client machine... if it gets violated, the shares might as well.

Are you going to hook them together directly, or via a hub?

- zevo

I have two wireless lan units... one that's connected to the internet, and one that's local only. But that's because I have 4 machines to manage, two that are internet capable, and one that isn't, and one that sometimes is.

When I want to share files, I connect wirelessly to the local connection...

The primary difference is that if you are connecting with cables, you use a crossover cable for computer to computer, and straight through cables if connecting to a hub or a switch.
If your machines are close to each other, you can use a crossover cable from one to the other and be done with it, unless of course you want one to have one connected to the internet as well, in which case you would need two nic cards in that PC.

There are tons of great resources about this online. Google is your best friend.
I'm rather big on security, so when I'm sharing files, primarily to make backups to the non-internet machine, none of the machines have an internet connection.

Good luck,
- zevo

I have my main DAW connected to a cheap network switch. I just enable the network connection only when I need to transfer mixes to my internet computer then I disable it. I then use my internet computer for posting songs to myspace downloading patches etc.

ORIGINAL: Ognis

ORIGINAL: coldsteal2

if you have no internet conection how are you going to register your Operating Software
and other software and get updates?
face it we all need that umbelical chord now and then at least for registering
and updates.

No you don't.

I couldnt

ORIGINAL: Ognis

I've never had to register XP. Any updates to my audio software I was able to download via my net PC with the serial numbers, xfer to disc, and put on my DAW (I think you should save the updates as it is).

I have always had to re register my XP after any major change like a new
motherboard, or new Hard Drive, i couldnt even get passed the blue screen without it.

cool keep it free of the internet if you can, more power to ya.