On behalf of Bob Cooper.

Working with a PC that doesn't have its own cd-rom can be difficult,
especially when all your software is on cd.
Your computer can access the cd of another computer in a couple ways:
one is
thru the network; a second is to physically borrow the cd-rom from
another
computer and (temporarily) install it in the one with the reformatted
HD.
The second way doesn't require any extra hardware except screw drivers
(and
maybe another IDE ribbon cable) and is straight forward.  Either way,
unless
you get an external unit, you are going to have to get into the box.
With
the second way, you do have to take careful notes of how things are
connected before removal of the cd-rom so you can 1) install it in a
similar
way on the other machine AND 2) reconnect it when you want that cd-rom
back
in the original machine.  Another possibility to carefully consider, is
temporarily moving a HD - either move the HD with the backup version of
the
system to the machine that has the reformatted HD or vice versa.  This
has
some extra nice possibilities, especially if the HDs are from the same
mfg.
For example Western Digital HDs usually come with a utility that will
copy
one partition onto another.  An advantage of moving the HD is the
copying
goes real fast.  NOTE, these changes often require changes in your
settings
for your BIOS: you may have to tell the BIOS to AUTOmatically add the
borrowed HD as either a slave to the Primary Master or add it in as the
Secondary IDE Master.  One usually has to enter similar info for the IDE

CD-ROM also. Also, UNLESS ONE MOVES THE IDE CD-ROM / HD to the PARALLEL
POSITION on the other system, e.g. Slave to Slave, you will have to move

the
(cd-rom / hd) IDE jumper. That is one advantage of doing things over the

network - neither BIOS changes nor jumper changes are needed.  Also note

that when one adds an extra hard drive to a DOS/Win3.X/95/98 that
already
has two or more HD partitions, the partition letter assignments for D
and
higher WILL BE CHANGED.  Software registered as on partition D: will not

run
for as long as the partitions are re-arranged.  A great feature of
Windows
NT 4 Server and higher, is one can freeze the partition lettering
assignments.

Restoring partitions over a network is done alot but most of the time
one is
NOT restoring the Windows partition.  Also be aware that if one uses a
network to copy a Windows95 partition, don't ask Win95 to do the copying

-
I've seen it choke on long filenames - Have NT do the copying.  Because
having your network work from DOS is a different problem than having it
work
from Windows.  It's been a long time since I had a DOS network.  And you

probably don't really need to either.  If the only software you have is
the
Win98 CD and you can't get your PC to boot into windows (because you
reformatted the HD), I suggest moving or buying an IDE CD-ROM.  Before
you
try though, many older BIOSes have problems with some older IDE CD-ROMs,

those that use INTEL hardware with a PIIX in the IDE controller.
What software to buy?  You need to describe the rest/other part of this
network.  For the simplest networking I recommend you get a $30 hub and
two
$25 ethernet NICs, LinkSys comes to mind.  3Com is good but hard to find

at
a good price.  Be sure that you get a diskette with drivers for the NIC
that
include your NOS.  Save yourself some hassle and get the same model NIC
for
both (all) pcs in the net.  You may save yourself some more grief if you

make sure the NIC is certified for Win98.  If you have an Internet
connection (and apparently you do) DOS drivers may be available from the

NIC
mfg .
-----Original Message-----
From: PCSOFT - Personal Computer software discussion list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Mendoza del Pino Cesar

Daniel
Sent: Friday, December 10, 1999 10:42 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PCSOFT] Networking


Hi.

How do I copy an entire folder trought the network to a computer that is

running only the DOS portion of Win98? (I had to format the hard drive
and
that PC does not have a cd-rom reader). What software do you recommend
(the
simplest the better).

Thanks in advance.

CDMDP

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