Don't spend money to buy USB hard disk cases for file backup. Hard disk cases are useful only when you want to carry large storage in your pocket so that you can copy files to another PC. Besides, if you install a CDROM in your old PC, it can be used as a CDROM server. The idea here is that your old PC do not need a monitor, mouse, or a keyboard to operate. All the controls and data transfer can be done via the ethernet port.
Software:
Windows 98 Second Edition (Web page)
WinVNC (Download) (Web page) to do remote control via network
XXCOPY (Download) (Web page) to do the backup copyMethods:
1. Make sure your PC can boot without a keyboard.
2. Make Windows 98 always boot to normal mode without login prompt:
2a. Install Windows 98 Second Edition.
2b. Delete *.PWL under the C:\WINDOWS directory.
2c. Start Windows again. At the login prompt, press [enter] without a password.
2d. Right click "Network Neighborhood" and at the "Properties", "Configuration", set "Primary Network Logon" to "Windows Logon".
2e. Unplug mouse and start Windows again. Remove warning message of no mouse at next boot.
2f. Modify C:\MSDOS.SYS, you must set the attribute such as:
attrib -r -h -s MSDOS.SYS
edit MSDOS.SYS
attrib +r +h +s MSDOS.SYS
Here is an example of what the MSDOS.SYS should be like. The idea is to make the PC always boot at normal mode, even when you have not properly shut down your PC. This link gives you detail information on the MSDOS.SYS file. You can also search many web pages about MSDOS.SYS information.3. Setup the proper network connection:
3a. From the Network Setting Configuration, at the "TCP/IP" setup, specify fix IP address, write that down in the front of your PC.
3b. Install the WinVNC software such that it behave as a VNC server.
3c. Share the drives to be used for backup space.
3d. Make or buy a PC to PC (cross) network cable to be connected between this PC and your normal work PC which require backup. Here is a link of how the cable can be made.
3e. Now make sure your old PC can boot without a keyboard and a mouse, and see if your normal work PC can ping its IP address.4. Install the require software:
4a. Install WinVNC client in the normal work PC. Run to make sure that you can use it to remote control your old PC via the network cable.
4b. Install XXCOPY in your normal work PC. Here are some sample Backup batch files for Windows 2000 (Method 1) or Windows 2000 (Method 2) or Windows 98. The idea is that XXCOPY will only backup those files that have been newly created or modified.
4c. Now every time you want to backup, just turn on your old PC and run the backup batch file from your normal work PC.
4d. It is still a good idea to use WinVNC to do a normal shutdown of your old PC instead of just turning off its power button. You can also use the WinVNC to check for hard disk usage and run diagnostic. If your network is slow, it is better to set the old PC display to use only 256 bit color.¡@