External Hard drive

[Willlow]

At the moment me and my gf each have a computer which is cluttering up the room. I am happy to go down to one computer, but have software on my computer (such as Photoshop, Quark, Indesign) that I dont want to lose. If I buy an external hard drive will I be able to save the software sto it so that I can use it on the other computer?

 

[Matt_B]

At the moment me and my gf each have a computer which is cluttering up the room. I am happy to go down to one computer, but have software on my computer (such as Photoshop, Quark, Indesign) that I dont want to lose. If I buy an external hard drive will I be able to save the software sto it so that I can use it on the other computer?

No. Some software will work, but not most, as it will store certain DLL files in local directories, including any user/layout data.

I tried to do this when I was at Uni and they only had specific computer rooms, so if I needed Photoshop I had to go to floor 1, for Office up to floor 3 etc.

Office worked fine, but Photoshop didn't and neither did Dreamweaver.

 

[Willlow]

No. Some software will work, but not most, as it will store certain DLL files in local directories, including any user/layout data.

I tried to do this when I was at Uni and they only had specific computer rooms, so if I needed Photoshop I had to go to floor 1, for Office up to floor 3 etc.

Office worked fine, but Photoshop didn't and neither did Dreamweaver.

Damn, should have known it wouldnt be that easy.

I suppose I will just have to get new copies of the software.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Macky]

Damn, should have known it wouldnt be that easy.

I suppose I will just have to get new copies of the software.

Would be a lot easier, and cheaper, to get yourself a KVM switch, that way you could keep both PC boxes but just have one keyboard, mouse & monitor.

You'll pick up a 2 port one for a few quid and they're a piece of piss to set up and use.

 

[Willlow]

Would be a lot easier, and cheaper, to get yourself a KVM switch, that way you could keep both PC boxes but just have one keyboard, mouse & monitor.

You'll pick up a 2 port one for a few quid and they're a piece of piss to set up and use.

I have never heard of a KVM switch before but it sounds like the perfect solution.

Thanks

 

[Macky]

I have never heard of a KVM switch before but it sounds like the perfect solution.

Thanks

Not a bother, this is the one I have.
It works great, you just tap twice on the scroll lock key on the keyboard to switch between PCs.

 

[Matt_B]

good solutions, I had (wrongly) assumed that they were both using laptops, which would be a bit cumbersome with a switch. Plus I hadn't thought of the switch idea

 

[Beijing Blue]

Move all her shit onto your pc, if the hard drive is big enough and non program related and use two sign in's from the log in screen, a kind of "his 'n hers" computer. You can still lock her out of your porn collection.

 

[Beijing Blue]

Actually I mean two User Accounts, fecking red wine.

 

[glyn]

Bizarrely I tried to use my external HD this morning and the power button is broken. When I saw this thread just now I thought I had started a thread about it when still half asleep. Either way, doesn't help me