When do I need to setup a home network to share data?

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stevonz

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#47143 10-Nov-2009 18:02

I just purchased a netbook for the wife... its running XP home and no DVD drive.

I have some software I wanna install but I have it on DVD only. I've bought one, just waiting for it to arrive... in the meantime, I was thinking I could stick the DVD in my PC (XP Pro) already present at home and share this drive... then connect to this share.

I could either do this wired/wireless via the router... what do you think?

Cheers, Stevo

wazzageek

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#271768 10-Nov-2009 18:28

It should work OK, depending on whether the software checks that it's being install off a "proper" drive.

Some software expects it to be a drive, in which case you'll need to map a drive.

Failing that you could look at taking a bit-for-bit copy of the drive and using something like DaemonTools. (I think there is only a pay for version now, however)

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stevonz

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#271880 10-Nov-2009 23:50

wazzageek: It should work OK, depending on whether the software checks that it's being install off a "proper" drive.

Some software expects it to be a drive, in which case you'll need to map a drive.

You were right. I couldn't map to the DVD drive but I could to any other shared folder... bugger.

Cheers, Stevo

wazzageek

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#272001 11-Nov-2009 12:17

stevonz: You were right. I couldn't map to the DVD drive but I could to any other shared folder... bugger.

Assuming you have enough disk space, how about trying to copy the contents of the DVD into a folder, and then sharing that folder?

stevonz

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#272004 11-Nov-2009 12:25

wazzageek: Assuming you have enough disk space, how about trying to copy the contents of the DVD into a folder, and then sharing that folder?

Someone at work just advised me to do this... I didn't realise you could do this or would have just copied to a thumb drive... I thought there was some vaidation on the DVD to ensure its not copied data...???

Anyhow I have borrowed an external DVD drive from a mate at work & am loading office/ antivirus as I type this.

Thanks for your help!

Cheers, Stevo

wazzageek

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#272007 11-Nov-2009 12:31

stevonz: Someone at work just advised me to do this... I didn't realise you could do this or would have just copied to a thumb drive... I thought there was some vaidation on the DVD to ensure its not copied data...???

You know, I'd completely forgotten about thumb drives! (I use them all the time)

I think most software manufacturers have moved to using software keys to validate software ...