Computer Questions

addo · Post by **addo** » 15 Jan 2011, 08:37

I allege this to be French car related, as it affects my database of pictures, and collected emails.

My everyday computer has almost rogered the graphics card (Nvidia) due to its miniature cooling fan dying. So, no display until a new fan arrives. I've temporarily switched to the Lexia laptop just to keep things moving - however a couple of questions:

Would a USB to IDE adapter only show passive files on the HDD or will it allow me to run programs like Outlook Express already on the HDD? Desktop is XP Home, laptop XP Pro.

Otherwise, is there any simple way to use the desktop computer driving the laptop screen?

Cheers, Adam.

Post by **Paul-R** » 15 Jan 2011, 11:06

You can only view the files passively in the main.

Big programs make alterations to the registry, use specific dll files and scatter bits of themselves about the place. There is the occasional very small program that will run independantly (such as a fat32 formatting program I have) but they are in the minority.

And I don't know of any easy way to use a laptop screen by itself.

KP · Post by KP » 15 Jan 2011, 20:23

Sorry but your a bit stuck.

You could try an external caddy for the IDE disk and boot the laptop from it but it would not be happy due to the hardware differences. Are we talking about an agp gfx card here or even older pci?

addo · Post by **addo** » 15 Jan 2011, 22:19

The dead video card is a GeForceFX5500. I'd ordered a replacement cooling fan of improved design but now fear the card is too dead and the fan is probably barely left Taiwan...

From what Paul says, it seems I can't run a program like OE that's resident on the HDD.

Post by **Paul-R** » 16 Jan 2011, 00:27

That's right. If you have to install a program then it won't run as an external hard disc if removed from its original computer..

Homer · Post by **Homer** » 16 Jan 2011, 00:58

I assume the computer has no onboard video you can revert to?

Another FX5500 or similar should be cheap enough off of that ebay. Do you know what expansion slot type it is? (most likely AGP I'd guess).

Getting anything out of Outlook Express is a pain from what I remember. You might have some luck copying the datafiles over and replacing the relevant ones on the laptop.

There is no way to use the desktop without a video card, the BIOS simply won't let it boot.

Post by **myglaren** » 16 Jan 2011, 16:11

Chuck a cheap/secondhand card at it temporarily.
It may be rubbish but it will work well enough for simple tasks.

addo · Post by **addo** » 16 Jan 2011, 19:59

I reckon that's today's course of action, assuming I am close enough to one of the shops with donor computers in a heap to one side.