Subj : Bluetooth To Ethernet To : Ky Moffet From : Barry Martin Date : Tue Apr 14 2026 08:38:00 Hi Ky! > > One thing I've done over the years is practice on a spare system. > > Admittedly a hare expensive, but saves a lot of the wailing and gnashing > > of teeth when something goes wrong. > KM> This is a good use for an older PC. > Helps to have a second monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. Initially sounds > a bit expensive but worth the money when don't have to scramble to > repair the single system. KM> This is what a KVM is for.... one monitor etc, two to four KM> systems. Agree-but. Here I have found it hand to have (at least) two 'active' monitors: one is for the main system (which happens to have a second monitor attached, hence the 'at least') and an additional separate monitor which is on a HDMI switch (see later) for selecting multiple video inputs. (Now the 'later'.) I haven't had that much luck with KVM switches. Well, the one I have here currently. Half-works: will sometimes randomly switch from input to input (sometimes sequentially, sometimes randomly) even though I'm not touching anything -- sometimes not on any system in hours. Realize the computers do their thing which could cause an apparent random switch. (I miss the rotary switch KVM of the CRT days!) > I will also do the reverse: experiment on a brand-new system. I am > planning to upgrade my current system -- leave that one alone (it > works!), 'Experiment' with the new/upgrade system until it is running to > satisfaction. KM> Yeah, the new system tends to become the new "experimental" OS, KM> and eventually the host for that OS. Right: things to learn, changes to work around/get accustomed to, configurations to tweak. > > S.N.: The spare system could also be a virtual machine on the original. > > Probably can't do that with your XP. > KM> VirtualBox 4.3.12 is the last version that will run on XP. > KM> I use it to run Win8.1 in a VM, that being the newest Windows it > KM> will support. > KM> Generally linux doesn't work right (because the guest additions > KM> won't stay loaded), but ReactOS behaves, for what use that is. > KM> But this system has 64GB RAM, so I have room to play with. > I haven't had any problems with Guest Additions like that. I have had KM> It's the older version of VBox that's at fault. It has enough KM> trouble just launching linux. Oh, OK. > KM> With a low RAM system, VBox will run Win2K quite well, but > KM> nothing larger. > KM> So I discovered on the Win11 netbook, which only has 4GB RAM. > KM> Win2K runs fine in a VM, XP won't even start. > I'm surprised you haven't done some file editing. Probably not at all KM> Isn't a file problem, it's a running dry of resources problem. KM> Not enough CPU in a 1GHz celeron to spare the cycles, even if KM> there was enough RAM. KM> Conversely, Win2K will run on a 486 (it won't install, but it KM> WILL run). So it runs fine. Sometimes it seems to be a problem of "programming phrasing": the real OS won't work because it has a command the BIOS doesn't understand but the virtual machine will work because the VM knows how to work with that command. (Super-overly simplified!) ¯ ® ¯ BarryMartin3@MyMetronet.NET ® ¯ ® .... I disagree with KayJewelers:more kisses begin with MillerLight than Kay. --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47 þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA þ RNET 2.10U: ILink: Techware BBS þ Hollywood, Ca þ www.techware2k.com --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com (454:1/1) .