connecting old pc to web without firewall

  • Thread starter Thread starter jw 1111
  • Start date Start date
J

jw 1111

Hi, We have a lot of floppies disks that we wish to just save to a CD. The
problem is my current pc does not read floppies. I thought i would save the
contents on my old pc and then connect up to my broadband connection and
post it to my current pc.

The old pc has a very old free trial version of the free Zone Alarm
firewall. I read somewhere that you pc is most vunerable when you first
connect to broadband and do not yet have your firewall installed.

Is there any real danger if i connect; and then immediately download zone
alarm to the old pc or should i be doing something else that is a safer way?
bearing in mind i wish to continue with Zone Alarm. thanks
 
You mean doesnt read the floppies or you have no floppy drive?
If the latter, buy a floppy drive theyre invaluble.

If the old has zonealarm, connect update win & zonealarm and do whatever
 
jw said:
Hi, We have a lot of floppies disks that we wish to just save to a CD. The
problem is my current pc does not read floppies.
Click to expand...

A new floppy drive is about $12US. Convert to whatever currency you use.
Go buy one.
 
jw said:
Hi, We have a lot of floppies disks that we wish to just save to a CD.
The problem is my current pc does not read floppies. I thought i would
save the contents on my old pc and then connect up to my broadband
connection and post it to my current pc.
Click to expand...
Which kind of broadband, and how do the pcs connect to it? Is it a ethernet
jack or usb?
If it's ethernet, you may as well connect the 2 pcs directly with a
crossover cable and do the file exchange. No internet necessary.
If your broadband device (adsl modem, cable modem or whatever) has at least
2 ethernet jacks on the lan side, use them.
If you have/borrow/buy a cheap ethernet hub/switch, use that.
If the old pc already has a usb port, use a usb stick.
You may have to install drivers when it's running win98.
However, your best bet is to do some dumpster-diving for a spare floppy
drive.
If you are a coward and don't want to open the new pc case, buy a usb floppy
drive.
The old pc has a very old free trial version of the free Zone Alarm
firewall. I read somewhere that you pc is most vunerable when you first
connect to broadband and do not yet have your firewall installed.
Click to expand...
Win9x is almost safe on the i-net these days, as long as you don't launch
IE. Do not even start it up for windows updates unless you are protected.
ZA alone is only a partial protection.
Is there any real danger if i connect; and then immediately download zone
alarm to the old pc or should i be doing something else that is a safer
way?
bearing in mind i wish to continue with Zone Alarm. thanks
Click to expand...

When you are using IE for downloading stuff, you are at risk. Sorry.
 
instead of going into all the hussle on connecting the old computer to
the internet that has a firewall that will definetley prevent you from
displaying a page why not connect the two computer directly if your old
pc has a ethernet card you can use a cross-over cable to network the
two computer or you could device a null modem to connect both of them
just for file xfer, this is like setting up a thin-client network
 
jw said:
Hi, We have a lot of floppies disks that we wish to just save to a CD. The
problem is my current pc does not read floppies. I thought i would save the
contents on my old pc and then connect up to my broadband connection and
post it to my current pc.

The old pc has a very old free trial version of the free Zone Alarm
firewall. I read somewhere that you pc is most vunerable when you first
connect to broadband and do not yet have your firewall installed.

Is there any real danger if i connect; and then immediately download zone
alarm to the old pc or should i be doing something else that is a safer way?
bearing in mind i wish to continue with Zone Alarm. thanks
Click to expand...


all you have to do is network the two machines and do the file transfer...
if you are worried about picking up a virus..
just disconnect your broadband when you old machine is on
 
jw 1111 said:
The old pc has a very old free trial version of the free Zone Alarm
firewall. I read somewhere that you pc is most vunerable when you first
connect to broadband and do not yet have your firewall installed.
Click to expand...
Is there any real danger if i connect; and then immediately download zone
alarm to the old pc or should i be doing something else that is a safer way?
bearing in mind i wish to continue with Zone Alarm. thanks
Click to expand...


The old version of Zone Alarm will probably protect every bit as well as
the newer ones, so long as we're talking about firewall functions. Almost
all of the enhancements in later ZA versions have been interface
refinements and added no-firewall functions. Your proposed approach
sounds safe enough to me.
 
Back
Top