KVR Audio

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Wed Jan 31, 2024 4:20 pm

Hi,

I’ve been offered a free PC that I thought would make a nice media server and alternate machine for my daughter. The only issue is that it’s got no hard drive, meaning no OS either. I’m sort of clueless as to what I’d need to get to have this up and running. Can one buy a SSD with Windows preinstalled?

mcbpete · Post by **mcbpete** » Wed Jan 31, 2024 4:28 pm

From another machine download the iso & media creation tool from Microsoft onto a USB stick for with the Windows version you're wanting to put on it ( https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/win ... c3b507420d ). Stick a new/blank SSD in your new machine and boot with the USB stick on it and let it work its magic.

Obviously you'll need a product key/number for the OS itself too ( https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/win ... c3b507420d )

pljones · Post by **pljones** » Wed Jan 31, 2024 4:58 pm

There's Android tools that'll let you do the same thing - download the image and "burn" to USB drive.

seafire · Post by **seafire** » Wed Jan 31, 2024 5:01 pm

It may have the original OS serial on a sticker on the machine, I know a couple of mine did.

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Wed Jan 31, 2024 5:34 pm

Thrift store... get a "donor machine" for it's harddisk only.

osiris · Post by **osiris** » Wed Jan 31, 2024 9:35 pm

Sounds like a Chromebook

RunBeerRun · Post by **RunBeerRun** » Wed Jan 31, 2024 10:35 pm

I've never heard of a hard drive with windows already installed on it, but not sure.

My computer doesn't have a cd rom drive and I know I'd have to do a USB flashdrive to upgrade windows. But getting Windows to be on that flashdrive might be weird, you'd have to download it or transfer from a dvd on a seperate computer to the usb.

pekbro · Post by **pekbro** » Wed Jan 31, 2024 10:46 pm

Id use linux, better server for mac and such. Unless you need something specific to windoze.

vstdls · Post by **vstdls** » Thu Feb 01, 2024 1:46 am

1. See what sort of disk it needs, it may take an m.2 sata or nvme, but it will most certainly take a 2.5" sata ssd.

2. Purchase a disk of your choice. Storage is very affordable nowadays. Install it.

3. Purchase a usb thumb drive no 8GB or larger, no smaller.

4. Skip Windows Media Creation tool. Download Rufus from: https://rufus.ie/en/

This this where your path forks depending on your use case.

"Secondary computer for my daughter"
If you are looking to turn it into a Windows desktop....

( on another computer)

1. Download the current Windows 10 or 11 ISO from Microsoft. You do NOT need to download the Media Creation Tool, but they make you hunt a smidge on the page to download the ISO without MCT.

2. Insert your thumb drive and Use Rufus to make a windows installer - Rufus gives you ALOT of installation creation options to bypass alot of the bloat the MCT automatically makes you install (requiring a Microsoft account, advertising telemetry, etc.)

3. Insert your new installer into the new computer, boot to the thumb drive, and follow the install prompts. Viola, new windows machine.

If you want to make a home media/file server.

1. Download the ISO of a flavor of Linux. Ubuntu desktop is where to start if you're thinking "what is Linux?"..and want a Media server. If you're looking for a media/file server..I like TrueNAS. Turnkeylinux.org also makes available a huge amount of "already done for you" server appliances.

2. Rufus > make bootable thumb drive > put in new computer > boot to it > follow prompts. Viola - new Linux machine.

3. Search Google for "Plex" or "Jellyfin" or "Kodi" for movie/TV watching across your local network.

If you go the media/file server route... buy a big drive, or two, or 5.

Shabdahbriah · Post by **Shabdahbriah** » Thu Feb 01, 2024 2:36 am

^^^ Beat me to it ^^^ Rufus is the hot tip. Avoid Windows Media Creation tool . As to #3 you need to set "boot from USB" in the BIOS to do this. If it is REALLY old, it may not have that option. I'd recommend getting win-10, as not knowing how old the device is, it may not meet win-11 specs.

If you log onto microsofts page with a phone, you can download it directly to the phone and then transfer it via USB to your computer. If not,use the following workaround for getting just the ISO by spoofing the site, thus:

All you need is a web browser like Chrome or Edge.

To download Windows 10 ISO files using Google Chrome:

Go to Windows 10 download page in Chrome.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/softwar ... /windows10

Open Google Chrome menu (3 vertical dots at far right, on task bar).
Tap on More Tools and then select Developer tools as shown below.

Chrome-Dev.jpg

Now press Ctrl + Shift + M to toggle device bar and select iPhone, iPad or a Pixel phone.

Chrome-emulation.jpg

Refresh the page to access direct download links.

(or go Linux)

jamcat · Post by **jamcat** » Thu Feb 01, 2024 11:36 am

It has no disc drive or no disk drive?

BertKoor · Post by **BertKoor** » Thu Feb 01, 2024 11:54 am

jamcat wrote: ↑Thu Feb 01, 2024 11:36 am It has no disc drive or no disk drive?

as in: harddisc vs floppy disk?

Shabdahbriah · Post by **Shabdahbriah** » Thu Feb 01, 2024 4:46 pm

jamcat wrote: ↑Thu Feb 01, 2024 11:36 am It has no disc drive or no disk drive?

Neither. He cleverly avoided that trap.

zerocrossing wrote: ↑Wed Jan 31, 2024 4:20 pm [...] it’s got no hard drive, meaning no OS either.
[...] Can one buy a SSD with Windows preinstalled?

RunBeerRun · Post by **RunBeerRun** » Thu Feb 01, 2024 5:14 pm

I don't think a cd rom drive is even a standard addon anymore. I forgot to look at them all when I got my last computer.

Frantz · Post by **Frantz** » Thu Feb 01, 2024 5:27 pm

I think the short answer is this could be a lot more trouble than its worth unless this is a super high-end PC.

Free PC with no disc drive… what to do?