New/Old Laptop Questions

[ScottC]

I just picked up an old Hitachi 4140 Visionbook plus laptop.

There is no manual with it, so I have to just go on my limited computer knowledge and your help to figure it out.

I need a modem card for it, so what would be a good one to buy? I have a dsl line at home, too. Should I get a card for that, too?

Memory upgrades... it had 16MB as of now. I took off a bottom panel and found what I believe is a RAM card in one slot with an empty slot above it. Is that where I clip in the new memory? What would be a good amount for that size processor? (133mhz)

Hard drives... it has a 1.4 Gig drive in it now. Should I go bigger? If so, how do I get Windows onto the new hard drive? 1.4 was huge years ago, but now I can fill that amount up pretty quick!!

What are the ports on the back (I figured out the printer, mouse/keyboard, and external floppy slots)?

How do I connect it to my desktop? What will I need?

You can either reply here or email me!!

Thanks!!!!!!!!

Scott ;;

[scubadude]

Originally posted by ScottC
I just picked up an old Hitachi 4140 Visionbook plus laptop.

.........
How do I connect it to my desktop? What will I need?

Scott ;;

If you have a PCMCIA slot then get a Nic card for it and the computer you want to connct to and a crossover cable then you should be able to transfer anything from Desktop to Laptop As far as getting other hardware for the machine.....get it if you need it....if you need it then just do a search on the web for: Hitachi 4140 Visionbook plus

Im sure you will come up with some resourcefull links

[icemark]

If you have DSL at home then you don't need a modem, unless you are using it just for travelling. Use a nic hooked up to the DSL for access. If traveling I have always been partial to the Zoom PC card modems.

A decent PC card Nic runs maybe $35. You can use it with the DSL and for the file transfer Scuba mentions.

Memory is gonna depend on what you can afford and what OS you want to use. If you want to put in Windows 98SE, ME or XP you will want at least 128MB of memory. But, anything else 64MB is plenty, for a back up 'puter. Always get as much memory as you can afford.

For the HD 1.5 Gig is okay, unless again you want to put in any of the newer OS again (such as above). I have an older laptop that I use for file back up and a print server and it is just fine with a 1.2Gig drive, but I am running it with Win95B.