General computer and tech thread

[somitomi]

I've been thinking of repurposing an old laptop with a less than reliable screen into some form of home server-like thing. Basically, I'd like to store files and backups on it and run some .NET-based Discord bots I wrote. Naturally I'd like to access the files remotely and it'd be nice if I could do that from outside the house as well, but that second part is not essential. I'd also like it to automatically turn on and off so it's not running at night when I'm asleep. What's the best way to set this up?

[ratammer]

Couple of days ago my computer stopped working. Seems to be a hard drive issue. I've already ordered a new computer (I've always had issues with this one) but I don't yet know how much data it will be possible to recover from the hard drive of this one, so I've been desperately checking what backups I have where.

All in all, if it can't be recovered, the most important things I've lost are various photos from holidays and other events.

[Jplus]

I've been thinking of repurposing an old laptop with a less than reliable screen into some form of home server-like thing. Basically, I'd like to store files and backups on it and run some .NET-based Discord bots I wrote. Naturally I'd like to access the files remotely and it'd be nice if I could do that from outside the house as well, but that second part is not essential. I'd also like it to automatically turn on and off so it's not running at night when I'm asleep. What's the best way to set this up?

I probably missed this question at the time. Did you figure out a solution?

I don't have much experience with this myself and I would not be able to tell you what's the "best" approach, but I do know that you can install off-the-shelf Linux on pretty much any old computer and that there is off-the-shelf, free of charge, open source, Linux-compatible software for all the things you mentioned (most .NET-based programming languages work fine under Mono). As for being able to reach the server from outside your house, that is a matter of (1) paying for dynamic DNS (included with many domain name registration services), (2) configuring your home router correctly and (3) configuring the server correctly.

Couple of days ago my computer stopped working. Seems to be a hard drive issue. I've already ordered a new computer (I've always had issues with this one) but I don't yet know how much data it will be possible to recover from the hard drive of this one, so I've been desperately checking what backups I have where.

All in all, if it can't be recovered, the most important things I've lost are various photos from holidays and other events.

Good luck recovering your data! Hugs (if you want) if anything important is lost.

[ratammer]

Thanks! My new computer just arrived and I'm setting everything up - and making sure to back up everything I can this time!

[somitomi]

I probably missed this question at the time. Did you figure out a solution?

Sort of I guess, I ended up running the computer non-stop and sharing one of the drives using the default Windows tools that exist for that purpose. It does the job

[Freddino18]

A couple of weeks ago I had overheating issues. Just got it back today and it seems like what they did is put my C drive in a new computer and STOLE MY FUCKING D DRIVE. Now I have a fingerprint scanner, a disk tray, and NONE OF MY GAMES OR OTHER IMPORTANT FILES.

[commodorejohn]

Oh that bites.

Rule number zero of handing over your machine to a tech: take the mass storage out. I remain immensely glad I thought to ask OEM support if they'd leave my HDD alone when I shipped in my laptop some years ago, because I'd probably have lost a recording project I'd spent the better part of two years on if I'd left it for them.

[Freddino18]

Ok, update, it's all fixed, no disc drive because that's where the D goes, and I didn't trust myself to open this up.

[Jplus]

Got myself a new PC with Linux (openSUSE with KDE, for those who know and care). I've been a mac user for 26 years, so I'm spoiled. I knew Linux would have more rough edges, but it still hits me every time something doesn't quite work the way it should.

On the bright side, the new PC is much newer and much more capable than the old one, so at least I get to enjoy a substantial performance boost. And I look forward to being more independent from Apple and perhaps having a bit more freedom with respect to software.

[commodorejohn]

It's a jump, for sure. I tried a couple times over the years but didn't stick with it; wasn't 'til Win10 made it clear that MS was just never gonna stop effing with my workflow that I finally forced myself to make the switch. I still find it clunkier than my old XP daily-driver, but at least the needless UI futzing is mostly limited to GNOME-land.