Sharing Files on a Network

[Shiraz]

I have an ethernet network with 2 PCs. What I would like to know is, if I run a program from one computer on the second will the computer the program is running from slow down (in terms of speed)??
e.g. During a Multiplayer Game

Also, is possible to access a program in a networked computer while, the user of that computer is running the same program??
i.e. With games like Command and Conquer; they say that you need a CD in each computer when player a multiplayer network game. Is this still true when you are sharing the game files from another computer (taking into account the above)??

Or, can you just use one CD in the computer the game is being shared from??

If any more info needed, please e-mail me.
Shiraz Z

I am running Windows 98 on both PCs

[ktkendall]

Shiraz;
The PC you are grabbing a program from should not degrade much, just a bit perhaps when it is loading from the HD over the net to the other PC.
I have a couple of LAN games and could not find a way around having a CD in each PC to actually play the game over the LAN!
Yes you should be able to access a program on the other PC while someone is running that same program on the other PC!!
Hope this helps!
KK

[Shiraz]

Thanks ktkendall!

But, is it possible to SKIP the idea of using a CD in each computer while playing a multiplayer such as Command and Conquer???

[ktkendall]

For the CD LAN capable games I have that have to have a CD in to play, I have not found a way around putting a CD in each PC to play muntiplayer over LAN! I tried copying entire CD to HD on other PC and installing game that way, but it still wants CD in the drive. Not sure if I violated Liscense agreement but I just burned a copy for my other PC so kids and I can play multiplayer over LAN!

[TheOldMan]

Shiraz,

When you use computer A to run a program located on computer B [connected by network], all you are doing is accessing computer B's disk to load the program into computer A's memory. Once it is loaded into memory, assuming it does not need to continually load segments from the disk, there will be no impact on computer B. It is running entirely on computer A. That is also why the program looks for the CD in computer A's drive.

Hope that helps.
The Old Man