I'm looking to run a simple file server for my PS3, AppleTV / iTunes, and shared folders.

The system only has 512mb of memory and I really don't want to fight with Windows 2003 server.

I'm looking at the different Windows products and was wondering what was everybody's experience with the different systems.

It appears XP Embedded will be easier to setup and get running, however CE would allow for a faster system since it has less of the OS.

This system is to be used for nothing other than the file hosting to the different systems around the house and recommendations are appreciated. (System being used is an Acer Aspire AST135-US3303)

11/16/2007 8:32:20 AM

if it's only hosting files, xp or 2003 will be fine. openfiler or some *nix distro would probably be the best. you wouldn't even need X

11/16/2007 8:44:29 AM

The reason I was thinking of using XP Embedded is just to strip down the OS though, this system has a Sempron processor so hosting to a few systems would be taxing on it (1gb backbone in the house).

Server 2003 kills the system by the way.... kills.

11/16/2007 8:56:56 AM

that is plenty for server 2003

i ran it on a 850 MHz PIII with 512 MB of RAM as just a file server and it was flawless

11/16/2007 10:11:43 AM

I think shaggy ran a 2k3/xp server on a p3 400 with 384mb of ram back in the day.

[Edited on November 16, 2007 at 10:49 AM. Reason : on ncsu's 2.4gb pipe]

11/16/2007 10:48:09 AM

Okay, either way, question still stands, anybody use Windows Embedded or Windows CE?

Recommendations on either?

11/16/2007 9:46:01 PM

embedded

11/16/2007 9:48:45 PM

i use embedded on my car PC

it's fucking awesome

and fast

and boots up quickly

if you know what you're doing, that's the way to go

11/17/2007 12:53:30 AM

use it on a few terminals at work, never had any problems with it and plenty fast for how cheap the hardware was

11/17/2007 11:12:20 AM

i ran xp on both a p2 300 and a p3 400. both had atleast 384 megs of ram. the 400 might have had 512, i dont remember.

Anyhow they ran xp just fine and dandy and would probably do 2k3 decently. If you dont have a spare xp/2k3 liscence, get the free trial copy of embedded.

11/17/2007 11:14:44 AM