Just so you know that I am not a total flake, I will give you a progress report.
I put my old hard drive back into the T61 laptop and installed the trial version of SBS Essentials. Sandeep said it would work on dual core, and it does.
So far, Essentials works great on the laptop/server, and I have connected another machine to the server with the Connect program (over a wireless connection). Of course, there are no programs on it except Internet Explorer
I also figured out how to log back into my local machine -- at first, I thought I was stuck using it as a client of the Essentials server.
However, now my Network and Sharing center now says I am part of TEST.local domain -- I don't know how to get back onto my original home network. I haven't gone to the office to see what will happen when I try to connect there. Maybe it won't be a problem.
Tomorrow, I will put AC on the Essential server to run on my TEST network.
I'm not ready to think about doing this to the real office yet -- so far I have just been using defaults and wizards -- I haven't the slightest idea what I am doing! *************** New insight-- I just went to "advanced system properties" and I see the computer is now in the TEST.domain. I presume I can change it back to the LCC workgroup to get back into the home and office network. Is there any way to switch between domains and workgroups without changing the domain in the System Properties window and rebooting? Seems clumsy.
I do think I understand what Exchange is for after Bert's story -- but the idea of emailing patients (or worse, allowing them to email me!) is just too horrifying to contemplate. I could spend my entire life trying to keep up with their foolish spew-- and you can't bill a nickel for all that work. I don't think I want Exchange!