Originally Posted by
Cornish Jack
In other words, can a scondary computer be used as an external drive caddy
YES. If you can run an operating system on the file server computer.
Windows has had built in file sharing over networks since about 1991. Windows for Workgroups 3.11.
So you can just use an ethernet cable or wireless networking and map (mount) the remote drives.
Linux also can publish or mount windows files using Samba.
You
share the folder (or whole drive) on the PC you want to use as the file server and then
map (mount) that remote drive on to the client.
For a novice there are various permissions and other holes to fall down. There will be loads of articles on t'interwebby.
It looks like you may be able to do IP (networking) over USB too. Not read in detail.
Or search for
[file sharing over usb windows to windows]
Good luck.