Heap of Obsolete Hardware
 

My local public library has a pile of antiquated PCs. There might be a
couple of 486s in the pile, but suspect most are 386s. Since no one has
the courage to just discard these crappers, we've managed to find a
charity that will take any PC, "as long as it works."

The provenance of the hardware is such that I should wipe the drives
clean. While I'm at it, it's reasonable for me to put some sort of
basic OS on the PCs. Outside of FreeDOS, does anyone have any
candidates for those machines? Is there a simple, pared down version of
Linux that would apply?

Thanks for your suggestions.

Heap of Obsolete Hardware
 

"Grinder" wrote in message
news:AuoAh.276547$aJ.142241@attbi_s21...
My local public library has a pile of antiquated PCs. There might be a
couple of 486s in the pile, but suspect most are 386s. Since no one has
the courage to just discard these crappers, we've managed to find a
charity that will take any PC, "as long as it works."

The provenance of the hardware is such that I should wipe the drives
clean. While I'm at it, it's reasonable for me to put some sort of
basic OS on the PCs. Outside of FreeDOS, does anyone have any
candidates for those machines? Is there a simple, pared down version of
Linux that would apply?

Thanks for your suggestions.


Though I'm a big Linux advocate...
it's not likely too many of the current Linux distros would work
on machines that old...
though I'm sure Slackware would do the job...
it's a bit harder to install.
i've managed to do it...it just made me do a little thinking.

You might want to consider win95...it will actually run OK
on as little as a 386 with 4 megs of ram

Heap of Obsolete Hardware
 

Grinder wrote:

My local public library has a pile of antiquated PCs. There might be a
couple of 486s in the pile, but suspect most are 386s. Since no one has
the courage to just discard these crappers, we've managed to find a
charity that will take any PC, "as long as it works."

Are you so sure that's the right thing to be doing to a charity? Are the people
at the charity knowledgeable about such things? If they expect to be able to
sell them to generate funds for the charity, they will be quickly disappointed.
If they expect to use them themselves, they will probably be similarly
disappointed. In the end, the charity will be the one paying the bill for the
disposal of hazardous waste. FWIW

Bob

Heap of Obsolete Hardware
 

"Robert Heiling" wrote in message
...
Grinder wrote:

My local public library has a pile of antiquated PCs. There might be a
couple of 486s in the pile, but suspect most are 386s. Since no one has
the courage to just discard these crappers, we've managed to find a
charity that will take any PC, "as long as it works."

Are you so sure that's the right thing to be doing to a charity? Are the
people
at the charity knowledgeable about such things? If they expect to be able
to
sell them to generate funds for the charity, they will be quickly
disappointed.
If they expect to use them themselves, they will probably be similarly
disappointed. In the end, the charity will be the one paying the bill for
the
disposal of hazardous waste. FWIW



There still is a use for older machines...
over the past few years I must have taken in dozens of 486's and P1's with
win95 on them.

Though they can be made internet capable...
they are quite useful to someone who just needs a word processor...
or to be used with "simple" games.

Great for kids or people who are just beginning to use a computer...

Anyone who is "computer-phobic" seems to relax a bit if you give
them an old machine for learning on...and told that the machine has zero
value...
so "if you break it...no big deal."

In the time that I've been doing this...
few of the people have done any damage to their machines...
and most of them moved on, eventually to something better.


BTW: I just gave an spare floppy drive to a friend of mine...who's
mother still uses a 286 and word perfect!



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Heap of Obsolete Hardware
 

I can remember back in 1988 when the 386 was the lastest and
greatest. Microsoft had released Windows 3.1, which my family used
religiously until it was time to upgrade. So, you might want to find
a couple copies of Win. 3.1 to run on those systems.

On Feb 13, 11:40 am, Grinder wrote:
My local public library has a pile of antiquated PCs. There might be a
couple of 486s in the pile, but suspect most are 386s. Since no one has
the courage to just discard these crappers, we've managed to find a
charity that will take any PC, "as long as it works."

The provenance of the hardware is such that I should wipe the drives
clean. While I'm at it, it's reasonable for me to put some sort of
basic OS on the PCs. Outside of FreeDOS, does anyone have any
candidates for those machines? Is there a simple, pared down version of
Linux that would apply?

Thanks for your suggestions.

Heap of Obsolete Hardware
 

On Feb 13, 11:40 am, Grinder wrote:
My local public library has a pile of antiquated PCs. There might be a
couple of 486s in the pile, but suspect most are 386s. Since no one has
the courage to just discard these crappers, we've managed to find a
charity that will take any PC, "as long as it works."

Where are you located? There are a number of computer recyclers around
the country.


The provenance of the hardware is such that I should wipe the drives
clean. While I'm at it, it's reasonable for me to put some sort of
basic OS on the PCs. Outside of FreeDOS, does anyone have any
candidates for those machines? Is there a simple, pared down version of
Linux that would apply?

Thanks for your suggestions.

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
But that only applies to the top 486s.

Win 3.11 is about all you can do with the 386s

Win95 or MAYBE 98 should be OK for the 486s

Heap of Obsolete Hardware
 

philo wrote
Robert Heiling wrote
Grinder wrote

My local public library has a pile of antiquated PCs. There might
be a couple of 486s in the pile, but suspect most are 386s. Since
no one has the courage to just discard these crappers, we've
managed to find a charity that will take any PC, "as long as it works."

Are you so sure that's the right thing to be doing to a charity?
Are the people at the charity knowledgeable about such things?
If they expect to be able to sell them to generate funds for the
charity, they will be quickly disappointed. If they expect to use
them themselves, they will probably be similarly disappointed.
In the end, the charity will be the one paying the bill for the
disposal of hazardous waste. FWIW

There still is a use for older machines...

Bugger all for 386s by operations like that.

over the past few years I must have taken in
dozens of 486's and P1's with win95 on them.

Different matter to 386s by operations like that.

Though they can be made internet capable...
they are quite useful to someone who just needs a
word processor... or to be used with "simple" games.

Those are, but 386s arent anymore.

Great for kids or people who are just beginning to use a computer...

Nope, not 386s.

Anyone who is "computer-phobic" seems to relax
a bit if you give them an old machine for learning on...
and told that the machine has zero value...
so "if you break it...no big deal."

Thats true of 486s and and P1, no point in farting around with 386s anymore.

In the time that I've been doing this...
few of the people have done any damage to their machines...
and most of them moved on, eventually to something better.

So it would make a lot more sense to start
with something better and not be stuck with 95.

BTW: I just gave an spare floppy drive to a friend of mine...
who's mother still uses a 286 and word perfect!

Irrelevant to how much sense that makes.

Heap of Obsolete Hardware
 

Robert Heiling wrote:
Grinder wrote:
My local public library has a pile of antiquated PCs. There might be a
couple of 486s in the pile, but suspect most are 386s. Since no one has
the courage to just discard these crappers, we've managed to find a
charity that will take any PC, "as long as it works."

Are you so sure that's the right thing to be doing to a charity? Are the people
at the charity knowledgeable about such things?

I was very clear to their rep about the generation of the machines. She
seemed to understand what I was saying and was unequivocal about wanting
the hardware.

If they expect to be able to
sell them to generate funds for the charity, they will be quickly disappointed.
If they expect to use them themselves, they will probably be similarly
disappointed. In the end, the charity will be the one paying the bill for the
disposal of hazardous waste.

It's my understanding that machines are essentially made available at
their resale shop, free for anyone who wants one.

Heap of Obsolete Hardware
 

wrote:
On Feb 13, 11:40 am, Grinder wrote:
My local public library has a pile of antiquated PCs. There might be a
couple of 486s in the pile, but suspect most are 386s. Since no one has
the courage to just discard these crappers, we've managed to find a
charity that will take any PC, "as long as it works."

Where are you located? There are a number of computer recyclers around
the country.

I'm in the middle of Illinois. Previously I obtained information about
recyclers, but the library board has been unenthusiastic about that
approach, for reasons unknown to me. They have, though, generally
agreed that offloading them to a nearby charity is acceptable. I'm just
trying to get them moved out.

The provenance of the hardware is such that I should wipe the drives
clean. While I'm at it, it's reasonable for me to put some sort of
basic OS on the PCs. Outside of FreeDOS, does anyone have any
candidates for those machines? Is there a simple, pared down version of
Linux that would apply?

Thanks for your suggestions.

http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
But that only applies to the top 486s.

Win 3.11 is about all you can do with the 386s

Win95 or MAYBE 98 should be OK for the 486s

Thanks.

Heap of Obsolete Hardware
 

On Tue, 13 Feb 2007 19:40:16 +0000, Grinder wrote:

My local public library has a pile of antiquated PCs. There might be a
couple of 486s in the pile, but suspect most are 386s. Since no one has
the courage to just discard these crappers, we've managed to find a
charity that will take any PC, "as long as it works."

Sorry. I tried to hold back but I just couldn't. Please forgive me.

This probably won't help you out with your question.

http://www.volny.cz/basiclinux/oldpc/

This site is one reason I wanted to learn Linux. I still haven't tried it
but it seems very cool.

This thread may help you out.

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/sla...old-386-a.html

Steve