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#1
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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. |
#2
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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 |
#3
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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 |
#4
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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 |
#5
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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. |
#6
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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 |
#7
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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. |
#8
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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. |
#10
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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 |
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