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Help me decide what to do with this old PC (Packard Bell)
Seeks
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
For the life of me, I can't remember if I've posted this before. If I have, then feel free to lock this.
Anyway, I've got an old PC lying around, a 1995/1996-era Packard Bell. I'm not 100% sure of the specs, but to the best of my recollection, they are:
166mhz
16/32mb ram (can't remember which)
32mb video card... voodoo I think, unless it was harvested since then.
Almost 1gb hard drive, split between two partitions.
Pic:
Obviously, I haven't done anything with this for a while. I recently rediscovered it (well, a year or two ago) and decided to explore its contents. Not much, other than Microsoft Arcade and Return of the Arcade (badass).
I've considered donating this, but truthfully, I'm not sure how much good that would do. This thing is ancient, though it does have Windows 95 (with no backup disks that I can find), so... at least it's not Windows 3.1.
I've also considered doing something linux-related with it, though I can't think of any graphical OS other than maybe Puppy linux that would run on this thing, let alone apps. That's not even considering the fact that I don't know what I'd do with it anyway, as keeping it around as a server is probably not an option - not enough use would come of it to justify the power consumption.
Anyone have any ideas? I'm not going to destroy it, before anyone suggests that.
Anyway, I've got an old PC lying around, a 1995/1996-era Packard Bell. I'm not 100% sure of the specs, but to the best of my recollection, they are:
166mhz
16/32mb ram (can't remember which)
32mb video card... voodoo I think, unless it was harvested since then.
Almost 1gb hard drive, split between two partitions.
Pic:
Spoiler:
Obviously, I haven't done anything with this for a while. I recently rediscovered it (well, a year or two ago) and decided to explore its contents. Not much, other than Microsoft Arcade and Return of the Arcade (badass).
I've considered donating this, but truthfully, I'm not sure how much good that would do. This thing is ancient, though it does have Windows 95 (with no backup disks that I can find), so... at least it's not Windows 3.1.
I've also considered doing something linux-related with it, though I can't think of any graphical OS other than maybe Puppy linux that would run on this thing, let alone apps. That's not even considering the fact that I don't know what I'd do with it anyway, as keeping it around as a server is probably not an option - not enough use would come of it to justify the power consumption.
Anyone have any ideas? I'm not going to destroy it, before anyone suggests that.
Seeks on
Posts
I'd try and find a proper disposal company for it, really.
Xaquin's Manly Knitting Blog! Conquest Tactics .... a better CCG
I am going to burst your bubble by pointing out that it's probably an AT form factor case and won't fit new ATX boards.
hmmmm
mod it to fit an ATX Board .... maybe?
I got nuthin'
Xaquin's Manly Knitting Blog! Conquest Tactics .... a better CCG
The "put linux on it" suggestion will probably come up since it will, technically, work. It's really even too slow to truly make use of any modern, desktop oriented Linux distro, too. If you decided you were interested enough to do anything with it, though, for desktop or server uses, you'd quickly decide you want something more modern. The Linux router suggestion which was pointed out would work, but as pointed out, is really fairly pointless unless you just want the experience of doing it.
How much do you guys think it would cost to ship something like this across the country?
Roughly fifty bucks, most early/mid 90s era PCs are heavy as hell
Also, related to the earlier shipping question, do you guys know if there's a way to just have the recipient pay for the shipping costs, other than them giving me money beforehand? Basically, so that no money has to go from me to UPS/Fedex at all, it's completely on the recipient's end.
I also use it to run software that is useful but not stuff I want clogging up my main machine, like the IP updating software that OpenDNS uses to help you control your internet access.
I can't! I'm jailed! Oh noes!
Microsoft Bob, I'd think.
Or, you could turn it into a DOS machine for playing old games.
This
Seriously. Turn the thing into a Dos running machine.
Set yourself up with some Doom, System Shock, Descent....
All the classics.
You wont regret it.
The real answer is to junk it. It's way to inefficient to seriously use.
If you want to play old games just get dosbox and be done with it.
Yeah, there's no reason to own original hardware if you can use newer hardware. None at all. Why would anyone want a SNES when they could just get a Wii?
The same reason why having sex with grandmothers is so much better than college chicks. The smell.
Alright, I retract my previous statement. That made me throw up a little.