https://www.amazon.com/Ionic-Anti-St.../dp/B000Q30NDA

I used like the one above but red in color, it says it is anti-static perhaps I got
lucky that is why.

That might be perfect for a game platform based upon FreeDOS! That low ram makes it tight even for minimalist versions of Linux, hopeless for anything Microsoft. It might run KolibriOS well, and I would love to try that on it. 4G HD is plenty for any kind of DOS, only the smallest minimal Linux (Puppy, TinyCore, etc.), but would be a LOT for persistent storage for any CD or USB loaded OS or something historically small (again, FreeDOS). If you could load someting like TinyCore and run DOSBOX in it on that hardware, I could find you a couple of thousand DOS games that are free or abandonware, but that would need some testing.

If you still have to software intended for it in 1999 you might be able to run that at some speed, but there would be security risks due to the vulnerabilites. On the other hand, I bet no sane criminal will be targeting any OS that old and actually expecting to FIND one running! (Protective obsolescence? Is that even a real term?)

Ram was upgraded later and an early version of Puppy Linux Live CD works ok on it,
I use it mostly in text mode.

A lot of hacking and attacks are done by bots automatically I was told, so if that old PC accepts the invite of such an auto attack, then it can perhaps become a clone and transmit such stuff to other computers. I am not using the right tech language but hope you get the point. For hackers, the OS and what is on a host computer is less of a concern, they might use it to do other things on other systems.

The hardware of the future is interesting:
https://opensource.com/article/17/5/...ource-hardware


I found a HP1536 Laser printer yesterday, took just the power cable. It is quite heavy, likely
needs drum and print cartridge changed, not sure what else was wrong with it. Also has 128 Mb
Ram and no HD. Someone else took it, hope they use it.

Saw an old PC case with a floppy drive inside it, was too chilly outside, so let it go.
Perhaps it will be a good idea to take a screw driver with me to remove items conveniently
on the spot, I have seen few others do this.
Also, saw a large flat panel TV that looks like a smart TV, too large and also too chilly outside, so left this also, if weather was better would have been good to get this home
and atleast test it.

Got used computer case that someone else wanted to get rid off, removed screws, cables etc., from it. There were no internal parts.

Good cases can run between $30 and $110 USD plus shipping if they have no exceptional features.
Even if you only recover the screws and standard fittings for your junk box you are $$$ ahead on your next recovery build project.

Yes, thanks I was feeling very hesitant and feeling a bit lazy even, but still decided to go ahead and get what I can out of that case. Might as well try and use the items that still can be salvaged.

Had another older stripped down computer case at home with a fancy side cover that is transparent. This is a special size, make and doesn't fit other PC Cases that I have. So stripped this case also of all the screws, Slot covers and the case cables. Removing these from the case is a learning experience. Now, will discard the unwanted remains for recycling.

Using a 56k Modem in 2017! | Nostalgia Nerd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17zfz017s9A

http://www.nostalgianerd.com/

Above video reminded me that dialup is still in use in rural areas.

Although we seldom hear about it here for some reason, there are even areas in the U.S.A. where even dialup is not available without it being a long distance ($$$) call.

i found an old desktop machine hte other day.
finally i decided to hook up all spare peripherals i have lying around, and boot it.
lo and behold, it booted straight into windows XP! the previous owner also had been considerate enough to not secure it with any passwords whatsoever, and it wasn't even bogged down by malware.

the machine sports a
- 3.5" floppy drive
- CD player/burner (no DVD!)
- 768MB RAM
- 40GB hard drive
- 32bit single core athlon processor 2.2GHz
- onboard ethernet, but another separate network card, and - tadaaa:
- a modem card!

i must admit it's fun although i really have no use for it whatsoever.

unfortunately it refuses to boot from USB, although i have set boot order to boot from "USB FDD" and the usb definitely works (any ideas? bios update?).
but it boots rescatux from CD.

anyhow, 15 years old, everything is the same size as my other dektop machine, but inside it doesn't compare even to my old 10" netbook... :-(

i do have some spare parts lying around to pimp it up.
should i ever get bored, i go to LQ.
should i ever get bored of LQ, i might tackle this pointless project, just for fun, like the lonely nostalgia nerd from the youtube video...

Nice project, tx for sharing. Try to make a boot floppy that helps boot from USB (google for this info.) I have tried this in the past and it has helped. Can also make a boot from USB CD or DVD I think.

Who is the Manufacturer of this PC ? 2.2 Ghz seems more recent, either that or was super expensive 15 years ago.

it really isn't that.

thanks for that tip. will see.
i'm still uncertain whether the OS i tried to boot is suitable.
it was a 686-pae iso, but i guess i need non-pae, and maybe even a true 386 OS...

https://www.cnet.com/products/compaq...omputer/specs/
first reviews are from 2002, so yes, 15 years.
and i was wrong about 2.2GHz; it seems to be a 1.8GHz processor, the "2200" branding is misleading:
http://itstillworks.com/ram-specific...0-6534631.html

Very nice specs, tx for that link, it is still a very usable PC. I compare this to the P2 I bought in 1999, paid about Canadian $800 or so with tax then but it was IBM, end of the line product, both price and tax were in Canadian Dollars. Compaqs were cheaper models, also the price for it appears to be in US dollars, so seems reasonable for 2002.