For some reason I regularly hunt down old compters at the local recycling centre and bring them home with me to fix up. The process mostly takes more time to be called " a productive afternoon", but I kinda like the nostalgia of it. I was wondering if I'm kinda the only one doing this ?
... How do I set my laser printer to stun?
For some reason I regularly hunt down old compters at the local recycling centre and bring them home with me to fix up. The process mostly takes more time to be called " a productive afternoon", but I kinda like the nostalgia it. I was wondering if I'm kinda the only one doing this ?
... How do I set my laser printer to stun?
For some reason I regularly hunt down old compters at the local recycling centre and bring them home with me to fix up. The process mostly takes more time to be called " a productive afternoon", but I kinda like the nostalgia of it. I was wondering if I'm kinda the only one doing this ?
For some reason I regularly hunt down old compters at the local recycling
I regularly trundle past our local waste transfer station. They used to have a free for all where all the gear was dumped in a bin or two and
you could just have at it. Unfortunately as these things go, people
were running off with the RAM and CPUs so they put the kibosh on that,
and made it so that you weren't allowed to open the boxes cost per box
was $5 so it wasn't to bad.. that lasted for a bit but people kept
opening them up and leaving a mess. So the stopped that completely, and you have to wait for someone to decide what they think they might be
able to shift through their "recycle store". Unfortunately this is a really low percentage of the stuff that comes through, and tends to just be PeeCee stuff. So not so good any more.
I used to know a couple of locations, mostly with IT businesses that
would regularly throw out a heap of stuff at the end of each financial year. They would have serious dumpsters, like 12 cubic metres or
more... everything from antique terminals, an IBM 3270 went past, and
all sorts of other stuff, truckloads of cabling the works. I'm not in decent enough shape to try and manage that kind of dumpster diving anymore. With a knackered back, I'd probably last lifting/moving half a dozen items, and I'd have to reach for the serious pain relief.
It was always a good time though, you never knew what you were going to see, if it worked... all the rest...
Spec
Spectre wrote to knightbbs <=-
I used to know a couple of locations, mostly with IT businesses that
would regularly throw out a heap of stuff at the end of each financial year.
For some reason I regularly hunt down old compters at the local
recycling centre and bring them home with me to fix up. The process
mostly takes more time to be called " a productive afternoon", but I
kinda like the nostalgia of it. I was wondering if I'm kinda the only
one doing this ?
I used to know a couple of locations, mostly with IT businesses that would regularly throw out a heap of stuff at the end of each financia year.
I went to work a couple of years ago, and on my first day, my boss,
the CIO, told me what a mess I was walking into. He had to "kick some
ass" before I got in to get rid of tons of crap that the previous
manager left lying around.
"We had 3 pallets of IBM PC XTs and ATs. 3 pallets!
I gulped.
They'd all gone to e-waste, and he'd gotten nothing for them. He
probably paid to have them hauled off and thought he'd gotten a favor
because they were so old.
I wept inside.
All that remained was one Model M keyboard and DOS 3.3 documentation
in those 3-ring pressed-board binders.
That is awful to read. The wastefulness of our society is nothing short of criminal. We like to pat ourselves on the back on how responsible we are, but really, we're not at all.
That is awful to read. The wastefulness of our society is nothing short of criminal. We like to pat ourselves on the back on how responsible we are, but really, we're not at all.
You're in Melbourne, right? Any good places in Melbourne I can pick up old hardware?
"We had 3 pallets of IBM PC XTs and ATs. 3 pallets!
I gulped.
That is awful to read. The wastefulness of our society is nothing sho criminal. We like to pat ourselves on the back on how responsible we but really, we're not at all.
If old computers are sent to a recycling center, I don't think that would really be considered wasteful. But I think a lot of people don't
realize old computers could still be of value to some people. Unfortunately, it's easier for people to just send things like that off
to recycling/waste rather than try to find buyers for it.
Nightfox
In this day and age... not so much, I haven't seen most of my old locations in over 10 years now. Not sure where you are... the Waste Transfer Station in Frankston/Skye is the one I have a look at. I'm sure others will have a similar setup... Either that or keep an eye on the guys that pickup the stuff for recycling and see what you can arrange
with them.
What kind of gear are you actually looking for? Old is a relative
thing... I've not seen anything much older than a PIII come past. But hard rubbish around here sometimes offers up XT/286 age hardware, but
its getting to be very thin on the ground.
I can add whatever you're looking for to my items of interest though.
Spec
A company I worked for just put them in the dumpster.
I'm at the opposite end of Melbourne. I am looking for older things, of the XT - 486, preferably towards the XT end. I'm sure this stuff is quite
Radio Shacks and NAPA auto parts store. Nothing really exciting but I was young. Not sure if I could get out of one now though.
Bank actually destroy them. Whole computer. Shred, boom gone. All
when just the HD would be enough. They see it as risk mitigation.
DrClaw
Sysop Noverdu BBS (Noverdu.com)
Thats easy.. pre ATX equipment... I'll keep the eyeballs out... no promises of quick findings though.
Spec
I have a replacement IO card, which I can get working with a 1.44M driver
These guys were just lazy and didn't care. Whole computers and laptops, including furniture and office supplies. Weird thing is they repurchased some of the stuff they threw away. "Lets throw away folders and trays"..."oOh, we need folders and trays, put in an order.
I got a perfectly good coffee table which was going to go to landfill. Some people just can't be bothered even giving things away.
This is why I really wish FreeGeek was eveywhere. This would make it so people can safely turn in old tech and some can get a new life, while the rest is recycled.
There comes a time when there's no one left that understands what
stuff is or what value it might have. They're just to new or out
of the loop for understanding.
Bank actually destroy them. Whole computer. Shred, boom gone.
All when just the HD would be enough. They see it as risk
mitigation.
I have a replacement IO card, which I can get working with a
1.44M driver
Ahh I was going to ask if you're looking for a 360k or a 1.2M
floppy... if you're at 1.44 you want a 3.5" jobby?
Ahh I was going to ask if you're looking for a 360k or a 1.2M floppy...
if you're at 1.44 you want a 3.5" jobby?
Spec
These guys were just lazy and didn't care. Whole computers and lapto including furniture and office supplies. Weird thing is they repurch some of the stuff they threw away. "Lets throw away folders and trays"..."oOh, we need folders and trays, put in an order.
I got a perfectly good coffee table which was going to go to landfill Some people just can't be bothered even giving things away.
This is why I really wish FreeGeek was eveywhere. This would make it so people can safely turn in old tech and some can get a new life, while
the rest is recycled.
DrClaw
Sysop Noverdu BBS (Noverdu.com)
Ahh I was going to ask if you're looking for a 360k or a 1.2M floppy... if you're at 1.44 you want a 3.5" jobby?
Make him suffer with a 360K disk...... %->
Hold a floppy disk upto a teanager and ask them what it is? #0)
Make him suffer with a 360K disk...... %->
I also have four 1.2M drives, three functional and installed in machines! Unfortunately, they are not compatible with the XT's IO card, nor are they ideal for using 360K disks on (which I've got a lot of).
Interesting.. There is a FreeGeek in my area, and I thought it was only
a local thing. It sounds like they have operations elsewhere too.
Nightfox
Witch is rather stupid. It's not like the little ram chips will remember that Joe Blogs had $50000 in his account... &-;/
\/orlon
There are many arguments for upgrading, for new software, but our society is built upon rampant consumption and we do a bad job of repurposing old equipment, or re-engineering it, or adapting software to run on it.
DX40 wasn't long before you couldn't... I had the DX40 running a MUD
briefly...
Spec
vorlon wrote to Spectre <=-
Hold a floppy disk upto a teanager and ask them what it is? #0)
boraxman wrote to claw <=-
There are many arguments for upgrading, for new software, but our
society is built upon rampant consumption and we do a bad job of repurposing old equipment, or re-engineering it, or adapting software
to run on it.
Spectre wrote to boraxman <=-
There was a time, I expected Linux would be at least a partial solution
to that, given it gave far better bang for the buck against DOS or
early Win systems. But that didn't last long... where it was feasible
if not always practical to get it installed on... a 386 class system, slowest I tried was a DX40 wasn't long before you couldn't... I had the DX40 running a MUD briefly...
My first exposure to Linux was one of our tech guys recompiling the
kernel on a 386/33 with 4 megs of RAM - took something like a day and
a half.
There are many arguments for upgrading, for new software, but our socie is built upon rampant consumption and we do a bad job of repurposing ol equipment, or re-engineering it, or adapting software to run on it.
There was a time, I expected Linux would be at least a partial solution to that, given it gave far better bang for the buck against DOS or early Win systems. But that didn't last long... where it was feasible if not always practical to get it installed on... a 386 class system, slowest I tried was DX40 wasn't long before you couldn't... I had the DX40 running a MUD briefly...
Spec
*** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
boraxman wrote to claw <=-
There are many arguments for upgrading, for new software, but our society is built upon rampant consumption and we do a bad job of repurposing old equipment, or re-engineering it, or adapting software to run on it.
And by "Society", you mean "Economy".
This is why I really wish FreeGeek was eveywhere. This would make it so people can safely turn in old tech and some can get a new life, while
the rest is recycled.
On 25 May 2022, Nightfox said the following...
Interesting.. There is a FreeGeek in my area, and I thought it was
only a local thing. It sounds like they have operations elsewhere
too.
There a cool place. Wish they were bigger but its not like they make a ton of money :D most of the people there are donating their time.
Have you checked it out? If yes what did you think?
The problem is usually not the operating system, but what you run on it.
Ahhh what I wanted to run it on, never changed... the 386DX40 with 4 or
Boggle... never seen even a PC/XT age machine that takes anything other than 360s.. presumably if there is it'd have to be single sided, single density... 180s? But never seen or even heard of a drive to suit... even your II+ is happy using double density...
Spec
There are many arguments for upgrading, for new software, but our society is built upon rampant consumption and we do a bad job of repurposing old equipment, or re-engineering it, or adapting software to run on it.
And by "Society", you mean "Economy".
Seems slow... a 33... could be a DX or an SX though.. I can't remember
now how long the 40 took... but I don't think it took more than a few hours.. The bigger issue was instability while compiling and having to start again. Not sure the MUD needed a replacement kernel, but serial drivers and the 3c503 driver needed it.
Spec
I absolutely <3 FREE GEEK. Here in Portland they offer decent pay and
will promote the average Joe to great positions if you do well. They always have my 10-year-old techs accessories [DDR2, anyone?] when needed
- but I wish they did a bit better about the real retro computing stuff.
I love their mission statement and have even thought about volunteering and/or getting involved. They are wonderful.
pAULIE42o
I visited the place many years ago (it was probably almost 20 years ago) to volunteer to clean up & sort some PC parts. I thought the idea of
the place was pretty cool. I've actually been thinking of checking them out to see what vintage computers they might have for sale. But it
seems they mostly sell older desktop PCs with Linux installed on them.
Nightfox
Hold a floppy disk upto a teanager and ask them what it is? #0)
You ask the right kids now, and CDs would be right up there too... wouldn't be any good asking mine though... they'd have some idea :) Yup they're in the minority...
I absolutely <3 FREE GEEK. Here in Portland they offer decent pay and will
The oldest computer I've used Linux on is a 486DX/33 with 16M of RAM. It run OK, and could be useful but anything slower I'd want to stick to DOS.
You can use a 1.44M disk drive with disks formatted as 720K disks. I did it with my XT mainboard and a newer IO card and by gum, it worked!
That seems weird to me, but honestly I myself haven't actually listened to music from a CD in more than 15 years (except for one time a few years ago
I remember briefly using Linux on one of my 386 systems (it may have been a 386DX-40). I remember running Doom (PC game) on it, and the Linux
I remember briefly using Linux on one of my 386 systems (it may have
been a 386DX-40). I remember running Doom (PC game) on it, and the
Linux
I took the same DX40 and tried installing Win95 on it, when it arrived... it did manage... I didn't seriously use for that at all though... I think it was absolutely minimum spec for it at the time.
The oldest computer I've used Linux on is a 486DX/33 with 16M of RAM. run OK, and could be useful but anything slower I'd want to stick to
I remember briefly using Linux on one of my 386 systems (it may have
been a 386DX-40). I remember running Doom (PC game) on it, and the
Linux version of Doom seemed to run slightly faster than the DOS version of Doom..
Linux could run on that kind of PC, especially if you weren't using a
GUI. I think I had heard the first version of Linux was released in
1991, where 386 PCs were still fairly common (and I think 1991 was when AMD's 386DX-40 was first released).
Nightfox
You can use a 1.44M disk drive with disks formatted as 720K disks. I it with my XT mainboard and a newer IO card and by gum, it worked!
If you then put it in a HD Drive you won't be able to read it though, unless you cover the detection hole...for a short time before its retirement I was drilling holes in the corner of the high densitys so
they would look like 720's on the IIgs
Spec
I'm surprised the Linux version ran better. Maybe better compilation leadin to more optimised code? Could be a better memory model.
I started using Linux in 2000, so by that time, distro's were a bit heavier was the kernel.
Ahh I was going to ask if you're looking for a 360k or a1.2M Sp> floppy... if you're at 1.44 you want a 3.5" jobby?
Make him suffer with a 360K disk...... %->
Have plenty of those disks, it is the 360K drive, that rare elusive
beast that I'm looking for.
Hold a floppy disk upto a teanager and ask them what it is?
#0)
You ask the right kids now, and CDs would be right up there too... wouldn't be any good asking mine though... they'd have some idea :)
Yup they're in the minority...
Make him suffer with a 360K disk...... %->
Chuckle... that is what I was thinking with an XT... I recall the
first time I came across 360s... I was used to 140k on an Apple II floppy... and wondered why I couldn't make flippy disks, not
realising that 360s were double sided...
Witch is rather stupid. It's not like the little ram chips
will remember that Joe Blogs had $50000 in his account... &-;/
Totally agreed. But the higher ups tend to be people without
technology knowledge. They know better than anyone else.
Hold a floppy disk upto a teanager and ask them what it is?
#0)
A "save" icon!
boraxman wrote to Spectre <=-
The oldest computer I've used Linux on is a 486DX/33 with 16M of RAM.
It run OK, and could be useful but anything slower I'd want to stick to DOS.
The Portland one is the head quarters! I would love to see that one. I bet they are huge. Plus meet the people that started the whole thing. Awesome!
I'm surprised the Linux version ran better. Maybe better compilation leading to more optimised code? Could be a better memory model.
It's the other way around. The hole indicates it is a HD disk. The
Can't a 1.2Mb drive also read and write 360K disks?
Used to use a disk notcher on the C= 64 and flip the disk!
I live in the PDX area - the front office section is small, I'd assume similar to other FREE GEEKs but their warehouse and facilities IS humongous...
Ahh I was going to ask if you're looking for a 360k or a1.2M Sp> floppy... if you're at 1.44 you want a 3.5" jobby?
Make him suffer with a 360K disk...... %->
Have plenty of those disks, it is the 360K drive, that rare elusive beast that I'm looking for.
Can't a 1.2Mb drive also read and write 360K disks?
\/orlon
Most stuff which was ported ran better on loonix... that was pretty true
I reckon all the way up to Quake III, after that I don't know because I stopped using it for any of that kinda stuff... but even QIII was only being used as a server, not a play station, no pun intended.
Spec
vorlon wrote to boraxman <=-
Can't a 1.2Mb drive also read and write 360K disks?
Can't a 1.2Mb drive also read and write 360K disks?
You can read/write 360s in 1.2 drives. It can lead to some issues
though, if you write them and put them back in a 360 drive
sometimes they won't read very well, and can be quite unreliable.
I think it was meant to be due to differences in the head size, and magnetic strength while writing.
Used to use a disk notcher on the C= 64 and flip the disk!
Exactly the same as the II. The other thing that was pretty common
was to install a 3 way switch, in the front, which would
permanently enable write protect on or off, or leave it in disk set setting.
I did have one drive that ignored it completely due to
mechanical failure in the arm that activated the switch, that was
always interesting..
Oh ok... I never had to deal with PC 360K drives. I came to the Intel PC world when 386's was the norm. My first was a 386dx25 or 384dx40... The mice have eaten to much cheese to remember. #-(
Can't a 1.2Mb drive also read and write 360K disks?
You can read/write 360s in 1.2 drives. It can lead to some issues though, if you write them and put them back in a 360 drive
sometimes they won't read very well, and can be quite unreliable.
I think it was meant to be due to differences in the head size, and magnetic strength while writing.
Oh ok... I never had to deal with PC 360K drives. I came to the Intel PC world when 386's was the norm. My first was a 386dx25 or 384dx40... The mice have eaten to much cheese to remember. #-(
Can't a 1.2Mb drive also read and write 360K disks?
Yes, it can. The 1.2M drive has a narrower head, so writes
narrower tracks than the 360K drive. It works, but because it
doesn't overwrite the tracks laid by a 360K drive completely, it
may cause reliability issues, especially when you go to read it on
a 360K drive later. I have read and written 360K disks on a 1.2M
drive just fine (except for those where the magnetic coating peeled
off and jammed the head), but they just won't be optimal for use on
the original 360K drives.
Can't a 1.2Mb drive also read and write 360K disks?
They could read them, but writing a 360k in a 1.2m drive could
cause inconsistent results when you tried to read it in a 360k
drive, if memory serves.
I kept my 360k drive when I added my 1.2m drive.
the Intel PC world when 386's was the norm. My first was a
386dx25 or 386dx40... The mice have eaten to much cheese to
remember. #-(
Now that I've had to reconsider this whole thing... I believe the
best results I got were to format in a 360k drive, write the
desired files on a 1.2 and then immediately go back to the 360
system and either copy it onto a native 360 floppy or to its HD if
it had one.
Where's the cheeeeeeese! (stir any memories?)
Oh ok... I never had to deal with PC 360K drives. I came to
the Intel PC world when 386's was the norm. My first was a
What is fun is using that 2M formatting program to format a 360K
disk to somewhere close to 900K capacity!
What is fun is using that 2M formatting program to format a 360K
disk to somewhere close to 900K capacity!
IBM did a trick like that with the release of OS/2. That's why a special program had to be used to write the disk's out.
\/orlon
Where's the cheeeeeeese! (stir any memories?)
It's down the hall second turn on the left and then on the stand!
They could read them, but writing a 360k in a 1.2m drive could cause inconsistent results when you tried to read it in a 360k drive, if
memory serves.
Where's the cheeeeeeese! (stir any memories?)
It's down the hall second turn on the left and then on the stand!
Sounds like you're youthful enough to have missed Peter Russell Clarke... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSRGjImeN9M
Not sure off hand who the ads were for, but apparently he would get stroppy with the public because that's all they'd remember "where's the cheese?" He also had a cooking show... at one stage, used to pop up on
ABC before Dr Who.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLQNmjV1fJg
Spec
They could read them, but writing a 360k in a 1.2m drive could cause inconsistent results when you tried to read it in a 360k drive, if memory serves.
IIRC, if the 360K disk was formatted in a 360k drive, you could reqd and write all you wanted with a 1.2 and the 360k drive would have no issue.
I think where the problem came in was if you formatted a 360k disk in a 1.2MB drive.
But hell, that's 30 years ago, and I can't remember shit past 30 MINUTES ago now......
IBM did a trick like that with the release of OS/2. That's why
a special program had to be used to write the disk's out.
Was that the 1.6M DMF format? I never used that but 2M was pretty
cool. One nice feature was that you could format the disk with the
driver on it.
Where's the cheeeeeeese! (stir any memories?)
It's down the hall second turn on the left and then on the
stand!
Sounds like you're youthful enough to have missed Peter Russell
Clarke... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSRGjImeN9M
I regularly trundle past our local waste transfer station. They used to
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