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Old Computer

Thief

Rogue Theologian
I have a hewlett packard....1995
it seems to be completely dysfunctional

is there any use for such a thing?
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
I have a hewlett packard....1995
it seems to be completely dysfunctional

is there any use for such a thing?
And I thought my 1999 machine was old!
They're still good for running earlier operating systems, especially
DOS, which is poorly emulated in post Win98 machines.
 

Thief

Rogue Theologian
And I thought my 1999 machine was old!
They're still good for running earlier operating systems, especially
DOS, which is poorly emulated in post Win98 machines.
my machine is screwed
last time i powered up.....the logo looked like a crumpled paper that someone tried to unfold

what used to be the white on black info page....
came up with playing card digits and smiley faces.....instead of legible words

the few words that did appear were misspelled

it's bad.....really bad
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
my machine is screwed
last time i powered up.....the logo looked like a crumpled paper that someone tried to unfold

what used to be the white on black info page....
came up with playing card digits and smiley faces.....instead of legible words

the few words that did appear were misspelled

it's bad.....really bad
Time to replace?
My own machine runs like a top, despite it's case having huge jagged scorched holes in it (my customization).
 

Thief

Rogue Theologian
Time to replace?
My own machine runs like a top, despite it's case having huge jagged scorched holes in it (my customization).
likely so....
but i can't throw it in the dumpster
gman won't take it

but could there be some other use for it

maybe some computer geek might have a fetish?
 

Onyx

Active Member
Premium Member
I have a hewlett packard....1995
it seems to be completely dysfunctional

is there any use for such a thing?
Maybe run an older version of Linux on it? (Slackware 3.11, perhaps?) Someone might buy it for an old-school DOS gaming machine also.
 

Brickjectivity

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
I have a hewlett packard....1995
it seems to be completely dysfunctional

is there any use for such a thing?
For recovery of files you need a working computer that is set up to read that kind of drive. Probably it is an IDE or ATA drive simply attached and so any computer with an appropriate IDE or ATA controller should be able to read it, presuming the drive still works. Modern drives are usually SATA with controllers that might work with older ATA drives. IDE is a different kind of cable and controller and slightly more complicated than ATA. If its much older than 1995 or is SCSI then you will have more difficulty. SCSI is not always simple to set up. There are other kinds of connections, too; but since you are talking about 1995 desktop its probably IDE or ATA.

One easy solution is to make sure you completely destroy the hard drive instead of going to all that trouble. That way nobody else can read it. Your data will be gone, but at least your data will be gone.
 

Revoltingest

Pragmatic Libertarian
Premium Member
For recovery of files you need a working computer that is set up to read that kind of drive. Probably it is an IDE or ATA drive simply attached and so any computer with an appropriate IDE or ATA controller should be able to read it, presuming the drive still works. Modern drives are usually SATA with controllers that might work with older ATA drives. IDE is a different kind of cable and controller and slightly more complicated than ATA. If its much older than 1995 or is SCSI then you will have more difficulty. SCSI is not always simple to set up. There are other kinds of connections, too; but since you are talking about 1995 desktop its probably IDE or ATA.

One easy solution is to make sure you completely destroy the hard drive instead of going to all that trouble. That way nobody else can read it. Your data will be gone, but at least your data will be gone.
You speak an ancient language which I only dimly recognize.
 

Valjean

Veteran Member
Premium Member
In a decade or so it could become a valuable antique. Hold onto it.

One of your kids could show it on Antiques Road Show, someday.
 

Wu Wei

ursus senum severiorum and ex-Bisy Backson
oh man....why oh why did I ever get rid of my old 8088 and 8086 and all the associated 5 1/4 floppy disks..... I could have been a millionaire by now :D
 

james bond

Well-Known Member
Check the veterans groups. They're willing to take old computers and replace with Linux or Ubuntu. If it's not working, then can one repair it at minimal cost. Where I live, there is a computer technician school where one can have their computer repaired for free labor and whatever the cost is for a needed part. These schools can take your computer as a donation, too. If you have private important information on the hard disks, then the only way to erase for sure is to destroy the hard drive.
 
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