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What to do with an old PII?

ComputerWizKid

ComputerWizKid

Golden Member
So I bought a computer on eBay an old PII (I only wanted the Enlight EN-7200 Desktop Style Case but it had a computer in it plus I got it for $1 with $18.74 Shipping so $19.74 for computer and the case I wanted is not a bad deal 🙂 )

SPECS
PII 233 MHZ MMX
64 MB of Ram (4 sticks of 16 MB)
Western Digital 13.6 GB hard drive (Shows up as 4.3 GB,Hence Seller Said it had only 4.3)
Diamond Multimedia S3 Virge 4MB PCI Video card
Intel 10/100 NIC
I will add a Sound card as it did not come with one and I have extras laying around I might also add a 56K Voice/Fax modem so I can fax stuff
DTK PRM-00761 E0 Motherboard 440LX Chipset (Can't DL Manual as site is down)


Thanks

 
I have a ton of old boxes at the office from one place or another, and Ubuntu seems to be the best bet. I have a pile of old ram, and usually shuffle it around to get more than what they start with. In other words, I think you should add ram if you have it to spare without spending money.
 
You could install smoothwall on it and use it as a firewall box. If you want a distro, slackware would probably be best for a computer like that. Or you could try FreeBSD
 
I dunno, I have an old P2-400 that was my main computer for years. Actually has sentimental value to me. I no longer have room for it in the house, so I'm taking it to my parents as a backup.
 
So what are the best steps to get it ready for donation? First of all I will need a new case. I will swap out the HDD with a smaller one (I have an extra 4.3GB one around which is the max the MB supports) I will put in a sound card and a modem and a "New" floppy drive (I have a whole bunch around that I never even used) The one it came with was marked "BAD" in red ink. What OS should I put on it? (If any) I have Legal Copies of the first edition of Windows 98 and I also have windows 95 some where. I know 98 keys work with 98SE I tried in the past and it worked any other steps I should take to get it ready for donation? Other than a new case?
 
Don't know where you live....
but where I live, no charity would take it.

So best you inquire as to who would take it before you spend any more time on it.
 
yeah the only place in my area I know of will just gut it for parts and use the parts for other computers or to fix peoples old computers that can't afford a whole new computer (I use to work there so I know what they do with the computers)
 
As a charitable alternative - consider giving it to an individual whose economic status doesn't permit him or her to buy even a used system. And, there are also local shops (we have Computer Rennaissance) that will take them for parts.
 
The problem with trying to give an older computer to a poor person, is these people will then expect you to become tech support for them. And what happens when they want to watch videos on YouTube and they don't play because plugins are missing? Next they'll ask if you can get Word to work, and why that Publisher file won't come up. Stuff like this is why I won't give my old computers to poor people. They're obsolete.

Cities now recycle old computer equipment just like any large appliance. Visit your local dump and you'll see large TVs, dishwashers, and now computers.
 
Yeah I gave my aunt a computer and I'm her tech support person (Which I kind of love and hate at the same time). I guess I will find a use for it
 
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