How to Revive

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• How to Revive
• an Old Computer

Howard Fosdick
(C) 2008 FCI
V 1.0
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• Who Am I ?

Independent Consultant Oracle DBA (not
a PC specialist) Founded Database User Groups
(IDUG and MWDUG) Author of Rexx Programmers
Reference
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• Why This Talk ?

Geek !
My hobby -- 1. Get PC donations 2.
Hardware (verify / rebuild / fix) 3.
Software (verify / anonymize /
install) 4. Give away to someone who needs
it
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• Topics

• 1. How to revitalize
• an old computer
• 2. Implications --
• What it all means

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• Outline

I. What can old computers do II.
Hardware III. Steps to revitalize an old
PC IV. Windows V. Linux (and other free
Oss) VI. Where to get a Free computer
(and where to donate one) VII. Free
Computing VIII. Resources
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I. What Can Old Computers Do ?
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• Why Older Computers ?

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Free
Fun
Useful
Old computers improve capabilities yearly
Save the planet -- reduce e-waste
Appropriate technology -- is not always the
latest technology Example -- P-II laptop
giving this presentation
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• Save the Planet

-- PCs and monitors contain toxic... --
lead -- mercury -- bromine -- cadmium --
chlorine -- nbd plastics -- 400 to 600
million PCs yet to be disposed of in attics --
Avg PC lifespan
One solution -- use them !
Sources Galt Global Review webofcreation.org
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Caveat end user running common software
I II III IV

• Word Processing
• Spreadsheet
• Presentation Graphics
• Graphics, images
• Web surfing
• Research
• Wireless
  
• Social websites
• Email
• Brief web searches
• IM / Chat
• Photos
  
• Music / Audio
  
• Video
  

• Office
• Fast Internet
• (Broadband)
• Slow Internet
• (Dial Up)
• Multimedia
• Games

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Caveat end user running common software
I II III IV

• Word Processing
• Spreadsheet
• Presentation Graphics
• Graphics, images
• Web surfing
• Research
• Wireless
  
• Social websites
• Email
• Brief web searches
• IM / Chat
• Photos
  
• Music / Audio
  
• Video
  

• Office
• Fast Internet
• (Broadband)
• Slow Internet
• (Dial Up)
• Multimedia
• Games

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• More Uses for Old Computers...

• Specialized App servers
• Routers
• Firewalls
• Print, File, or Network server
• Email station
• Word processor
• other single-use
• Run old programs (compatibly)
• Business programs (eg Instrumentation,
  Farming)
• Retro gaming box
• Act as terminals (Linux Terminal Server
  Project - LTSP)
• Run Free software on Free hardware

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• New PCs are required for --
• Latest games
• State-of-the-art graphics
• High-end multimedia
• Current Microsoft software
• Pentium III does everything else
• Pentium II fine for many uses but --
• 450 Mhz 256 M tops
• Pentium I useful but --
• 266 mhz 128 M tops
• Security software overwhelms them

Dial-up
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• Driven by --
• Technology Examples --
• Monitors - flat panels
• ZIP disks - USB thumb drives
• Pentium-IIs - newer machines
• Marketing Examples --
• New releases of MS Office
• Vista
• What happens to PCs that cant run Vista ?

Technology
Marketing
or
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II. Hardware
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Pentium
IV III
II I pre-Pentium (486,
386, 286/AT, XT, PC)
Simplified View
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Typical Hardware
Memory varies widely Desktops
versus laptops Maxed out versus what
shipped Celeron and Xeon mean nothing
Source Toms Hardware, other web sites
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Typical Hardware
AMD Equivalents
Source Toms Hardware, other web sites
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Memory
Maximum RAM (typical)
128m 256m varies P-I P-II
P-III
--- Usually --- Use one level
slower as next level faster All in group cost
same - buy fastest !
Source Toms Hardware, other web sites
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Pentium
IV III
II I pre-Pentium (486,
386, 286/AT, XT, PC)
10 70 20 P-I P-II P-III

• Mix changes yearly
• Capabilities of
• old computers constantly increase
• Where you get free PCs shades the mix

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This Talk focuses on PC Desktops
...Other Computers ?...
Laptops
-- Fewer out there -- Higher priced -- Free
is less common -- More proprietary
Apples
-- Proprietary -- even across the Apple line
! -- Parts -- expensive, hard to
find
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III. Steps to Revitalize an old PC
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Steps to Follow With an Old PC
1. Identify what youve got -- Hardware --
Software 2. Verify hardware software -- Check
the boot configuration panel run
diagnostics -- Ensure devices work (hardware and
drivers) -- Check disks, reading/writing CD/DVD
floppy -- Windows Device Mgmt panel --
Ensure software is malware free -- Verify
installed programs work -- Break login password
(ntpasswd in Linux rescue CDs) 3. Define
objectives 4. Determine whether this old pc
can achieve them 5. Download drivers, manuals,
etc, from vendors web site 6. Fix hardware
software, download, configure, install to
achieve objectives
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Example -- This Laptop

• IBM Thinkpad 770Z P-II _at_ 366 mhz / 128M ram /
  14g disk
• CDROM, floppy, 56k modem, USB port
• 13.7 screen w/AGP graphics and 8M ram
• NO -- 10/100 port, wireless card, Writeable CD
  or DVD
• All hardware works
• Config panel Disk check
• Config diagnostics Tested devices
• Windows Devices panel
• Software is Windows 98
• Virus / malware clean Programs work
• Registry clean MSCONFIG and daemons

More at -- www.Desktoplinux.com/articles/AT618571
6632.html
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Example -- My Objectives ...
Office support (word processing etc in MS
formats) Presentations (in MS format)
Email (dial-up ok) Web look-up
(dial-up acceptable) Run common Windows and
Linux apps
Conclusion -

• Keep Windows
• Install Linux and run from RAM
• Buy 128M for 20 -- 256M

UpgradeMemory.com KingstonMemory.com
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Example 2 -- Professionals Desktop
Objectives

• Office work (all in MS formats)
• Word processing
• Presentations
• Spreadsheets
• Email
• Web use 0 in 1996 to lots today
• Doesnt want to pay 500 for new computer

P-II
P-II
P-III
Goal -- heavier web use -- Switched to free
P-III -- Added 10/month ATT DSL Goal -- OS
outdated -- Added Ubuntu
Goal -- heavier multi-tasking -- Upgraded
memory to 256M -- Windows tune-up
Pentium-II Purchased 1997
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Example 2 -- Professionals Desktop

• Dell P-III 550 mhz / 448M ram / 2 x 6 G disk
• DVD-ROM, CD/RW, floppy, 10/100 card, USB ports
• From the P-II --
• P-II monitor, keyboard, mouse
• Original 6 gig disk
• From one P-III --
• System Unit, 320m ram, USB ports, DVD-ROM,
  CD-RW,
• floppy, 10/100 card
• From the other P-III
• 2nd 6 gig disk, 128M ram
• Remaining P-II parts go to other builds

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Easy-to-Fix Problems
Windows
Viruses / spyware / malware Registry
or software corruption Slow and needing
software tune-up - Defrag disk, remove
malware, prune start-up list (msconfig
Runlist), check daemons Services, erase
index.dat other temporary, set-up,
internet, cache, junk files, cookies, URL
history... Broken or replaceable device
Slow due to needing memory Random
shutdowns - Overheating - check fans, redo
heat sink, clean PC Wont boot - Check
wires, card seating, loose screws Bad device
driver
Hardware
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O
S
Operating System Choice is Key
OS determines --
OS overhead on limited computer
resources Your Apps How
easy or hard they are to find
How much they cost or if free
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3 Operating Environment Choices
Keep Windows only
Replace Windows w/ Linux (or other OS)
Add Linux to Windows
Benefits of Windows and Linux Linux
co-exists with Windows -- Effort --
Requires 1/2 G disk
Easiest Drivers included Age-appropriate
software -- Cleanup required -- No MS fixes or
support -- License COA required
No malware Simplest install Linux
benefits -- Drivers? -- Loses value of the
installed software
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IV. Windows on Old PCs
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Windows Benefits (versus Linux)
Compatible file formats
Easy to use
Efficient GUI on 486 to P-II
Device drivers
Comes on the computer
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Microsoft GUI is Efficient on 486s -
P-Is - P-IIs
Windows 3.1, 95 or 98 with Office 4, 95 or 97
Faster than Linux GUIs on 486 or P-I More
user-friendly ! Retain this software on 486 to
P-II Example -- 486-DX2 _at_ 25 mhz / 8M ram /
Windows 3.1 / WordPerfect 5 Eg -- firewall
virus scanner malware scanner intrusion
blocker is required if you connect to
internet
But security software sinks them
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Examples
Windows 98 SE plus Office 97 P-I 90
mhz / 32M P-I 166 MMX mhz / 64M Both
work great Both crawl if you add-- -- Virus
and spyware scanners -- Firewall and intrusion
detector -- Plus try downloading anti-virus
updates with dial-up !
Windows 98 plus Office 97 P-I 90 mhz /
32M P-I 166 MMX mhz / 64M
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From Microsofts web site 2006
Windows System Require- ments
Double Microsofts values for good performance !
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Free Software Required to Secure Windows
How to Secure Your Windows PC Using Free
Software by H. Fosdick at DBAZine http//www.d
bazine.com
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How to Anonymize Windows PCs

• When you Delete files, and empty the recycle
  bin,
• those files are still accessible
• When you Delete IE history, the list of all
  web sites you
• ever visited is still accessible
• When you Outlook Delete email, empty the
  waste basket,
• all that email is still accessible
• When you change personal info in product
  Options,
• that doesnt change the splash panel or
  product ownership

Conclusions -- (1) Windows gives users into a
false sense of privacy (2)
Anonymizing Windows is hard
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How to Anonymize Windows PCs

• Re-format hard disk
  - Dariks Boot and Nuke
• Quick, easy, sure
• -- Loses value of installed software
• or
  
• Remove personal info
• Registry (First name, last name,
  organization, user id, etc)
• (Do this for all users, in both Keys and
  Values)
• Spash panels (Product Options, Registry,
  Office 95/97 binaries)
• Locate delete personal files (in My
  Documents elsewhere)
• (.doc, .xls, .ppt, .txt, .rtf, .wab,
  .acl, .pwl, .pcb, .pst, .pps, etc)
• Address book files (Outlook, Outlook Express,
  IE)
• Email (.mbx and pst files)
• Web history (index.dat files and
  Registry) - PurgeIE and manual
• Virus / spyware / malware scan
  - AVG, A-2, Clamwin...
• Delete Temp, Internet Temp files, cache
  - CCleaner, FIWW
• Delete MRUs, product histories, IE history,
  cookies - MRU-Blaster
• Delete user ids and their files

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Rescue Disks
(To Fix Windows or Linux)
Ultimate Boot CD for Windows
ubcd4win.com
Ultimate Boot CD (for Linux)
Linux Rescue Disks
Knoppix and others
ultimatebootcd.com
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V. Linux (etc) on Old PCs
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Free Operating Systems
Linux
Minix
Others
BSD
DOS
Biggest family Most software Most popular
BeOS OS/2 soon? New Deal -- Not popular
Very lightweight Inspired Linux -- Limited
apps -- Less popular
Fast Small Bug free rep
Tons of apps Very lightweight Still
popular worldwide -- GUI
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Linux Benefits (versus Windows)
Co-exists with other operating systems
No Registry or DLL problems
No viruses, spyware, malware
No privacy issues
No WGA, Product Activation, or stealth updates
No licensing issues
No artificial lockout from current software
No forced upgrades
Free apps !
Small distros
Many distros
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Small Linux Strategies
Small distro
1.
Older release of big distro
2.
Tailor distro during install
3.
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Some Small Linuxes
See -- DistroWatch.com DistroMania.co
m
Review System Requirements
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3 Favorite Small Linuxes
Damn Small Linux
BeatrIX / BeaFanatIX
Puppy
For end users Runs on any Pentium 128M
to run in ram -- Not widely used
Smallest (486 w/ 16M) Popular -- Geekiest
(not for end user) -- Minimal apps
All the apps you need Popular Not as
geeky as DSL Small 128M - 320M to run
in ram -- Not as friendly as BeatrIX
All run from memory with 128M
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Ways to Install Linux
1. Live CD -- To verify product, video,
drivers, etc -- To evaluate and learn
product 2. Full Install -- Co-exist with
Windows -- Needs its own partition -- Most
Linuxes recognize Windows -- They create boot
selection list -- Little disk required
(Continue to use Windows partition for your
data) 3. Frugal Install -- Stores Linux as
file(s) in existing Windows partition 4.
Windows Program -- Icon on Windows desktop 5.
USB memory Stick -- Leaves Windows un-changed 6.
Updatable CD or DVD -- Leaves Windows
un-changed
Almost all Linuxes
Some Linuxes
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How to Co-Install Linux with Windows
Linux includes the Partitioning, Boot Selection,
and Windows-recognition tools you need free
1. Verify Windows disk is good (My Computer
Properties Tools Disk check) 2. Defrag
Windows volume 3. Live CD to boot Linux 4.
Resize Windows partition smaller if you need
space 5. Create new Linux partition 6. Create
Linux Swap partition 7. Install Linux 8.
Verify boot selection menu (/boot/grub/menu.lst)
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GUI is Key to Resource Usage
Always in use
Memory-consumptive
Gnome KDE Linux standards --
Require 128 M JWM, IceWM, Xfce, FVWM,
Flubox, others Much less Memory ( Command line Fine for App Server Ok for
geeks -- Not ok for end users
See xwinman.org for GUI details
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Pick Light Apps !
Lite !
Good
Bad
Abiword OpenOffice 1 (64M) Gnumeric OpenOffice
2 (128M) Dillo Firefox, Mozilla Terminal
window GUI apps JWM, FVWM Gnome, KDE Older
releases Newer releases of (Acrobat,
Winzip, etc) the same
products Office 97 Office 2000, 2003,
2007 Notepad Word K-Meleon IE (any version),
Firefox ImgBurn, FinalBurner Easy CD Creator,
Nero TinyFirewall, Sygate ZoneAlarm Ad-aware,
AVG ClamWin Windows 98, 3.1 GUIs Vista GUI
Linux
Windows
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Free BSD
BSD requires minimal resources for older
versions -- originally released in 1993
Minix 3

• Inspired Linux
• Fast and light (down to 486s)
• Apps cover all the bases... but not as many as
  Linux
• Open source

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CTL- ALT- DEL
Free DOS

• Tons of apps
• Best on really old equipment (486/386/286/XT/PC)
  
• Great for non-GUI systems
• Some GUIs available
• Modern DOS overcomes old DOS limitations

1. FreeDOS 2. OpenDOS 3. DR-DOS
Learn about todays DOS at --
www.devedia.com/dosghost/dos/dosw31.asp
Collectable Computers -- www.vintage-computer/vcfo
rum
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Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP)
PC Linux Server
100 mhz and 64 M X-terminal PCs Running
LTSP Linux
Big Money Saver !
See FreeSoftwareMagazine.com article by Robert
Pogson http//www.freesoftwaremagazin
e.com/articles/linux_terminal_server Also
www.ltsp.org
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VI. Where to get a Free PC -- or
-- Give one away !
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• Where to Get a Free PC--

Phoebe Jane does the job !
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• Where to Get a Free PC--

(or very low-cost PC)
Trash IT co-workers Friends
www.FreeSharing.org www.FreeCycle.org
www.CraigsList.org Rummage sales
FreeSharing works !
Church rummage sales
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• What Does Free Mean ?

• Free Hardware
• Free Software
• You pay labor
• Maybe you buy a part (eg Memory)
• Internet subscription is not free
• 10 avg / month SLOW (5-10)
• 30 avg / month FAST (10-40)

ATT / Yahoo DSL is 10 / month !
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• Where to Donate a PC ?

Works?
Resources?

• Environmental Protection Agency
• www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/ecycling/
  donate.htmlocal
• Craigslist.org, FreeSharing.org,
  FreeCycling.org, rummage sales
• Peoples Resource Center (www.peoplesrc.org)
  Wheaton
• - 500 mhz or better
• If too old for re-use
• - Sims/United Recycling
• 166 Harvester Ave, W. Chicago
• 0.25 / lb.

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VII. The New World of Free
Computing
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• Wintel monopolizes U.S. computer market
• Over 50 of Microsofts revenue is from Windows
  Office
• They have to force you to upgrade
• Each release soaks up new hardware for new
  functionality
• This Planned Obsolescence is artificial
• Conclusions --
• Word 97, 2000, 2003, 2007. Who cares?
• Non state-of-the-art PCs are useful
• Vista -- a great example of a needless upgrade

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How Microsoft Forces You to Upgrade

• MS software is designed not to run on older
  computers
• Software prerequisites are marketing-based
  (not technology-driven)
• (eg you must have IE to get Windows
  Updates or run XP or etc.
• Or, you must have a certain level of product to
  use an unrelated product)
• Older MS software doesnt run on newer
  machines
• (eg Win 98 needs bug fixes for 512 M
  and 2 ghz)
• MS terminates security fixes, support for
  older software (key due to Windows security
  flaws)
• WGA PA kill old copies of software
• Registry prevents porting a Windows disk
  across computers or even an upgraded computer
• Registry locks / controls installed software
• Intentional incompatibilities between
  different versions of the same product
• (eg older version of Word can not read .doc
  file from newer version)

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• Ability to Enforce
• Planned Obsolescence

High
US Automotive Industry
Low
PC Industry
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
2020
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Trends !

• The Monopoly is Ending

End of Monopoly
Cheap commodity hardware
Free software
Result --
Planned Obsolescence
Appropriate Technology
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• OLPC --
• 433 mhz, 256M ram, 1G flash
• Self-powered
• Linux
• 175 - 100

• Laptop Projects
• Millions to be produced
• Built-in WIFI
• Kid-tough case
• Specs, cost in transition

• Intel Classmate --
• 900 mhz, 256M ram, 1-2G flash
• 4-hr battery
• Windows XP Pro or Linux
• 225 - 200

Household appliance
Consumer PC
School requirement
Purchase at Walmart or Target
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VIII. Resources
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• Example Computer Charity Programs

Peoples Resource Center (www.peoplesrc.org)
Wheaton

• - 500 mhz or better
• - Give away 5,000 computers in Dupage Country
• - 100 / month
• - Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR)
• - Linux on old PCs (Suse or Ubuntu)
• - Give away 5,000 to 10,000 / year
• Re-use, then Recycle
• Obsolescence is just a failure of
  imagination -- James Burgett

Alameda County Computer Resource Center
(www.accrc.org)
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Recommended Resources
Free software websites-- Windows--
TheFreeCountry.org MajorGeeks.com
Download.com Linux--
SourceForge.net Freshmeat.net
Hardware Info websites-- 1.
TomsHardware.com 2. PCGuide.com 3.
Computer.HowStuffWorks.com 4.
PCMech.pair.com 5. PCSupport.About.com
Hardware books-- Upgrading Repairing PCs
by Mueller Complete PC Upgrade Maintenance
Guide by Minasi
Where to get Drivers-- Windows --
DriverGuide.com Linux --
Linux-Drivers.org
Articles -- http//www.linux.com/article.pl?sid
06/02/13/1854251 http//www.linuxforums.org/deskt
op/a_linux_distribution_for_an_old_laptop.html
http//www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/fre
e_computing
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questions...
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