How to Revive

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• How to Revive
• an Old Computer

Howard Fosdick
(C) 2008 FCI
V 2.2 1 hr
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• Who Am I ?

Independent Consultant Hands-on DBA
(not a PC support specialist) Founded
Database User Groups (IDUG and MWDUG)
Management consulting with vendors
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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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Geek !
Geek !
Fix Old PCs
How to Secure Your Windows PC and Protect Your
Privacy
Presentation

• Give away free under OPL
• Need your feedback
• Email address in paper
• Thank you!

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• Outline

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

?
Free
Fun
Useful
Old computers improve capabilities yearly
Appropriate Technology versus Planned
Obsolescence
Obsolescence is just a failure of imagination
-- James Burgett
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Sources Galt Global Review earth911.org electron
icrecyclers.com others

• Save the Planet

PCs contain toxic materials 500
million PCs yet to be disposed of Avg PC
lifespan
One solution -- use them ! Buy Re-purpose
Recycle
Re-use, then recycle -- James Burgett
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Caveats (1) end user (2) subjective
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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Caveats (1) end user (2) subjective
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
• Business
• Consumer (eg games)
• Act as terminals (Linux Terminal Server
  Project - LTSP)

See http//www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/f
ree_computing
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• New PCs are required for the latest --
• Games
• Graphics
• Multimedia
• Microsoft software
• Pentium III does everything else
• Pentium II useful but --
• 450 Mhz 256 M tops
• Pentium I useful but --
• 266 mhz 128 M tops

Dial-up era
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II. Hardware
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This Talk is on PC Desktops
Laptops
-- Fewer out there -- Higher priced -- Free
uncommon -- More proprietary
Apples
-- Proprietary -- even across the Apple line
! -- Parts -- expensive, hard to
find
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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
P-II
P-III
Maximum RAM (typical)
128m 256m varies P- I P- II
P- III
--- Usually ---
Can use one level slower as next level faster
All in group cost same
Source Toms Hardware, other web sites
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Pentium
IV III
II I pre-Pentium
(486, 386, 286/AT, XT, PC)
10 60 30 P-I P-II P-III

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

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• Technology Examples --
• Monitors - flat panels
• ZIP disks - USB thumb drives
• 2-generation old PCs - newer machines
• Marketing Examples --
• Microsofts Internet Explorer
• Microsofts Vista

or
Technology
Marketing
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III. Steps to Revitalize an old PC
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Steps to Revitalize an Old PC
1. Identify -- Hardware -- Software 2.
Verify -- Check boot configuration panel run
diagnostics -- Devices work (hardware
drivers) -- Check disks, reading/writing CD/DVD
floppy -- Windows Device Mgmt panel --
Malware free -- Installed programs work --
Break login password (ntpasswd in Linux rescue
CDs) 3. Define objectives 4. Can this pc can
achieve them ? 5. Download drivers etc from
vendors website 6. Fix configure to achieve
objectives
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Example Laptop
Hardware /Software

• P-III
• XP
• too slow
• Office work (MS file formats)
• Multimedia web surfing
• Run Windows Linux apps
• Tune-up XP
• Buy 256M 512M
• add Ubuntu Linux
• OpenOffice

Objectives
Solution
UpgradeMemory.com or KingstonMemory.com
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Example -- Compatibility ...
Microsoft Office
OpenOffice
Youre viewing it on --
Presentation created on --
OpenOffice on Linux (on old laptop)
Powerpoint 97 2003 on Windows 98 XP
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Example -- Professionals Desktop
Objectives

• Office work
• Email
• Doesnt want to pay 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 XUbuntu
Goal -- heavier multi-tasking -- Upgraded
memory to 256M -- Windows tune-up
Pentium-II Purchased 1997
More at -- http//www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/art
icles/free_computing
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Easy-to-Fix Problems
Windows
Malware Registry Slow Device
driver Software corruption Tune-up -
Defrag disk, remove malware, prune start-up list
(msconfig Runlist), check daemons
Services, prune index.dat Registry, erase
temporary, set-up, internet, cache, junk
files, cookies, URL history... Broken
replaceable device Slow needs memory
Random shutdowns - Overheating - check fans,
redo heat sink, clean PC Wont boot -
Check wires, card seating, loose screws
See How to Secure Your Windows Computer and Your
Privacy
Hardware
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O
S
OS Determines
Your Apps How easy to
find Free ?
Drivers ? OS overhead
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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 Age-appropriate
software -- Cleanup required -- No MS fixes or
support
No malware Simple install Linux
benefits -- Drivers -- Loses value of
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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Windows runs well on 486s to P-IIs
Windows 3.1, 95 or 98 Office 4, 95 or 97
Faster than stock Linux GUIs (on 486 or P-I)
More user-friendly ! Example -- 486-DX2 _at_ 25
mhz / 8M ram / Windows 3.1 / WP 5 /
Freelance Firewall Virus scanner
Malware scanner Intrusion blocker
are required if you connect to internet
But security software sinks them !
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Security Software Soaks Resources
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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Free Software Required to Secure Windows
See --- How to Secure Your Windows PC and Your
Privacy
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Windows System Requirements
Double these values for good performance !
From Microsofts web site 2006
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How to Anonymize Windows PCs
(1) Windows gives users into
a false sense of privacy (2) Anonymizing
Windows is hard
--- See --- How to Secure Your Windows
PC and Your Privacy
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How to Anonymize Windows PCs
--- See --- How to Secure Your Windows
PC and Your Privacy

• Re-format hard disk - Dariks Boot and
  Nuke
• Quick, easy, sure
• -- Loses value of installed software
• or
  
• Remove personal info and Registration info
  from -
• Registry (First name, last name,
  organization, user id, etc)
• (Do this for all users, in both Keys and
  Values)
• Binaries that support Registry (user.dat,
  system.dat, etc)
• Spash panels (Product Options, Registry,
  Office 95/97 binaries)
• Locate delete personal files (in My
  Documents elsewhere)
• (.doc, .xls, .ppt, .pps, .txt, .rtf,
  etc)
• Locate delete system files (.wab, .acl,
  .pwl, .pcb, .pst, .dbx, etc)
• Address book files (Outlook, Outlook Express,
  IE)
• Email (.mbx and pst files)
• Web history (index.dat files and Registry
  (Typed URLs ZoneMap/Domains))
• (use PurgeIE or PurgeFox for index.dat files,
  edit Registry manually)
• Virus / spyware / adware / malware scan
  - AVG, A-2, Clamwin...
• Delete Temp, Internet Temp files, cache
  - CCleaner, FIWW

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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 ? New Deal -- Not popular
Very lightweight Inspired Linux -- Limited
apps -- Less popular
Fast Small Bug free rep
Many apps Lightweight ! Popular
worldwide Few limitations vs old DOS --
GUI www.devedia.com/dosghost/dos/dosw31.asp
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Linux Benefits (versus Windows)
No Vista DRM crap
No WGA, Product Activation, or stealth updates
No Registry or DLL problems
No viruses, spyware, malware
No privacy issues
Co-exists with other operating systems
No licensing issues
No artificial lockout from current software
No forced upgrades
Free apps !
Small distros
Distro choices
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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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A fraction of whats available...
Some Small Linuxes
DistroWatch.com DistroMania.com
Review System Requirements
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3 Favorite Small Linuxes
Damn Small Linux
BeatrIX / BeaFanatIX
Puppy
For end users -- Not widely used
Smallest (486 w/ 16M) Popular
All the apps you need Small (128M - 320M
in ram)
User-friendly Fuller Apps
Geekiest Minimal Apps
All run from memory with 128M
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Ways to Install Linux
1. Live CD -- Verify product, video, drivers,
etc -- Evaluate learn product 2. Full
Install -- Co-exist with Windows -- Needs own
partition -- Linuxes recognize Windows -- Linux
creates boot selection list -- Little disk
required -- 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 has free Partitioning, Boot Selection, and
Windows-recognition tools
1. Verify Windows disk (My Computer
Properties Tools Disk check) 2. Defrag
Windows 3. Boot Live Linux 4. Resize Windows
partition (if you need space) 5. Create Linux
partition 6. Create Linux Swap 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 Standard -- 128 M JWM,
IceWM, Xfce, FVWM, Flubox, others Less Memory
( Geeks -- Not 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 (300K) 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 A
d-aware, AVG ClamWin Windows 98, 3.1 GUIs Vista
GUI
Linux
Windows
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Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP)
100 mhz 64 M
Linux
X terminals
Big Money Saver !
See FreeSoftwareMagazine.com article by Robert
Pogson and www.ltsp.org
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LTSP
This material courtesy of Robert Pogsons
article
Server for up to 60 clients -- AMD Opteron
170 dual core 2 MB cache CAD519 4GB ECC
DDR333 RAM CAD500 ASUS A8N-E
motherboard CAD125 ATX case and power
supply w/400-500W capacity CAD200 10/100
baseT NIC CAD15 dual 200GB hard
drives SATA CAD210 Edubuntu CAD0
Total CAD1570
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VI. Get a Free PC -- or -- Give one
away !
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• Where to Get a Free PC--

Trash IT co-workers Friends
Rummage sales FreeSharing.org
FreeCycle.org CraigsList.org
FreeGeekChicago.org Peoplesrc.org
FreeSharing works !
Church Rummage Sales
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• What Does Free Mean ?

• Free Hardware Software
• You pay labor
• Buy a part (eg Memory) ?
• You pay Internet subscription
• SLOW 10 / month
• FAST 10 to 40 / month

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

Works?
How Old Is It?

• Same places as where you get a free PC
• Most require P-III
• Too old for re-use . . .
• Sims/United Recycling
• 166 Harvester Ave, W. Chicago
• 25 cents / lb.

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VII. Free Computing
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• Wintel monopolizes U.S. market
• 50 of Microsofts revenue is from Windows
  Office
• They have to force you to upgrade
• New release soaks up new hardware for new
  functions
• Planned Obsolescence --
• Word 97, 2000, 2003. Who cares?
• Older PCs are useful
• Vista -- 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 Ends

Free software
Appropriate Technology
Planned Obsolescence
Monopoly Ends
Commodity hardware
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• OLPC --
• 433 mhz, 256M ram, 1G flash
• Self-powered
• Linux
• 175 - 100

Laptop Projects

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

Household appliance
Consumer PCs
Schools
Walmart
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VIII. Resources
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• Example Re-Purposing Programs

Peoples Resource Center (www.peoplesrc.org)
Wheaton

• - 500 mhz
• - Have given away 5,000 computers in Dupage
  Cty
• - 100 / month
• - Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR)
• - P-III with 256M ram
• - Linux (Xubuntu)
• - Linux (Suse or Ubuntu)
• - Give away 5,000 to 10,000 / year

Free Geek (www.FreeGeekChicago.org) Chicago
ACCRC (www.accrc.org) Berkeley CA
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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
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questions...
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