Got a computer for free.

Newuser1111

I got a Packard Bell from my neighbors for free.
On the front it says Packard Bell Legend 408CD

What should I do with it?
Reinstall 95, install 98, install Linux, or something else?

Problems:
I think the CD drive is broken.
Windows 95 is slow.
No USB ports.(Is that a problem?)

I was going to take a picture of it, but here's a video instead:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-M6ILJyq-o
(They didn't give me a monitor, so I had to use one that I already had.)

tom66

What's the spec? If you're lucky you might be able to get Damn Small Linux on there and use it as a spare PC.

No USB, however, limits connection opportunities to the Internet...

Giant Speck

Wow. A Packard Bell? That thing must be ancient!

3rdalbum

I have a suggestion of what to do with that computer, but it involves a dumpster

If it's got a network card and if you can connect a CD drive temporarily, you could put NetBSD onto that machine and use it as a server. You'd need an IDE hard disk as well to store your files, but make sure you boot off the normal internal hard disk or from CD.

billgoldberg

Turn it into a server.

Besides Linux, your only other real option is some bsd distro.

Swagman

Packard Hell

What to do with it ?

Doorstop ?

Pouffe?

init1

You might be able to install by putting the hard drive into another computer. You could also take the CD drive out of a different computer, install an OS, and then put it back. I'd probably install FreeDOS and use it to play DOOM.

sydbat

I'd go with the landfill option*. Have a friend who got a similar box from someone and it is basically useless. HDD was less that 700MB (that's right MB), only had 32MB RAM, etc. Garbage.

*By landfill I mean find an electronics recycler.

Old_Gray_Wolf · 01:04 PM

I looked up the specs. Unless it has been upgraded it has:

75 Mhz processor
8 MB RAM
1 GB Hard Disk

Edit: Spec sheet was too large to attach.

Swagman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old_Gray_Wolf

I looked up the specs. Unsless it has been upgraded it has:

75 Mhz processor
8 MB RAM
1 GB Hard Disk

/Zachary Smith

"Oh the pain...the pain"

March 28th, 2009	#1
Newuser1111 Way Too Much Ubuntu Join Date: Aug 2007 Beans: 255 Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope	Got a computer for free. I got a Packard Bell from my neighbors for free. On the front it says Packard Bell Legend 408CD What should I do with it? Reinstall 95, install 98, install Linux, or something else? Problems: I think the CD drive is broken. Windows 95 is slow. No USB ports.(Is that a problem?) I was going to take a picture of it, but here's a video instead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-M6ILJyq-o (They didn't give me a monitor, so I had to use one that I already had.)

March 28th, 2009	#2
tom66 Quad Shot of Ubuntu Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: UK Beans: 441 Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex	Re: Got a computer for free. What's the spec? If you're lucky you might be able to get Damn Small Linux on there and use it as a spare PC. No USB, however, limits connection opportunities to the Internet... __________________ Working on a few projects at the moment. Have a laptop with a Core 2 Duo, and 3 gigabytes of RAM. Also am working on a Media PC which is used for watching films and playing games. It is a stock Scaleo E with a 250 GB HDD and 1.5 GB RAM.

March 28th, 2009	#3
Giant Speck Skinny Soy Caramel Ubuntu Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Beans: 654 Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope	Re: Got a computer for free. Wow. A Packard Bell? That thing must be ancient! __________________ Macchiato \| Espresso \| OS Talk \| Linsux \| My new blog: Оксиморонец

March 28th, 2009	#4
3rdalbum Not Andy Hertzfield Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Western Australia Beans: 6,110 Ubuntu Karmic Koala (testing)	Re: Got a computer for free. I have a suggestion of what to do with that computer, but it involves a dumpster If it's got a network card and if you can connect a CD drive temporarily, you could put NetBSD onto that machine and use it as a server. You'd need an IDE hard disk as well to store your files, but make sure you boot off the normal internal hard disk or from CD. __________________ Where did my installed program go? \| Whatever you do, DON'T remove Network Manager, you can't get it back! \| If you are installing Ubuntu as dual-boot, make sure you drag the slider to the left to give Ubuntu some space!

March 28th, 2009	#5
billgoldberg Day Old Decaf Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brugge, België Beans: 2,939	Re: Got a computer for free. Turn it into a server. Besides Linux, your only other real option is some bsd distro.

March 28th, 2009	#6
Swagman A Carafe of Ubuntu Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peterborough, Uk Beans: 101 Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope	Re: Got a computer for free. Packard Hell What to do with it ? Doorstop ? Pouffe?

March 28th, 2009	#7
init1 Grande Half-n-Half Cinnamon Ubuntu Join Date: May 2007 Beans: 936	Re: Got a computer for free. You might be able to install by putting the hard drive into another computer. You could also take the CD drive out of a different computer, install an OS, and then put it back. I'd probably install FreeDOS and use it to play DOOM.

March 28th, 2009	#8
sydbat Quad Shot of Ubuntu Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Calgary, Alberta Beans: 469 Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron	Re: Got a computer for free. I'd go with the landfill option. Have a friend who got a similar box from someone and it is basically useless. HDD was less that 700MB (that's right MB), only had 32MB RAM, etc. Garbage. By landfill I mean find an electronics recycler. __________________ "...most people look for and remember facts that confirm their biases, while they simultaneously avoid and forget facts that contradict their dearly held beliefs" - Robert I. Sutton

March 28th, 2009	#9
Old_Gray_Wolf Ubuntu Extra Shot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Gallifrey Beans=Farts My beans are hidden! Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope	Re: Got a computer for free. I looked up the specs. Unless it has been upgraded it has: 75 Mhz processor 8 MB RAM 1 GB Hard Disk Edit: Spec sheet was too large to attach. __________________ It's just an OS. Pick one that works for you. Don't make changes to your computer without a backup of important files. Try a "Live CD" before installing an OS. Read the release notes for known problems. Last edited by Old_Gray_Wolf; March 28th, 2009 at 01:04 PM..

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