Recycling Old
Computers...Test Results.
8/2/05, Updated 11/5/05, 12/3/05 By Chad Hauris
Old Computers, page 1. Page 3, Improving Performance and Audio Playback.
Page 4, Audio Playback and Serial Terminal installation...with pictures!
Retro Electronics Home Page
Now, on to the test results of the computer-rejuvenation. These old computers seemed to want to fight me! They can be a lot more sensitive and temperamental than some of the classic equipment I work with such as jukeboxes or tractors.
Eventually, though, I found the failure modes of the computers and have mostly got them going.
This stuff may be old hat to real computer experts...but for me this was new territory to learn.
1. Gateway 2000 Pentium 200 mhz. First, I tried installing Slackware Linux from the CD. The CD began to boot up, but then stopped. I was able to download Basic Linux from the reference computer and boot it up on the Gateway.. This allowed me some practice with Linux commands.
Then I tried setting up Coyote Linux on this machine as a router. After much experimentation with different network cards, the placement of the cards in the slots, and using different Ethernet drivers, the Coyote Linux router became functional. However, I was not able to access it with Gregory's reference computer. It is now set aside as a functional unit for future use.
Update: 7-6-05: I was able to get Slackware Linux up and running on this computer by doing a trick...I removed the hard drive and connected it up to the IBM computer in place of its hard drive. I booted up the Slackware Linux CD and installed it on the Gateway HD, and made a boot floppy, then returned the HD to the Gateway, thus allowing it to boot up Slackware.
I was having a bit of trouble with the network setup. The network card was installed in a PCI slot...I found that the driver was "via-rhine" and ran the modprobe via-rhine command, and the card appeared to be recognized. I ran the netconfig utility and set it up for DHCP, so it can automatically get the IP address from my Linksys router. However, when running Lynx I could not connect to the internet. Turns out it was a bad ethernet cable...after substiuting with a brand new cable, it worked fine. The bad cable was a used one from Goodwill...apparently there was corrosion on the contacts, or somebody didn't crimp it right.
I was able to get the X window maker going, and got Mozilla started...however it is just too darn slow to work properly. May try installing Firefox and see if it will run better...may need to try and increase the RAM in this computer for graphical web browsers to really work.
Update: 7-11-05: I have got the Dillo Web Browser to work well on the gateway. It is a web browser designed for low-RAM Linux systems. It displays graphics and works great...although some things don't look exactly the same as in Firefox or Internet Explorer.
Retro home page on the Dillo browser.
Gateway 2000 and IBM recycled computers running Linux, and "Network Everywhere" router.
2. Compaq Presario. This unit had Windows 98 on the HD when I got it from Goodwill. I was able to get it on the internet, but browsing was REAL slow, and there would be intermittent shut-offs of the system, and trouble getting it to boot. It would not boot up off the CD-ROM so I could not install Slackware Linux. I tried getting it set up with Coyote Linux as a router, but it would only detect one network card. Eventually the floppy drive was not being accessed and finally it gave out with a "system board failure". In the bone-yard for future possibly more extensive repair. This unit may have a power supply problem, so will try another supply.
3. Generic Clone Pentium. Had problems accessing the floppy drive...this may have been due to flakey old discs, so this one may not be beyond hope.
4. Dumpster-dived Dell. This machine was originally dumped because the hard drive was bad. Had real trouble booting the floppy too.
Update: 7-6-05. Turns out the problem was actually a bad floppy disk. I was able to use a known good disk to boot it up on Basic Linux. I was able to mount the HD too, so it appears to be working OK.
5. IBM Pentium. I was about to give up hope on these old units when the IBM Pentium PC booted up the CD-ROM and allowed me to install Slackware Linux. I got the network card functional, and the system is working well, and can browse the web using Lynx. Future plans include using this unit as a terminal server to get the old DEC VT terminals functional. Also, I will be installing a router for internet security and to allow me to hook up multiple units to the net.
Update: 7-6-05. I got a Linksys "Network Everywhere" 4-port router from Wal-mart for $39.99. I logged in to its IP address from Gregory's Windows computer and configured with the IP address for the ethernet antenna and for DHCP on the outputs to the computers. Have 3 units hooked up (2 Linux, 1 Windows) and they are working fine.
The router literature recommended using a wizard CD included, but it was very straightforward just logging into it and programming it manually.
Installing Slackware Linux on IBM PC.
Running Lynx on the IBM computer.
Here are some problems I dealt with:
--Bad floppy disks not allowing boot-up
--No boot up from CD...solved by removing HD and hooking it up to another computer that would boot CD and installing Linux there.
--Bad ethernet cable not allowing network access...watch out for second hand cables.
Computer Recycling, Page 1
Page 3, Improving Performance and Audio Playback.
Page 4, Audio Playback and Serial Terminal installation...with pictures!
Features Page.
Retro Electronics Home Page.
8/2/05, Updated 11/5/05, 12/3/05 By Chad Hauris
Old Computers, page 1. Page 3, Improving Performance and Audio Playback.
Page 4, Audio Playback and Serial Terminal installation...with pictures!
Retro Electronics Home Page
Now, on to the test results of the computer-rejuvenation. These old computers seemed to want to fight me! They can be a lot more sensitive and temperamental than some of the classic equipment I work with such as jukeboxes or tractors.
Eventually, though, I found the failure modes of the computers and have mostly got them going.
This stuff may be old hat to real computer experts...but for me this was new territory to learn.
1. Gateway 2000 Pentium 200 mhz. First, I tried installing Slackware Linux from the CD. The CD began to boot up, but then stopped. I was able to download Basic Linux from the reference computer and boot it up on the Gateway.. This allowed me some practice with Linux commands.
Then I tried setting up Coyote Linux on this machine as a router. After much experimentation with different network cards, the placement of the cards in the slots, and using different Ethernet drivers, the Coyote Linux router became functional. However, I was not able to access it with Gregory's reference computer. It is now set aside as a functional unit for future use.
Update: 7-6-05: I was able to get Slackware Linux up and running on this computer by doing a trick...I removed the hard drive and connected it up to the IBM computer in place of its hard drive. I booted up the Slackware Linux CD and installed it on the Gateway HD, and made a boot floppy, then returned the HD to the Gateway, thus allowing it to boot up Slackware.
I was having a bit of trouble with the network setup. The network card was installed in a PCI slot...I found that the driver was "via-rhine" and ran the modprobe via-rhine command, and the card appeared to be recognized. I ran the netconfig utility and set it up for DHCP, so it can automatically get the IP address from my Linksys router. However, when running Lynx I could not connect to the internet. Turns out it was a bad ethernet cable...after substiuting with a brand new cable, it worked fine. The bad cable was a used one from Goodwill...apparently there was corrosion on the contacts, or somebody didn't crimp it right.
I was able to get the X window maker going, and got Mozilla started...however it is just too darn slow to work properly. May try installing Firefox and see if it will run better...may need to try and increase the RAM in this computer for graphical web browsers to really work.
Update: 7-11-05: I have got the Dillo Web Browser to work well on the gateway. It is a web browser designed for low-RAM Linux systems. It displays graphics and works great...although some things don't look exactly the same as in Firefox or Internet Explorer.
Retro home page on the Dillo browser.
Gateway 2000 and IBM recycled computers running Linux, and "Network Everywhere" router.
2. Compaq Presario. This unit had Windows 98 on the HD when I got it from Goodwill. I was able to get it on the internet, but browsing was REAL slow, and there would be intermittent shut-offs of the system, and trouble getting it to boot. It would not boot up off the CD-ROM so I could not install Slackware Linux. I tried getting it set up with Coyote Linux as a router, but it would only detect one network card. Eventually the floppy drive was not being accessed and finally it gave out with a "system board failure". In the bone-yard for future possibly more extensive repair. This unit may have a power supply problem, so will try another supply.
3. Generic Clone Pentium. Had problems accessing the floppy drive...this may have been due to flakey old discs, so this one may not be beyond hope.
4. Dumpster-dived Dell. This machine was originally dumped because the hard drive was bad. Had real trouble booting the floppy too.
Update: 7-6-05. Turns out the problem was actually a bad floppy disk. I was able to use a known good disk to boot it up on Basic Linux. I was able to mount the HD too, so it appears to be working OK.
5. IBM Pentium. I was about to give up hope on these old units when the IBM Pentium PC booted up the CD-ROM and allowed me to install Slackware Linux. I got the network card functional, and the system is working well, and can browse the web using Lynx. Future plans include using this unit as a terminal server to get the old DEC VT terminals functional. Also, I will be installing a router for internet security and to allow me to hook up multiple units to the net.
Update: 7-6-05. I got a Linksys "Network Everywhere" 4-port router from Wal-mart for $39.99. I logged in to its IP address from Gregory's Windows computer and configured with the IP address for the ethernet antenna and for DHCP on the outputs to the computers. Have 3 units hooked up (2 Linux, 1 Windows) and they are working fine.
The router literature recommended using a wizard CD included, but it was very straightforward just logging into it and programming it manually.
Installing Slackware Linux on IBM PC.
Running Lynx on the IBM computer.
Here are some problems I dealt with:
--Bad floppy disks not allowing boot-up
--No boot up from CD...solved by removing HD and hooking it up to another computer that would boot CD and installing Linux there.
--Bad ethernet cable not allowing network access...watch out for second hand cables.
Computer Recycling, Page 1
Page 3, Improving Performance and Audio Playback.
Page 4, Audio Playback and Serial Terminal installation...with pictures!
Features Page.
Retro Electronics Home Page.