A Question For The Die Hard Geeks

Saturday, February 24, 2007 by PoSmedley | Discussion: Personal Computing

I have accumulated some PC's.

2 eMachines T2642 that don't run (a notorious bug caused these babies to crash...the only thing still good is the hard drives and memory...256MB each)

IBM 300GL

Gateway with Celeron and running Win98

Besides burning them.......what would you do with them to get the most out of them? I've been thinking of putting together something as a secondary that I might try to run Linux on, but not sure I can or where to start.
12 Reply 3 Referrals
PurrBall
Reply #1 Saturday, February 24, 2007 4:03 PM
I create file servers.

PoSmedley
Reply #2 Saturday, February 24, 2007 4:11 PM
To make a file server from them, wouldn't I need to up the RAM on my PC to keep it from slowing down?

raisinjack
Reply #3 Saturday, February 24, 2007 4:19 PM
goto smoothwall.org and make one of them into a firewall.........

PoSmedley
Reply #4 Saturday, February 24, 2007 4:24 PM
make one of them into a firewall..


I'm good with firewalls. Wireless router has one and I have ZA. I have no problems there. Infact, I have more trouble with the router firewall NOT allowing some apps to work right, I don't want any more. But thanks!


tjesterb
Reply #5 Saturday, February 24, 2007 7:15 PM
You could hang some hard drives off one of them and run FreeNAS. It can run on as little as 12MB of HDD space and gives you network access to your files, if that would be useful to you.
WWW Link

Jafo
Reply #6 Saturday, February 24, 2007 7:42 PM

Run 'em with Win98 se and drag out all those old, fun Dos games that dummy-spit on XP.

Every now and then I fire up the P266 for a game of TerraNova, etc....


PoSmedley
Reply #7 Saturday, February 24, 2007 7:47 PM
Run 'em with Win98 se and drag out all those old, fun Dos games that dummy-spit on XP.


I must have a dozen CD's of games for 98 and 2000. lol

MasonM
Reply #8 Saturday, February 24, 2007 7:55 PM
Load Linux on them and automate your house with them. I've seen some pretty cool home automation using older boxes and Linux.

UBoB
Reply #9 Saturday, February 24, 2007 8:01 PM
Take one of the side covers off, lay them on their side, fill them with good potting soil and plant geraniums. They make lovely planters.

PurrBall
Reply #10 Saturday, February 24, 2007 8:17 PM
File servers can run fine on 128mb. You can use Win 98, Linux, 2000, NT, XP, 2003, etc

PoSmedley
Reply #11 Saturday, February 24, 2007 8:42 PM
Load Linux on them and automate your house with them. I've seen some pretty cool home automation using older boxes and Linux.


That sounds interesting.

Take one of the side covers off, lay them on their side, fill them with good potting soil and plant geraniums.


And then burn them?
File servers can run fine on 128mb. You can use Win 98, Linux, 2000, NT, XP, 2003, etc


I only have 512mb on my PC. My understanding is that as file servers it would draw from my main computer?


XX
Reply #12 Saturday, February 24, 2007 10:18 PM
If you want to get rid of them, I recommend something like C.R.E.A.M, it's ran by prisoners that fix or recycle them properly, and the re-built computers usually goes to poor people or students.

Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

  • Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
  • Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
  • Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
  • It's simple, and FREE!
Login

Home | About | Privacy | Upload Guidelines | Terms of Service | Help
Copyright © Stardock Corporation. All Rights Reserved.


web-wc01