How to put that old computer to use.

WAIT! Don't throw out that old laptop or desktop. You can give them a new lease on life. Just take a look at my Instructable.

Step 1 Tools you will need

Well as with most instructables you'll need some tools.
I used:
A screwdriver
torx screwdrivers
and a pliers

Comments

[admin]

Hey, this is a great instructable and is very informative. Just one thing is missing... pictures! It really helps a lot when trying to follow directions so you should consider taking some photographs. Once you do that and leave me a message when you have so that we can publish your work. Thanks! Thanks for the cool instructable and we hope to publish this soon!

[admin]

Hey, this is a great instructable and is very informative. Just one thing is missing... pictures! It really helps a lot when trying to follow directions so you should consider taking some photographs. Once you do that and leave me a message when you have so that we can publish your work. Thanks! Thanks for the cool instructable and we hope to publish this soon!

[techboy411]

I've got a IBM Thinkpad iSeries 1500 from my cosin and it is full of stickers and w/ my mame on the botom of the LCD

[Computothought]

Do not forget Mepis AntiX and WattOS for older computers.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Reuses-for-legacy-computers/

[thepaul1993]

my old laptop runs windows 3

[dla888]

Haha I'm still running windows 3.1 on the Texas instruments laptop. I have never had any problems with it. Yet I have many problems with Vista... I wonder if microsoft is going backwards?

[Jimmacle]

I don't agree with you. I'm using a Windows 7 laptop right now, and I think it's great!

[dla888]

Cool! I'm glad it works for you. Unfortunately it doesn't work for me.

[tinkerC]

Yes, they went from a good OS, XP, to Vista, that doesn't even work right, and is a hog.

[thepaul1993]

vista is rubbish. im still using xp. but hopefully 7 will be better. Although ill still use xp for a few more years

[tanmanknex]

I tri booted my laptop with xp, vista, and 7!!! I'm so happy that i finally got it done!!! The only issue is with xp, and thats because of the sound driver... oh well, I have a forum post so reply there if you want to.

[tinkerC]

Congratulations!

[tanmanknex]

Thanks! If you don't mind, please post replies to my forum.

[thepaul1993]

now that is skill, must of taken some time to do

[tanmanknex]

Actually, i just worked out all the bugs yesterday. I couldn't get sound in xp, and it wasn't installing programs correctly. The sound is what takes the longest... My laptop has a weird sound card and had to use an old laptop driver disk to even get it to be detected. It works great now, though.

[tinkerC]

Just partition it three times, and install OS into one of three each time.

[tanmanknex]

That's what you think! I started with vista installed on my hp pavilion dv2213cl laptop, and I didn't want to lose data. Do some research on google, and there's no guides for my laptop, which made it much harder. There are a few forums, but they aren't much help...

[thepaul1993]

cool, i will have to try it one day? ooh, some one told me not to do it with linux? does it mess up the files? thought you might know thnaks

[zack247]

i think the reason linux wont run with windows is because it uses different base code files, ones that make it impossible for windows to run alongside

[tanmanknex]

I eventually did get it working (right before my laptop's video card died...) though I can't remember how.

[zack247]

alas, the great video card cripples beneath the the ultimate power that is triple booting.

[tinkerC]

Go for it, but google it first. It is two steps longer. They must have something against Linux. You need to back-up all of your data, as partitioning deletes everything. I do know, but Google knows better. You're welcome.

[thepaul1993]

If i try it with second HDD, I should be ok if it crashes?

[tinkerC]

Probably. Just remove your old drive.

[tanmanknex]

Yep. I actuall was going toinstall fedora instead of xp, but it wouldn't install... Oh well, maybe when 7 expires, or I get rid of vista.

[zack247]

you could have vist, minus the "having vista" part. if you like the look of vista, just check out the instructable on how to make it look like it. search "Vista-lizer" here on instructables.

[tinkerC]

Hope. The Mac TV ads are more accurate than they realize. Good for you, the older the better.

[dla888]

Puppy Linux on a PowerBook? I've never tried that. But I'll attempt it to-night. Please rate my instructable.

[zack247]

how did it work out? i have a powerbook and im trying to do the same thing.

[reactos.org]

The fact is, PuppyLinux will NOT run natively on a PowerPC CPU; you'd be better off looking for more information here:

http://www.debian.org/ports/powerpc/

That page has a LOT of information about the various PowerPC Linux distributions, and which ones will work with old(er) hardware. For really old (NuBus) systems, you should look here:

http://nubus-pmac.sourceforge.net/

Hell, even Ubuntu and SUSE were ported to the PowerPC architecture:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PowerPCFAQ

http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=133

though the Ubuntu distro is no longer being supported or developed; I'm not sure about the status of SUSE, but it seems to still be available:

http://en.opensuse.org/POWER@SUSE

I hope this information helps to clarify the confusion about running Linux on PowerPC-based hardware. Linux will run on almost any type of modern processor you can name; the trick is to know what type of CPU and hardware you have (for example, NuBus or PCI bus), then search for a suitable distro.

[zack247]

can you help me with this? i have a powerbook 190 and i dont know where to start. i downloaded the kernel but how do i install it? all i have a a 1.44mb floppy card slot, no cd drive. can you help?

[sarath12445]

can anyone suggest a gadget for my old laptop keyboard and touch pad??

my keyboard model number is NSK8214 its from acer. pls mail me [e-mail]

[AzurusNova]

Would puppylinux work on an old Fujitsu Milan laptop like this one? Hmm, well I cant find anything about it online except the power charger. Product No: FPC05004A Part No: FPC91-00080-00 Serial No: 68112273 FCC ID: MU7-7500

[ChiJoanPC]

http://y2k.nstl.com/asp/companyinfo_main.asp?id=225

See above for possible real name of your laptop. There are tech tools that will give you more info on the internals of your laptop, too. Some are packaged in the Hiren's Boot CD.

Good luck,
ChiJoan in Reno

[stephenniall]

HAha i remember buying a lappy for £3 (About $5) and I took the ram and stuff out Turned the touch pad into a mouse (The laptops screen didnt work btw lol) and i sold the ram for £5 the hard drive for £6 I made money off that lappy lol

[Coliflower]

gojng to london this summer, ill be sure to say lappy. lol

[stephenniall]

Well dont make sure you say Laptop or Notebook Computer as most londoners are percieved as posh snobs Oh one more tip Dont hire a car lol u need to pay Congestion charge etc and The traffic

[liquidhandwash]

Ive tryed many linux distros, the best one ive found is puppylinux.