TPU's Nostalgic Hardware Club

[Ruru]

I booted up my Vaio last night and found out a few things:

• The Windows Me installation appears to be original as it has all the preloaded software (wallpapers, apps, drivers, etc.).
• The PC appeared to be used up until 2009 going by some of the file dates
• The CMOS battery is dead but it takes CR2032s (fixable)
• The case doesn't fit well because the metal part is bent (fixable), preventing the optical drive from opening
• The PC Card slot works, but the eject button is broken (probably fixable)
• The CPU probably needs to be repasted as it's 20+ years old

I will be archiving the hard drive's contents as there isn't anything personally identifiable on it, but I also plan to do a fresh install of Windows Me (I found restore disc images on archive.org). I also ordered some 40 volume clear developer for retrobriting the case (sans metal) and optical drive door; any tips and tricks would be appreciated as I haven't Retrobrited anything before. I will be using the submersion method, by the way.

I know that people like to put old machines to their factory state, but having the OS with all manufacturer's crap is something I just don't do. especially with WinMe

I'd go with Win2000 SP4 but that's just me. Used to love that OS.

 

[MaxiPro800]

I can confirm that, Athlons until Tbred and Durons until Applebred had the text on the die (just checked a Palomino from my stash).

Cleaned the mystery AMD. Duron 1300.

 

[jak_2456]

I know that people like to put old machines to their factory state, but having the OS with all manufacturer's crap is something I just don't do. especially with WinMe

I'd go with Win2000 SP4 but that's just me. Used to love that OS.

I figured I'd get some crap for Windows Me .
Controversial opinion: I don't think that it's that bad, aside from the lack of real-mode DOS and the overall Mediocrity (no pun intended).
I'll start with the original restore ISOs with Windows Me since they include all the drivers you need; those can be very difficult to track down. If I don't like having Me on the PC I'll install 98SE, 2K, or XP. I did find some restore ISOs for Windows XP on the Internet Archive, too. I also think that Sony didn't put that much bloat on their PCs, but I'll wait and see.

 

[68Olds]

I figured I'd get some crap for Windows Me .
Controversial opinion: I don't think that it's that bad, aside from the lack of real-mode DOS and the overall Mediocrity (no pun intended).
I'll start with the original restore ISOs with Windows Me since they include all the drivers you need; those can be very difficult to track down. If I don't like having Me on the PC I'll install 98SE, 2K, or XP. I did find some restore ISOs for Windows XP on the Internet Archive, too. I also think that Sony didn't put that much bloat on their PCs, but I'll wait and see.

I have a retro PC with WinME & I'm happy with its performance. I also had a WinME machine back around 2000 to 2004. There were guides to make it work very well back then, but most people just hated on it & didn't bother to find out how to fix it.

 

[MaxiPro800]

Another ME user here. It's alright, my only nitpick with ME is the real-mode DOS removal.

Now this is one crummy 700MHz Pluto. Repasted with MX6 and awaoting 2x50mm fans, hopefully ones w/ tach.

 

[lexluthermiester]

It's alright, my only nitpick with ME is the real-mode DOS removal.

That was a deal breaker for some people. For others, the hybrid mode was good enough. I was the later. DOS was never my jam.

 

[Ruru]

Another ME user here. It's alright, my only nitpick with ME is the real-mode DOS removal.

Now this is one crummy 700MHz Pluto. Repasted with MX6 and awaoting 2x50mm fans, hopefully ones w/ tach.

Never even seen a Slot A CPU personally but I know about those "golden fingers" on the corner of the cartridge.

 

[jak_2456]

Never even seen a Slot A CPU personally but I know about those "golden fingers" on the corner of the cartridge.

I saw a whole bunch of slotted CPUs for sale at VCFMW last weekend. That convention was awesome; I got to see hardware that I didn't think I'd have the opportunity to see in person and interact with!

 

[Ruru]

I saw a whole bunch of slotted CPUs for sale at VCFMW last weekend. That convention was awesome; I got to see hardware that I didn't think I'd have the opportunity to see in person and interact with!

Sucks that there isn't such as a thing here in Finland, or at least I haven't heard of such a convention. Luckily there are retro groups and communities on Facebook (that platform does have its pros after all).

And of course there's some discord servers etc.

 

[MaxiPro800]

I definitely would love getting a Goldfinger device. I'll be on the lookout for one.

 

[wolf]

four, five, six, pick up sticks.

Trio of Quadro's, Quadro 4 980 XGL 128M, Quadro FX 1300 128M, Quadro FX 3400 256M

The Quadro ballpark (or exact..) equivalents of the GeForce 4 Ti 4800, GeForce FX 5900 and GeForce 6800.

Jeez they're sexy, they don't make them like they used to

 

[MaxiPro800]

Another board for the collection. BX6R2 and a 650MHz P3, just like the one I have on my MSI 6168

 

[jak_2456]

Another board for the collection. BX6R2 and a 650MHz P3, just like the one I have on my MSI 6168

View attachment 362936

That's a nice board! AGP, PCI, and ISA is not a particularly common combination on motherboards. What's your plans for it?

 

[MaxiPro800]

Sort of a reverse sleeper w/ a Deepcool Tesseract BK case.

 

[jak_2456]

Sort of a reverse sleeper w/ a Deepcool Tesseract BK case.

That's a cool idea; I've thought about doing one of those. I think it'd be more fun/interesting if you used something more modern-looking like a Lian Li O11D, but still a cool idea.

Deepcool, though. *shakes head*

 

[Apocalypsee]

four, five, six, pick up sticks.

Trio of Quadro's, Quadro 4 980 XGL 128M, Quadro FX 1300 128M, Quadro FX 3400 256M

The Quadro ballpark (or exact..) equivalents of the GeForce 4 Ti 4800, GeForce FX 5900 and GeForce 6800.

Jeez they're sexy, they don't make them like they used to

View attachment 362906

Looks so clean, I love it!

 

[MaxiPro800]

That's a cool idea; I've thought about doing one of those. I think it'd be more fun/interesting if you used something more modern-looking like a Lian Li O11D, but still a cool idea.

Deepcool, though. *shakes head*

Dunno why is Deepcool bad. The case is actually fairly simple in design and looks neat. Unlike other cases they sell.

 

[jak_2456]

Dunno why is Deepcool bad. The case is actually fairly simple in design and looks neat. Unlike other cases they sell.

I guess you haven't heard about this yet:

https://www.techpowerup.com/323572/us-government-sanctions-deepcool-over-supplying-to-blacklisted-russian-firms

They're completely banned in the US now.

 

[MaxiPro800]

They seem to be predominant in the Eastern Europe zone as far as I can see. I did buy mine long before they discovered that tho. (circa 2020-21 or so)

 

[Noname1234]

I also had a WinME machine back around 2000 to 2004. There were guides to make it work very well back then, but most people just hated on it & didn't bother to find out how to fix it

In my opinion there was nothing wrong with ME. It worked far more stable for me then Win3.11 till 98SE.

And when Windows 2000 came out, i had a dual boot ME and 2000.

If ME/2000 was still supported, safe and up to date till today i would still use it in a daily PC. XP was meh, 7 was good, 8 crap. And Windows 10/11 pushed me to Debian

 

[mtosev]

Bought this for my retro PC.

 

[jak_2456]

Bought this for my retro PC.
View attachment 363073

I've occasionally thought of buying one of those. That is, until I realize that I'll lose the wonderful sound of an old HDD :/

 

[mtosev]

This should work with windows 98 SE right?

 

[Ruru]

This should work with windows 98 SE right?

I don't see why it wouldn't. CF is practically an IDE/PATA device and those adapters are just passive adapters without any special logic.

 

[jak_2456]

This should work with windows 98 SE right?

I can't see a reason why it shouldn't. Those CF to IDE adapters just adapt the IDE connector to CF because CF cards already use PATA as a transfer standard. It's a bit like how NVME to PCIe expansion cards don't have any circuitry; they just adapt the PCIe slot to an NVMe slot.