Uses for old pentium computer

[matthew13l]

I have a gutted micron mpc computer in my closet. I want to put it back together and put win95 or dos on it, but I don't know what to use it for. Any suggestions?

BTW, here's the specs:

-pentium 166Mhz (non-mmx)
-32mb edo ram (128mb max)
-2.1gb western digital hd
-diamond multimedia 4mb 2d video card partnered with a diamond multimedia monster 3d 4mb 3d card.
-soundblaster 16
-28.8k modem
-15" monitor

[fishybawb]

A door stop? :p
Old machines make decent enough webservers, or you could always sell it as a cheap web browsing/office machine.

[Spardan]

Use it as part of your home network, install an old OS on it (unpatched) and then look for as many old exploits for the os on the net, Then you can practice attacking and securing a system...

...does that sound like fun to other people or am I alone in enjoying this kinda thing:eek: :t

[crossedup]

explore some alternative o/s choices

ive got and old 486. 16 mb ram, 400 mb hd

put dos 6.0 on it ( gonna swap out with freedos soon ), then loaded seal 2.00.11 on it . pretty cool. rather fast ( considering ) seal (http://sealsystem.sourceforge.net/)

the new versions of dos are getting quite large, was poking around downloading a few of them the other day

here (http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Software/Operating_Systems/x86/DOS/)

have fun

:t

[AllGamer]

LINUX
firewall
FTP server
HTTP server
Samba Server
any kind of server

:t

[ukulele]

Win98se will work just fine on that rig. I use and old one like that in my shop to to play cds and mp3 files. If you have always on broadband it makes a great internet radio.

[NJEnviroguy]

Has anyone ever tried rigging a system in a car. I've seen some setups before on the net that look interesting. I have my ole Dell PI 200Mhz that I convinced my parents to replace.

If I find some web pages I'll post em for ya. But, I think that's a pretty good use for an old comp.

[Spardan]

...doesn't the keyboard/mouse (depending on UK/US car arrangement...) keep falling off the gearstick/shift????:eek:



actually, just remembered a bike (pedal) in the 80s that had a radio, sound fx and crappy leds built into it...perhaps you could try the same with a chopper or trike and your PC....:p

[maje87c]

Originally posted by Spardan
Use it as part of your home network, install an old OS on it (unpatched) and then look for as many old exploits for the os on the net, Then you can practice attacking and securing a system...

...does that sound like fun to other people or am I alone in enjoying this kinda thing:eek: :t

sounds interesting enough, but how would one go about attacking it?

[Spardan]

Can't discuss that here, I don't think...:D but you could try looking for old security articles on 98/95 with the patches etc., check out sites like two six hundred dot net - not sure if that's passable here, MTV don't like 'em linked to on their site, but the're good guys, check out old shows from Off The Hook (at 2600) and just search, read up on stuff, leave all the ports open, try and connect to 25, 80 etc, try and do the 'sendmail' mail faker (that doesn't really work because the real address is in the message header) and just keep looking...you can really push it and find your own holes and patches for them as you learn more and more about your PCs...

jus' go to a good ol' search ngin, and grab all the stuff you can find,... get a few guud books (check sites for reccommendations on system/network security etc.) and you'll have enough projects to keep you busy for the next few lifetimes or so....:D :t

[Swordfish]

Originally posted by Spardan
Then you can practice attacking and securing a system...


hmm....:rolleyes:...perhaps you will be inclined towards the second part...that is securin.

98 would run ok...but 95 would be a breeze on that system.

as said earlier use it as part of a network...you will learn somethin new that way.

Don't think its a junk.;)

[Spardan]

The best way to learn about system security/insecurities is to attack it yourself (legally!) on your own network...see what's wrong, what needs improving, and what's working, and then tighten up...

...I mean, you could wait for a nasty cracker type to point out the holes for you, and then patch up, when you get back in.............seems to be the standard approach for a lot of sysAdmins.....:D

[Ol'Tunzafun]

http://www.clarkconnect.com/info/requirements.html

[eshort]

i have old P75, P133 notebooks which work fine for weather sites and email as well as discussion forum groups..using win98se!

They r great for trravel--since not alot of$$ tied up--if they break, are stolen etc..

[leprechaun_40]

Besides those other uses, network it, and use if to run Seti@home, just a bit slow, but the more the merrier:t

[rraehal]

It would make a perfect MP3 player. That is what I use my 486 for. Burn a "few" songs onto a CD, some on the Hard Drive, create a few playlists and you have a entertainment center. I put in a good sound card and some decent speakers. It has replaced everything music wise, except my tapes and LPs. The LP's will be CD soon. A better backup of my music than another LP.

[crossedup]

network it and make it a printserver. another good one. Ive got a p1 133 with 32 mb running 98se with a 5 gig hd

has laserjet and deskjet plugged into it, runs fine. only goes off when the power does. was on for little over 2 months last time i checked and it was at 97% free.

:t