Old Windows OS still useful today?

[Anything1234]

I wanted to talk about old Windows operating systems and what uses they can still serve today from Windows 7 to MS DOSS 6.22.

Who on here still uses outdated Windows operating systems? I still use a few.

My favorite ones are:
Windows 95 with USB Support
Windows 98 Second Edition
Windows 2000 Professional
Windows 7 Pro

I have quite a few old machines and although I can put Linux on them they wouldn't be much use for modern apps or internet use because they are not powerful enough so Windows is better for them which then offer many uses for other things such as retro gaming and brilliant for running old software for programming old radio equipment and eeproms. Old computers are quite desirable and can do things that modern computers can't.

I have a Panasonic CF-28 MK1 600 MHz processor 384 MB RAM 20 GB Hard Drive. I had re=celled the battery on this and replaced the CMOS battery. My original plan was to install Windows 98 SE and MS Office 2000 but finding drivers for the display and sound proved to be difficult so I gave up with it and ran MS-DOS on it instead. I did try other Windows operating systems like 2000/XP but with the same issue. I did find another version of Windows XP that worked on it with audio and display drivers working but it was very buggy, it was a dodgy download full of all kinds of rubbish on it and I wiped the hardrive after that and installed MS-DOS on it so its still useful for MS-DOS based stuff not so much for Windows because of driver issues.

My other Panasonic CF-28 already had a good working battery but faulty hard drive. This one is an MK3 with a 1GHz Processor and 768MB RAM. The Max RAM in the specs said it can only support up to 512MB RAM but I got it up to 768MB RAM. I replaced the hard drive with an IDE to SATA adapter to an SSD drive and installed Windows 7 Pro and it works pretty well. I don't use it for internet but good for other things. I wanted to run Windows 98SE on this but Windows 98 doesn't work well long term on an SSD and I got fed up with having hard drive failure using old mechanical drives. Windows 98 would have worked well on this with drivers all working its only the MK1 that suffers driver issues.

I've also got a Panasonic CF-27 running Windows 2000 Pro Specs are 350 MHz processor. 384MB RAM and 40GB Hard Drive. CMOS battery replaced and the main battery still holds reasonable charge.

I also have a Dell Dimension XPSD333 desktop. Its a brilliant machine that I rescued, the only things I had to replace were the CMOS Battery and Hard Drive. I also tried different graphics cards to see what could run best for those retro games. I had no drivers for any of the old graphics cards. I did search the internet for them but couldn't find any that worked so I had to rely on the Windows 98 drivers which was no problem. Windows 98SE installed with no issues with sound and graphics. and I found some extra software for USB flash drive support in Windows 98 the computer also has MS-DOS 6.22 installed. I can run all my old software and play all my old games on it plus many more things.

I have more old computers but I wont list them all.

I've seen so many youtube videos of Windows 98 installations on unsuitable machines where there is no sound or graphics and they don't go any further with a lousy 16 bit color display which doesn't do Windows 98 any justice with comments "that looks soooo old" Windows 98 was a very good OS used right up to 2008 after its support ran out. I'm quite fond of Windows 98. I find it very nostalgic.

Many of these old Windows operating systems are still used today and serve a purpose in the modern world.

 

[jimscreechy]

hehe, not sure if I'd agree they serve much of a purpose, but it's true some are still in use, Windows 7 in particular. I've worked for a few companies who still have XP machines in use because of legacy software and/or compatibility issues with newer OS' but they are always a pain in the neck.

I loved Windows7 but it became a nuisance using it with newer hardware and devices. They were good in their day but for the most part I can't say there are any significant advantages to use them any more.

 

[Deleted member 27989]

They served a purpose in its days, but not today. Slow, clunky and insecure. Really not point in using them...

 

[strangely tim]

I've got old machines securely boxed up mainly because I've plenty of storage space but I don't know what will happen in the future with them; my son's a network engineer and not interested really in computers when not working other than for gaming but my 13 year old grandson may have fun in years to come with them...like his granddad he's a bit nerdy (he got his radio ham ham license at 11) lol.

XP laptop in the campervan running ham radio software, its happy doing that via 4g for internet access, Office 2007 is still on it I think, I can watch films on it, play music so its still performing its role well because all the software was written for XP but it would be totally useless with modern software even if it could run it.

 

[Anything1234]

They served a purpose in its days, but not today. Slow, clunky and insecure. Really not point in using them...

They do still serve a purpose today. Have you seen the prices they go for now?

They are not used for the internet so security is not an issue. Computers back then where made for doing work on unlike todays computers that are used for gaming and multimedia machines streaming media etc.

 

[Deleted member 27989]

They do still serve a purpose today. Have you seen the prices they go for now?

They are not used for the internet so security is not an issue. Computers back then where made for doing work on unlike todays computers that are used for gaming and multimedia machines streaming media etc.

Other than those with highly specialist software that is decades out of date who would actually do work on those?

 

[strangely tim]

They do still serve a purpose today. Have you seen the prices they go for now?

They are not used for the internet so security is not an issue. Computers back then where made for doing work on unlike todays computers that are used for gaming and multimedia machines streaming media etc.

Not as much as they cost new. Look back and something like the humble Amstrad 1512 set you back about £500 or more (can't remember now). I spent over £3k on a PC and printer back in the day. When you look at what you can buy now for the same cost and the performance you get it shows just how cheap computers are in real terms.

An IBM PS2 ran at 8mhz and cost around £3K which is around £8K today where as my Surface Pro i7 comes with 16GB ram, 1TB hard drive and runs in the thousands and cost less that £3k or about £1100 in relative terms.

I'm a bit of a silver haired tech geek but age allows me to appreciate how good technology is these days

 

[Anything1234]

Other than those with highly specialist software that is decades out of date who would actually do work on those?

I would. If I didn't have my old computers I'd have a lot of PMR gear sitting useless. Also not forgetting these are good for old games. Look on ebay they sell for quite a bit. Old computers have always been popular. Its not all about power.

 

[Deleted member 27989]

I would. If I didn't have my old computers I'd have a lot of PMR gear sitting useless. Also not forgetting these are good for old games. Look on ebay they sell for quite a bit. Old computers have always been popular. Its not all about power.

Sure. I’m as geeky as anyone, when I have the time. And the right branded old gear may fetch retro values for a select audience. The general public doesn’t care and for them it really isn’t suitable. I still have a Mac SE, Atari STE, Sinclair ZX81 & Spectrum. Pretty sure I also have an old IBM PS/2 90 somewhere, and the G3 Powermac.

Definitely couldn’t use any of those for work/revenue generating stuff. Too slow, too insecure.

 

[Xenomorph]

Also not forgetting these are good for old games.

+1

 

[jimscreechy]

A lot of reminiscing going on, but as for 'Purpose' I think not... unless the purpose is to induce nostalgia.

 

[Fe_man2000]

Personally I have no use for older kit, I got into computers in 1983 so I have lived though these older machines, console etc but I wouldnt want any of it in my house these days. Emulation is fine for anything thats incompatible I might want to play around with.

If you can use them they they have value and its nice to use rather than throw away, if not then they can make you feel good for just owning them both are good reasons to hold on to them. I have friends who do this (mostly the 2nd reason) and one friend whose house is so full of kit like in every room, but he is single and likely staying that way so why not.

For me, no chance - same reason I dont have all the cars I ever owned.

 

[Anything1234]

I had 5 Acorn BBC Micro computers in the attic I had to recap the power supplies on all of them and I added a USB and SD card interface to one of the Micros but then later sold all of them and made a good bit of cash. I wish I still had my old Apple II computer with twin disk drives and original monitor that I paid a fiver for back in the early 2000s that would be worth a nice bit of money today on ebay. 486 Computers are pretty desirable at the moment but I wouldn't pay anymore than 20 quid for one. There are still lots of people out there who still buy and use these.

I often wish I still had an old 486 computer, 32MB RAM 90MHz Processor 10GB hard drive running MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 95 Office 97 with sound blaster card. I'd mainly use it to play MS-DOS games...
Theme Park
Lemmings
Tetris
Sim City
I could spend hours on it playing retro games and having a good old click about in Windows 95 running simple programs etc.

 

[jimscreechy]

I often wish I still had an old 486 computer, 32MB RAM 90MHz Processor 10GB hard drive running MS-DOS 6.22 and Windows 95 Office 97 with sound blaster card. I'd mainly use it to play MS-DOS games...
Theme Park
Lemmings
Tetris
Sim City
I could spend hours on it playing retro games and having a good old click about in Windows 95 running simple programs etc.

Why not just use an emulator? There are plenty about, then you can run them on Windows 10. Or you could just run them in a Virtual machine.

 

[12harry]

If I restrict this reply to PC's - - - i.e. DOS and Win computers, (= the IBM pattern.). Then I have some SOFTWARE that I cannot use, except in DOS 6. (unsure of version), it is a drawing program, with many faults, by Adobe. Unfortunately as it needed more power it suited DOS and very few printers had a driver . . . . only Epson took the trouble to write one for their 24-pin matrix printers and the Adobe package included only 9-pin Drivers - so their assistance was near to Zippo.
It had a nifty XY correction feature: so a circle really could come out round - down to 0.001mm as I recall. This was a great boon as early/matrix printers were intended for text-only. It also adjusted for the non-linear XY behaviour of papers. One useful application I found was in marking out metal for drilling . . . after the drawing was OK, print it the correct scale and stick the print on the metal.... by marking/drilling through, you got a precise result.... rather neat, huh?

So I guess the Ans. to OP is it depends on the software availability. Adobe then went to very fancy drawing packages ( now subscription, with no offers for rare use ), as they are De Facto the king as far as technical drawing is concerned ( er, I understand).... so they can name their price. Of course there are Other Vendors, but so far I've found little to achieve the same/similar. So, I mark my metal "by hand" in the time-honoured way.

Games:
I understand most Old'uns are rewritten for current Win-versions as there is a decent following.... it comes down to the Market-size, in truth.

Cheers.

 

[Anything1234]

Why not just use an emulator? There are plenty about, then you can run them on Windows 10. Or you could just run them in a Virtual machine.

I don't do virtual machines or emulators they are just not the same and takes a lot of that retro feeling away. Personally I can't stand them it takes the fun out of it all. The whole system has to be retro. I don't mind using some modern hardware in retro builds such as suitable motherboards, GPU's and sound cards for Win95/98 and modern storage media's but that is all.

 

[Anything1234]

I have some good news about the Panasonic CF-28 MK1 ToughBook. After years of looking for drivers I finally found a Panasonic CF-28 MK1 restore CD which should have all the drivers I need for Win98 I am so excited I've just got to wait for it to arrive now.

 

[LukeBrz33]

Not really sure, they were good in the old good days, but are still useful nowadays? I have my doubts, very difficult to find drivers plus are very(very) slow and not secure... There are still nostalgic users that are using them, so I think it's more a personal choice, personally, I don't find them enough...

 

[Anything1234]

Not really sure, they were good in the old good days, but are still useful nowadays? I have my doubts, very difficult to find drivers plus are very(very) slow and not secure... There are still nostalgic users that are using them, so I think it's more a personal choice, personally, I don't find them enough...

Like I said I have the restore CD so I have all the drivers now. Yes the Panasonic CF-28 toughbook is still useful. Its not all about power. I can watch DVDs I can play old retro games. I can program eeproms and run diagnostic programs and other related software. There are many things I can do on this old toughbook. It is not slow at all and runs pretty well. I build many old retro PC's and all have drivers. There are dedicated websites for old computers and hardware. Its not all about surfing the web and having the latest specs.

 

[nevillestyke]

There are some old Panasonic MiniDV camcorder models (NV-DX100B, NV-DX110B, NV-DS5B and some others) which will install in Windows7 and Windows10, as the drivers are there, but are not compatible with Windows operating systems newer than Windows Vista, for capturing via firewire. The newer operating systems capture sound and a black screen only. I keep WindowsXP and Windows Vista machines going, as they seem to be quite bullet-proof and will run all the old capture software which I have. They even have Windows Movie Maker included in them, for free.

 

[strangely tim]

I've got Corel Draw 8 on an old XP laptop and it runs fast and does all I need (and a lot more) for graphics work. That laptop happily runs all my ham radio software, VLC for music and films and CD8 and it gets used in the campervan for ham radio, be a sad day when it finally packs up.

Thinking about it, I don't believe I have any computers (in my old computer stash in barn) running Vista, may have to dig a machine out and set Vista up!

Bloody hell, ham radio, XP and Vista in one post...I've become an anorak!!!!!