If you couldn't have a modern day OS...

[Silicate Wielder]

IF you couldn't have a modern day OS and had to use an older one that can't be from less than 12 years ago what would that OS/COmouter be, and what specs do you think it would have?

I would go for either a computer running preferably windows 3.1 but I would go with one running windows 98

Perferably 3.1 because then I could screw around with it and try to get on the web. and just give it the power of a modern day computer :)
(Currently working on that using DOSBox)

[TheMatrix]

VMS on a VAX. Or perhaps Unix(SysV) on an Intel 80386.
But of course, GNU/Linux 2.0 is also a great thing to have had.

[xChrisVx]

Probably Windows 98. Only one I can think of :?

[Cognizant]

Windows 2000, man. That OS was one of the more secure OS' at the time, and can still run somewhat modern software.
I looooooooved Win2k.

[Jess]

what Pat said. Windows 2000

[Aquila]

Mac OS 9

I've still got some of my old games for it around here somewhere :P

[Infidelitas]

Windows 95. I like Windows 95 :)

[CloverGhost]

I'd say Windows 98

I can't say the specs cause I made mine a MONSTER back in the day.

[Aves]

I guess I'd have to say windows 98. Can't think of any, since I didn't really have a computer back then.

[ethanf93]

Personally, I'd either want a version of Windows based on NT, or if I had the choice, something *nix based (so Solaris/Linux/BSD/whatever)

[Skyhawk]

Windows 98, because it worked perfectly fine until 2008...then I donated the computer.

[Infidelitas]

I wish 98 had USB capabilities -.-

[TheMatrix]

I wish 98 had USB capabilities -.-

It does. Just rather limited at the time.
Of course it had to, Macintosh 9.1 had it, so Microsoft had to have it too :P

[Infidelitas]

It does. Just rather limited at the time.
Of course it had to, Macintosh 9.1 had it, so Microsoft had to have it too :P

I tried hooking a flash drive onto a 98 machine, wouldn't work.

[TheMatrix]

I tried hooking a flash drive onto a 98 machine, wouldn't work.
I wouldn't be expecting it to recognize any mass storage above 512MB or so on a FAT16 or FAT32 drive. Modern drives are VFAT, which is younger than Windoze 98. It's probably only got support for USB 1.0, your hardware supports 2.0(assuming you put it on a newer machine), so there will be some issues, I presume.

[ethanf93]

I wouldn't be expecting it to recognize any mass storage above 512MB or so on a FAT16 or FAT32 drive. Modern drives are VFAT, which is younger than Windoze 98. It's probably only got support for USB 1.0, your hardware supports 2.0(assuming you put it on a newer machine), so there will be some issues, I presume.As I recall, the issue there was that Windows 98 did not have the USB Mass Storage driver included by default. It's a driver or hardware problem, not a filesystem one.

According to Wikipedia it was 98 that introduced VFAT (and anyways FAT32 compatible drivers can access VFAT by default - VFAT is backwards compatible)

[Rayquaza]

windows 98, then second version thingy. It was the one i was brought up with until I got windows xp, so i'd feel more comfortable with it.

[Silicate Wielder]

windows 98 can support a 2 gig USB 2.0 flashdrive if your lucky. however if you set it up on DOSBox and mount your Flashdrive manually to it, it will work fine :)

[Sugaree]

Quite possibly Windows 2000, mostly because it was the best possible OS to run servers.

[Amnesiac]

Windows Me, obviously. Definitely the most stable and well-designed operating system in history.

[Silicate Wielder]

I got windows 3.1 working at full speed on my moms laptop (I have it roughly mounted to my Flashdrive) and it works great, could use a little work but it works! Gonna make a short video of it working on DOSBox after I get some more drivers installed :)

[Cblood]

Windows 2000, Best security and Feature Set of its itme

[TheMatrix]

Windows Me, obviously. Definitely the most stable and well-designed operating system in history.
I'm going to agree with you there. :P

[rfjack]

Windows XP. Skinned, preferably. The default UI is just vomitive nowadays.

[Silicate Wielder]

Windows XP. Skinned, preferably. The default UI is just vomitive nowadays.

Have to agree, put you know you can reskin modern day windows to look like an older OS, right? I can reskin windows 7 to look like XP or vista.
But the real deal is best to have. :)
oh and you know windows XP was released in 2001 right? I'm talking about 20th century Operating systems/computers.

[ethanf93]

Windows XP. Skinned, preferably. The default UI is just vomitive nowadays.

I'm posting this from Windows XP so this makes me sad. :(

I use the "classic" interface or whatever it's called.

[darkwoon]

Linux, probably Red Hat Linux 6.0, in dual-boot with Windows 98. A good Athlon 500Mhz, and a high-end GeForce 256... :)

[TheMatrix]

Linux, probably Red Hat Linux 6.0, in dual-boot with Windows 98. A good Athlon 500Mhz, and a high-end GeForce 256... :)

http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4541&stc=1&d=1342902392
Jealous? :P

[Silicate Wielder]

Yes, I am VERY jealous. :P Wish I had the time to install that on DOSBox. Oh I think you forgot to edit the pic so you could disquise yourself.

[Matt_is_Awesome]

Windows 98 or Mac OS 9
Those Were Awesome back in those day lol

[TheMatrix]

Yes, I am VERY jealous. :P Wish I had the time to install that on DOSBox. Oh I think you forgot to edit the pic so you could disquise yourself.

That's alright, you can't see attachments unless you're logged in. I checked.

[darkwoon]

image (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4541&stc=1&d=1342902392)
Jealous? :P
*Cough*
4543
(IBM-M: 1992-07-24 - birthday Tomorrow, yay! - Slackware 3.0 CDs: 1996 - MS-DOS 4.01 floppies, MS-DOS and GW-BASIC manuals: 1989-90)

You'll need something slightly older to tempt me; say, a working Trident 9000 or one of those great 80286/16 NEAT motherboard... Maybe I'd even trade my Windows 95 13 floppies edition against such artifacts :)

And yes, I'm using on a daily basis a keyboard that predates me by several years... But once you hear the song of the IBM-M clicks, you never really escape it ! ;)

[TheMatrix]

*Cough*
4543
(IBM-M: 1992-07-24 - birthday Tomorrow, yay! - Slackware 3.0 CDs: 1996 - MS-DOS 4.01 floppies, MS-DOS and GW-BASIC manuals: 1989-90)
I am sooo jelly right now.

You'll need something slightly older to tempt me; say, a working Trident 9000 or one of those great 80286/16 NEAT motherboard... Maybe I'd even trade my Windows 95 13 floppies edition against such artifacts :)
The oldest I have is a motherboard with an i486 DX on it. Unfortunately, the little battery on it started leaking in the 10 years it had in storage, so I doubt it's a wise idea to power it up anymore. I don't even have the RAM modules it needs.

And yes, I'm using on a daily basis a keyboard that predates me by several years... But once you hear the song of the IBM-M clicks, you never really escape it ! ;)
My parents have a keyboard a lot like that. It's pretty good.

[darkwoon]

I am sooo jelly right now.
Ah, it is a pleasure to meet a man of taste! :)

The oldest I have is a motherboard with an i486 DX on it. Unfortunately, the little battery on it started leaking in the 10 years it had in storage, so I doubt it's a wise idea to power it up anymore. I don't even have the RAM modules it needs.
You'd need to replace the battery. Most 486-era motherboards had barrel-like batteries soldered directly on them. cut the wires leading to it, solver a current-era CR2032 battery holder, plug a new battery; that will work without trouble. What you should worry about are the condensators on the motherboard - if some of them leaked, then you're probably screwed, unless you got mad soldering skillz :).

Of course, the RAM modules problem remain, and you'll also have to find a graphic card of that era... mmm... Sounds like a fun project :)

My parents have a keyboard a lot like that. It's pretty good.
Steal it. STEAL. IT. XD And it is a great defensive weapon, too ;)

[TheMatrix]

Ah, it is a pleasure to meet a man of taste! :)
Same!

You'd need to replace the battery. Most 486-era motherboards had barrel-like batteries soldered directly on them. cut the wires leading to it, solver a current-era CR2032 battery holder, plug a new battery; that will work without trouble. What you should worry about are the condensators on the motherboard - if some of them leaked, then you're probably screwed, unless you got mad soldering skillz :).
There's battery-stuff around the battery and on the motherboard(it's NiCd, right?), which I believe is toxic. And I don't feel like soldering anything just to get ancient hardware working.
By the way, it's "capacitors"; "condensators" are things that condense water :P Perhaps you meant "condensateurs" in French?

Of course, the RAM modules problem remain, and you'll also have to find a graphic card of that era... mmm... Sounds like a fun project :)
It was hard enough to find DDR1 RAM for my PC.


Steal it. STEAL. IT. XD And it is a great defensive weapon, too ;)
How would I steal it? They will notice :P
And you're right, it weighs a ton.

[darkwoon]

There's battery-stuff around the battery and on the motherboard(it's NiCd, right?), which I believe is toxic.
Yes, it is (mildy - you won't die touching it) toxic - you'd need to remove the leakage using a not-too-sharp tool, and wearing gloves is better ;)
And I don't feel like soldering anything just to get ancient hardware working.
Oooooh!

By the way, it's "capacitors"; "condensators" are things that condense water :P Perhaps you meant "condensateurs" in French?
Yes - sometimes my English reminds people I'm French ;).

It was hard enough to find DDR1 RAM for my PC.
Really? You should start fixing people's computers. You'd be amazed to see how ancient some of the stuff they run are. And it is often more amazing once you see how they treat the machines :).

Most of the old curiosities I gathered come either from my father's past, from computers I was unable to repair, or from 2nd hand computer fairs - tons of really, really ancient stuff to find there. And the IBM-M I found in the basement of my school, where a dozen were stacked, full of dust. Took me half a day to clean it :).

If I ever find a VAX, I'll tell you - but so far, I don't think I've crossed one yet!

How would I steal it? They will notice :P
And you're right, it weighs a ton.
Ok, ok, offer them a BRAND NEW SHINY keyboard with lots of media keys above to replace that OUTDATED, COLORLESS IBM.

That, or fry their computer PS/2 plugs.

Oh well, maybe I'm too evil there...

Filling those plugs with glue would be way more than sufficient :P

[Silicate Wielder]

I think I will stick with emulators, however I wonder what would hapen if I somehow hooked up an Intel i7 to an old computer running windows 95. Hmm... next thing on my list

-Learn how to solder then hook up an i7 to an old computer

of course I would only hook up the motherboard to a battery with proper voltage. :)

[darkwoon]

I think I will stick with emulators, however I wonder what would hapen if I somehow hooked up an Intel i7 to an old computer running windows 95. Hmm... next thing on my list

-Learn how to solder then hook up an i7 to an old computer

You cannot - electrical and logical levels are fundamentally different. However, nothing really prevents you to run Windows 95 directly on an i7. Actually, why stopping at Windows 95 ? Be bold, and run MS-DOS 5.0 with Windows 3.0 ! Or be bolder, and go down the MS-DOS 3.3 with DESQView. That would be about 10 years before Windows 95 :).

Mmm... DESQView... I need to test THAT ! XD

[Silicate Wielder]

Ironically I ended up getting a computer that is aleast 12 years old, an 1998 iMAC and i can't even upgrade it because it dosn't support DVDs it runs MAC OS 9.
but atleast the internet works, so I can post here. :P