Tinkering with an Old Laptop

**CatalystiCam** · 05-05-2016, 12:28 AM

Okay, I've got a fun one for some people interested here.

I had some time to kill today before a job interview, and I decided to try and turn my folks old pc that wasn't doing anything into an old-games computer by installing an old OS on it... Unfortunately the new hardware just doesn't matchup with any of the Windows 9X operating systems.

However, I still had the... Bear with me here, the Windows Millennium install disc, and nothing to use it on. So, I decided to dig out my old first laptop that was an inherited former-work computer of Dad's that I've been hanging onto for all of these years. It had got a virus back in the day, and then they couldn't restore it fully I guess, so Dad was allowed to keep the laptop, and handed it to us for games, and this was my gaming PC for literally 2003-2008. It had no sound, and no internet, but I rocked some Rollercoater Tycoon, Red Alert & Starcraft among others for countless hours.

So yeah, this thing has largely been sitting around unused for a number of years now. I tried the Millennium install disc on it today, and surprise surprise it worked no issues despite what I gather is a horrendously bad rep that Millennium gets?

I would like to stress this was all just a tinker project for fun largely. However, this fixed numerous issues with the laptop. The sound card works for literally the first time that I have ever heard, and I want to say that it was as simple as the card probably coming with an install disc when it was on the 98 OS, back when dad used it, and when it was restored, the disc was never found? Millennium was able to pick up the drivers, and make it work anywho. solid. Another downfall was the lack of internet connectivity and no way to transport media. This too was now fixed as again, while operating on the 98 os, it's singular usb port was basically useless without an install disc. Now I can freely move games and data as I please, and use it for older pc games that fuss about on modern hardware.

Here's the thing now. This was just tinkering with the Pc, but now I'm legitimately curious in making this thing handy for older games again, especially if this forced windows 10 update is actually a thing, even less shit will be compatible as far as old games go (on my modern pc).

Here's the question. Do I ditch Windows ME on this thing for something like windows 2000? Or just make ME work as it's been without issue so far, and clearly solved some major barriers that I had with this thing, namely in data transfer? I ask because I have no Prior experience with windows Millennium or 2000. Everything I knew always had 95 or 98 on it, then the jump was immediate to xp.

specs:

HP Omnibook 4150
Pentium II
366 Mhz
256 MB ram
8 GB HDD (lol my usb is bigger)
1 USB port
1 PS/2 Port
Cd/Floppy Drive interchangable

Literally this is 90% for fun, but I thought it would be fun to update on and give input if nothing else.

Let's hear it!

inb4 Millennium freakouts.

**Kong** · 05-05-2016, 01:23 AM

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/35284720/pos...ubcd45.torrent
Download, burn to disk, boot, select miniXP.

It includes a lot of nerd tools but miniXP is the only section you need.
more info - FalconFour.com | FalconFour's Ultimate Boot CD

Benefits. It is small, light, stable, fast, efficient. It runs from CD so you don't over-write your existing working ME. If it works well you can format the hard drive and free up the space the OS would use. Handy CD to have if you ever need to fix a major PC problem.
Cons. Runs from CD so if you want to run another CD you need a second CD drive.

**CatalystiCam** · 05-05-2016, 07:31 AM

Xp would work on this thing? I'll look into it, but this is probably more of an option for my folks old vista. Most of the games on the ME are disc-based. Rollercoaster Tycoon, Red Alert, Starcraft, stuff like that.