My dinosaur/fossil computer

I have this friend of mine and him and his parents are pretty computer illiterate, so he gave me a old computer they had to fix for his little sisters so they don't screw with his newlaptop(that'll I'll proberly end up fixin that too). Anyway this dinosaur of a computer(nick named dino) has two different port systems...the mouse is a PS2 and i can't remember what ya call the huge circle ones. and it only has one major chip of memory ( my main computer only has 2. i don't even know what verson of windows Dino has......can't even start the thing properly cause I don't have a keyboard yet that fits the port...my freind grabbed the wrong keyboard now i gotta wait till next week 2 get it! and thats if he remmbers it (

 

Ahh a 5 or 6 pin DIN connector perhaps? They were pretty popular! I'm sure you could buy a DIN style connector keyboard for a couple of bucks at a computer fair or somthing like that nearby.

And 1 memory module - well, my web server has 1 memory module - but its 512MB. My file server has 2, adding up to 32MB. So the number of modules. don't mean a whole lot.


Now what PROCESSOR does it have? That'd be much more interesting. We want to know if you've got a Compy 386 on your hands

 

That port is called a DIN. It's got 5 pins. Conversly, a PS/2 connector which is sometimes called a mini-DIN has 6 pins.

They used to make adapters, but I'm sure you can still find the old DIN style keyboards. I used to have a bunch but I guess I threw them all out.


-Steve

 

Goldy beat me to it.



-Steve

 

Hehe
Betcha didn't know that DIN is also a standard for connectors for SCUBA equipment. 'course in the states you generally use yolk type connectors, but I believe the LPI for BCDs are still DIN standard TLA!

 

I believe SCUBA goes under Hardware, or possibly Cooling and Modding, so maybe you should move this post.

 

Quite appropriate the computer is nicknamed DINO then

Oh dear Friday jokes have already started

 

I've got a keyboard with DIN connector here. Send me an air ticket and I'll bring it over.

 

charity shops usually have loads of that type of thing. worth looking in your nearest.

 

Agree with laurieB. Charity shops are goldmines for stuff for old PC's. Even computer shops that sell second hand bits. Weekend markets, car boot sales. Pawnbrokers may have them also and be glad to get rid of them. Bazza

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Lev, that didn't go unnoticed. That was terrible .

 

His gunna bring in the other keyboard on monday..... till then I can only guess what stuff they have on it I'll take the case of it tonight and record some of the numbers on it...u guys could find it amusing.

 

Try "EVEREST". Free download. Can't guarantee it will work on "Dino", though.

Computer specs—Hardware and Software.

Everest Home Edition. www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

When you run EVEREST, Click on "Computer" icon, then on "Summary", then on "Report" (at top menu), then on "Quick Report Summary", down to "Plain text". Save it to a file, as whatever name you like, (maybe Dino-ddmmyy, --with ddmmyy being the current date). Then it can be posted for all to see. Bazza

 

well Dino hasn't got a internet connect cause I can't run the phone line down to my room, and mum wouldn't let me connect it anyway....do you think i could download it on a cd disk??? one more day to the keyboard if he remembers it

ohh and yestorday I went to a crappy school aution in hope of scabbing a keyboard of the primary school computer teacher...she said she would have given me one but the new princble made her throw them all out ohh well I'll just havfta wait till tomorrow*crosses fingers*

 

Write down the various recommendations that are made, here in MG Software, and burn them all to a CD. Remember that some may not run on "Dino". We will need the specs, first, particularly the Operating system, to give you recommendations for your PC. If it is older than Win 95 then it will prove very difficult. Win 95 and Win 98/Win 98SE, will prove a lot easier. Bazza

 

yeah...but one problem..still havn't got that frigin keyboard!!!!!! arrrh!!!!!!!!!! he forgot...again.....*sighs* I'll havfta get his mum to bring it in......

 

You can buy an adapter cheap. 5 pin DIN to PS2 female. Got one in front of me, just checked it out now, to be sure. Bazza

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I got one....but i think the computer screwed up the moniter when i plugged it in and turned it on last night, the colours where all wack when I turned it on then it froze and wouldn't respone to ctrl alt del so I had to restart it then the moniter wouldn't turn on again! man I think its screwed

 

With an old PC, make sure everything is turned off, before you plug/unplug anything. Just to be safe. Sounds like you are now in need of another monitor. Try Lifeline, St. Vinnies, weekend markets, computer shops that sell second hand bits, for cheap, usually 14" monitors. Bazza
PS: Borrow/try, another monitor, first, if you can. Make sure everything is turned off, though. Baz

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Hopefully you can get those specs soon cause i wanna hear em! That will be awsome! Does it have a 5 1/4 drive or a standard 3 1/2 drive? I think Strongbads compy 386 came back from the dead!!!! lol j/k. Anyway good luck with it.
-the new tech guy

 

I have a huge box of 5 1/2 floppys i got pole position on one of the a dnd game and some others i could look if you care its really no bother

 

You can do that if ya wanna i really dont care but i really wanna know if we have a compy 386 on our hands. I run a bit of a dino myself 191 ram (soon to be upgraded to 512), win2k, and a intel celeron processor with 600MHz clock.
-the new tech guy

 

Well when i started it had that really wack background on it you know the really colour full one thats white with the coloured bits all over it....can't remember what its called..i actually use to know. well its not actually my computer a freind of mine gave it too me cause his family are pretty computer illterate..but the thing is I dunno if mums got enough money to get me another moniter. I just asked her she said maybe....we'll just hafta wait and see, but I'll shore to ask at my next trip to lifeline...which could be anytime....ya know you can get some really cool shirts from the places around here. mum won't let me hook this moniter into it incase it kills this one....and yes even on this newer one I still turn every thing off before i even pull the mouse and keyboard out. i'm doin JIT and BIT next year if I can get into the classes yay go grade 9!!!!!! be the first time I have been properly taught computers as a subject sinse grade 5! might actually learn somthin from a teacher in computers for once!

 

You'll probably learn as much, or more, from majorgeeks. Bazza

 

True!
-the new tech guy

 

I agree with everyone in that you will probably learn more about computers from MG than school. Although I've never taken any computer courses, other than those necessary for my job, involving AllenBradly RSLogix software, I have learned a great deal from all the MG members and reading the posts and replies.

 

yeah, I'm pretty sure your right...but I get to make a robot later on in the subject I think...but I think we gotta program it with the computer, and it'll go over the basics...everything needs going over at some ponit..

 

Hey any luck with dino?

 

still lookin for a moniter. got subject selection night tomorrow,

 

Actually, I'd say you'll learn more about fixing/tweaking computers by reading MG

 

Any luck with the monitor?
-the new tech guy

 

nothin yet....amm gunna go talk about it to the JIT teacher cause he sells moniters.

 

Good idea. Check like garage sales and stuff too. You could find a deal there as well. Good luck
-the new tech guy

 

all this talk about spending $$ on an adapter... LOL
go to your local Sally-Ann or pawn-store and grab a who;e keyboard fer 2-5 bucks