Need a working PC

[0verkill]

Maybe should have started a new thread but since some 'puter guys are already here I figured I'd ask. I have a Chromebook with no cd drive and no support for my LEE Shooter program. I think it needs Windows 95 or later. I've not had luck on ebay cause I don't even know much of what terms to look for. I don't have to have a laptop, just a tower. I find keyboards and monitors all the time locally and mouses sometimes.

[HATCH]

I started a new thread for you.
Lee Shooter will work with windows XP.
My suggestion is to purchase a windows XP computer. Do not hook it to the internet. Use it only for this program.

I tossed out a laptop that would of worked 2 months ago.
Nothing wrong with it, just old and not being used.

You should be able to go to places like GOODWILL and get one for under $40

[Mr_Sheesh]

Chromebooks run the Chrome operating system, pretty sure you could get Linux going on those.

Not sure if you could get that program working on one unless you got WINE running on it, i.e. run Windows under Linux, doable but it'd be a job for someone there so they can see what is going on.

One option would be to put an ad up on Craigslist or TrashNothing, asking for what you need? Lots of clones of those out there too.

[DougGuy]

I have an ASUS micro ATX motherboard with quad core cpu, 4gb ddr3 but no case to put it in. I have a copy of XP that is one of the stripped down editions done by the aftermarket that works WAY better than the full blown bloated microsoft XP, if I had the shooter cd I could load all of it on there and have it ready to run. If I can find a case. I have a mouse and kb for it as well. You would need to find a monitor.

If I had a copy of the cd I could see if it runs in linux, I bet it will, that would let you use modern hardware and still run the proggy.

[0verkill]

I have never saw a computer at any of the Goodwills around here, I think the last time I was down there they had 4 monitors and a keyboard. Never see them at yard sales or consignment stores. It's like some sort of conspiracy.May have to join Facebook just for trades and deals, I bet that's where they're all at. But when I do find one it wouldn't need wifi a modem or ports, like you said it would sit there offline. The only other thing I would possibly need one for is to hook some surveillance cameras up to somehow.
I'd still need a disc drive if I had the other programs installed. I think I may have had a beta version of Linux running on the chromebook, but it may have been something else. Real slow and buggy, but it WAS still in beta so it was understandable.

DougGuy, I'd have had a case to have put it in if I hadn't got ripped off a while back. Long story but out my computer, 2 spares and a little money. Worst thing is the hard drive and all the pictures of the monkeys I lost with it.

[fc60]

Greetings,

Here, in the Pacific NorthWest, Craigslist has lots of computers.

Check out one of the on-line "garage sale" sites.

Cheers,

Dave

[farmerjim]

There are places on the net that sell refurbished computers (Newegg, wallmart, Amazon and many others). Some as low as $100. They have windows 7 or 10 64 bit. Most have open office.
I got one to use with all my reloading software. It came with windows 7 pro, but I changed it over to Linux mint. It works fine.

[Keith Haveman]

https://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Dell-390-Intel-i3-4GB-250GB-HDD-Windows-10-Home-WiFi-Desktop-PC/33179830/product.html?refccid=6IX3MTJRHIPKWK2GJ3FKR6SFIE&searchidx=0&kwds=&rfmt=price%3A25%2C100

Might work for you .

[DougGuy]

Overkill, I looked on Craigslist as close as I could find to you, boy them mountain folk ain't givin' up nothing unless it is dead dead and gone all the life ran out of it! There was like nothing! I was in a PC shop today and asked about a case I might get a call back for one they can dispense with. I told them I was putting together a donor and needed a case so we'll see.

[0verkill]

The closest craigslist posts are from johnson city too I think, that's a ways off.

[Mr_Sheesh]

That overstock.com desktop would work, Win10 though.

If you wanted an older laptop, lots of decent ones, a Dell 600m or 700m is better than a Dell 1100, 2GB RAM limit instead of 1GB ram.

ebay has them sell for $40 regularly. But a desktop could be better for your needs :)

[Keith Haveman]

An after thought , but would compatibility mode work for that program in windows10 ?

[0verkill]

That's something I have no idea about. I'm pretty sure my one that died had XP, but anything after that I don't know. Maybe I could contact LEE to find out. I hate ebay, but I did go look around a bit, shipping is what's gonna kill me on them. I think some are just selling low and making a couple extra dollars on shipping, but those are heavy. I might come out better with a laptop on shipping, but at least I've got a few ideas for search terms to put in, that was my downfall before, nor knowing proper terminology.

[NikA]

Will it run in a Windows emulator? I'd try that before buying a machine just to run one piece of software.

ETA: looks like WINE will run on a Chromebook.

[DougGuy]

The closest craigslist posts are from johnson city too I think, that's a ways off.

Hey try this, it might snare something you never know.. Facebook group: PC Parts Buy/Sell/Trade

Put up a WTB post, tell them all your PC gear was stolen and that all you need is a tower than will run XP and nothing newer, just need to run the ballistics program and nothing else, I am sure you will come up with something.

I put up a WTB thread in there looking for an i7-6700k CPU offering $150 and a guy responded and we did a paypal deal, I got a tracking # $50 cheaper than ebay for the same CPU.

[0verkill]

WINE may run but 1) I have to find out what that is and
2) I still don't have a disc drive.
I'd probably end up with a few more programs. I've got a couple more discs laying around. Some old load data on disc too and I love spreadsheets.
DougGuy, that's not too far from the truth, the problem is I tried to join Facebook and need a cellphone to verify my identity. Shouldn't have deleted my account 8 years ago, maybe I'd be grandfathered in. Oh, and definitely nothing newer than XP, as I found this on LEE's website...

10/20/2011 12:57 pm Lee Shooter Program
The Lee Shooter program has limited compatibility with Windows versions after Windows XP.

[Mr_Sheesh]

You can buy cd-rom drives for pretty cheap, that just require a USB connection, to power and connect them to your computer.

Linux or Win10 will have drivers for certain, should be findable for older OS's on the web, if not part of it already.

WINE is a Windows "sandbox" for Linux, where you install WINE and install Windows under it, so you can run Windows on your Linux
(or chromebook) computer. It usually runs faster than Windows would if installed directly on that hardware.

Only possible issue is, does that Chromebook have enough "hard drive" space for installing Windows? If not you should be able to use an external hard drive.

[DougGuy]

WINE is a Windows "sandbox" for Linux, where you install WINE and install Windows under it, so you can run Windows on your Linux
(or chromebook) computer.

Well, a little more complicated than that. Wine will let you install and run 32bit or 64bit windows programs and games, but you would need to install windows into a virtual machine in linux to run it inside of linux. It does not know it's running in linux, and it is just as open and vulnerable to the internet as it would be without the virtual machine. It can get hacked, get a virus, etc.

Overkill, here's a thought too.. Instead of digging up a fossil of a PC to run the app, how about investing in QuickLoad? That would be smart money spent. QL will run very happily in just about any flavor of linux once WINE is loaded. Now you have secure, fast, updateable modern hardware, with a modern ballistics app.

Linux Mint is up to date, has immediate live support via the irc chat, you can go on the installed irc app and talk directly to the developers! Try THAT with microshaft!

You would need a cdrom drive to install QL, but linux installs from a usb stick.

[Mr_Sheesh]

DougGuy, yeppers, if I try to be technically accurate on computer stuff tho, I tend to get a response -

Imagine someone whose eyes are glazed over, with some smoke coming from their ears, and you imagine you can see "Vacancy. Inquire within" faintly glowing, on their eyeballs. As well as a slight look of horror LOL

Built one of the first dozen hand built PCs in the Seattle area back in the 70s, with a brother, 8008 machine; we're both evil engineering types, I know hardware and software. Unfortunately, I break peoples' brains at times if I try to teach, LOL

(I still prefer Zilog's ASM to Intel's, FWIW LOL. And, long live ZCPR! LOL that was a pain to download at 300 baud...)

[0verkill]

I'm starting to catch on, I bet the "E" in WINE is emulator, right?

Didn't even know I could get DVD-ROM drives that hook in a USB port, so I've got lots of stuff to catch up on. Rather than constantly pester you guys with questions, where can I go to be more up on this stuff? I can tell you guys are holding back and it's still way over my head. Even if I couldn't contribute, I'd at least like to understand the conversation

As to the quickload, I think I'd still need something besides this, the Chromebook doesn't have a lot of memory. Second, years ago I said I didn't completely trust something like that and was berated by the fanboys. Similar things with 1911's and AR's at arfcom but I'm getting over that. There was also a thread where some customers felt they had been cheated and I posted a "Watching to see what happens" just because I wanted to see how they handled their customers and it was easier to look up my recent posts, I was told by the alleged company representative to keep my mouth shut and berated by the fanboys again. So I might use Quickload, but at this point I'd steal it and donate the purchase price to a church if I could find an honest one. That and I'm used to the LEE Shooter. I know it's VERY limited but at least I already know how to use it. Anyway, off to learn what 300 baud is.

[Mr_Sheesh]

Oh. 300 baud means a phone modem's speed (basically 300 bits/second) for the OLD old accoustical couplers, think 1970s 'net speeds i.e. you REALLY want broadband instead! Most of my post was to tease DougGuy right back, computer related knowledge that's obsolete, a lot, here. :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_coupler if curious, though.

There are tons of "Old technology" rabbit holes I can send you down, if you REALLY want to learn things that you will probably never find a practical use for. I'm pretty sure others here can do the same! You really might want to go for info you need now, though :)

[DougGuy]

DougGuy, yeppers, if I try to be technically accurate on computer stuff tho, I tend to get a response -

Imagine someone whose eyes are glazed over, with some smoke coming from their ears, and you imagine you can see "Vacancy. Inquire within" faintly glowing, on their eyeballs. As well as a slight look of horror LOL

Built one of the first dozen hand built PCs in the Seattle area back in the 70s, with a brother, 8008 machine; we're both evil engineering types, I know hardware and software. Unfortunately, I break peoples' brains at times if I try to teach, LOL

(I still prefer Zilog's ASM to Intel's, FWIW LOL. And, long live ZCPR! LOL that was a pain to download at 300 baud...)

I see you have been introduced to NT4! Talk about loaded with "Gotchas" it is!!

I learned NT4 by breaking it, then making mental notes on what I did to break it and told self "self, do not do that again." It worked. I knew some sheer trickery with NT4. M$ called it New Technology but all of us graybeards know it stands for Not Tonight.

[0verkill]

I went and looked it up right after I posted. After reading I had flashbacks of an algebra teacher talking about them in 1999 when he was teaching us binary, that and hexadecimal makes me think he may have been an old computer guy. If you've got sources I can read or forums I can lurk to learn I'd love to know where to go.

[Mr_Sheesh]

DougGuy, I still have install media here somewhere for WFW 3.11, the DOS WFW 3.10 add-on so you can access Winders file servers off 286es, DOS 3 through 6.22, NT 3.5 and 5.0, Win 9x, so much old tech LOL

I need to fix the boot record on a plasma screen Toshiba ?5100? under NT 3.5 some day...

NT, same issues.

0verkill, I've also used Octal a lot, base 8, first good mainframes I had access to were CDC ones, Seymour Cray worked for them before he spun off Cray computing. Unusual interesting machines, pretty sensible design (but no one uses magnetic core memory any more...)

I'd focus first on getting good with using and admining Linux and look at Raspberry Pi's if you want interesting, usable skills, as skills like changing keypunch ribbons are just not really much in demand nowadays. Internet security is going to be a huge issue in the future, as it's a hot mess, due to certain coders not knowing how to code well :/

[popper]

8008 machine - 4004 was worse. Not much usable till the 8080.

[Mr_Sheesh]

True! 4 bit machine vs. 8 bit. My mom still has her Z80 (-C i think?) machine, twin 8" 1.2Mb floppies, beautiful wood case. Machine my brother and I made ended up running a PC board driller for his company, I sold my interest in it to him. Burned up in a fire of their shop, sadly.

I still use HP 200LX palmtops, DOS 5 in ROM, handy for me :)

Lots of technology is changing so fast that it's amazing. Tires no longer self destruct regularly, materials science is sure changed!

Now if some people would just quit needing power over other people...

[WebMonkey]

i still use a 300 baud modem.

on HF ham radio.

1200 above 50mHz.

i do have a couple 9600bps for uhf.

2 sweet tandy model 102s squirreled away just in case.

:)

[Mr_Sheesh]

LOL fun memory

Glaciology research team I worked for, replaces the electrolytic caps in Tandy 100s with Tantalum caps, so the caps don't die in -40 temperatures; Then max out the RAM, and stick them in a research project in a waterproof box somewhere like Spitzbergen, Norway, or Ellesmere Island.

Those machines keep working long as you supply power, but MAN do the LCD displays get slow to change at even 20 below zero!

One of the less traditional things I've done, it was quite fun. Put the laptop inside your jacket to warm it up till the display gets usable...

Smart folks in that group, when we brainstormed they did very well, I've worked with far less brilliant bosses :)