Old software - what to eo with it?

[Saracen999]

And by "old", I mean really old.

As part of my computing refocussing to Win10, etc, and with some exceptions, I'm having a mahooosive sort out, and part of that is getting rid of old software.

These are mainly boxed profesional items that used to be hundreds of pounds each, and include 'proper' manuals ... that make a pile 8" to 12" high.

But OLD. Lots of databases, like dBase III / IV, DataEase, CAClipper, Paradox (DOS and Windows, IIRC). Other stuff too, including some for OS2. But mostly DOS of 8-bit Windows.

These are all legit, boxed, unregisteted and supplied for press review. Before I break them up and stick them in the recycling, which seems a waste, can anyone think of some productive method of disposal for ancient software?

But either way, they are going.,

Oh, and they are bulky and heavy and probably expensive to ship. I can't imagine even schools would be interested .... unless anyone knows better?

If nobody has ideas, rubbish dump it is.

[Jonj1611]

There is that 8 bit guy on youtube, bit think they are based in the US, they generally like to receive stuff though mainly hardware I believe.

Wow OS2, I did my work experience in IBM in the OS2 days, some of the internal stuff on show there was cutting edge at the time, even today a lot of what was being developed then is now part of everyday lives. Takes me back

Wonder if there are any software museums around the UK? Plenty in the US

Seems a shame to throw it out

[spacein_vader]

You could try the following:

https://www.tnmoc.org/equipment-donations

https://www.museumofcomputing.org.uk...-to-the-museum

https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/.../Donate-Items/

https://www.retrocomputermuseum.co.uk/

Or failing that, ebay?

[Saracen999]

First one has suspended donations due to "storage reorganisagion", and the second doesn't accept software, spacein.

Third one is a maybe. Reasonably local, too.


Ebay? Im not that re-invented, spacein. Mind you, who knows?

[Spud1]

eBay is where I would be going - big box software is often very collectible and I've made a few hundred £ selling off big box copies of some of my games. Heck even DVD cased versions of some titles sell for silly money. I had a re-release of the "star trek action pack" for example (DVD cased) which sold for over £50. Collectors are odd

Manuals can be worth a lot too for this era of software

Shipping should not be a major issue if you use hermes - typically £2.79 for up to 2kg, and goes up to £4.79 for the really heavy stuff...and currently they collect from your door.

Failing that, Charity Shops will always take them (and people like me will buy them!) and I daresay that a lot of members here would be very happy to buy some off you - or pay postage + a charity donation or similar?

Lastly, LGR (USA) & Nostalgia Nerd (UK) are both popular youtubers who are looking for donations of this kind of thing - particularly of very obscure software. I'll link to both of their channels actually given how related to this thread they are, and how entertaining they can be for our membership

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7q...w9XuExpSgfkmJQ
https://www.youtube.com/user/phreakindee

[spacein_vader]

First one has suspended donations due to "storage reorganisagion", and the second doesn't accept software, spacein.

Third one is a maybe. Reasonably local, too.


Ebay? Im not that re-invented, spacein. Mind you, who knows?

Apologies, should have checked they took software first!

[Corky34]

As part of my computing refocussing to Win10, etc....

So that's what caused this mornings disturbance in the force.

[matts-uk]

Could try dropping a note over on EEVBlog

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/vintage-computing/

Working i386s are a bit of a thing apparently. You might find one of them willing to pay the postage for a poke around OS/2

[ik9000]

Saracen how much volume is all this? I'm happy to host an archive for a while provided it's not too crazy large.

scratch that. I've just reread your post. There is some old software I'm after copies of however so if you have an itinerary list or something I can flick through it would be really useful.

[Saracen999]

A full inventory is some way off, but my first set includes :-

- CA Clipper for DOS 5.2. (Computer Associates "development system")
- Micrografx Picture Publisher 3.0
- Lotus Smartsuite 3.0 (Lotus 123, Approach, AmiPro, etc)
- Borland C++ for OS/2
- Another Pic Publisher
- MS Word 5.0
- MS FoxPro

SmartSuite is still shrinkwrapped.

Among the "to come" category would be MS NT Server, Win 2000 Server, Win 2000 Workstation, etc.

I will be keeping some, like CorelDraw 9, PageMaker 6.5, Photoshop 7, Cooledit, and, when I find it, MS Office.

And for less 'major' packages, there must be dozens, going back to QEMM for DOS, and so on. Then, there's games, which if I piled them atop each other would be floor to ceiling. Two or three times. Or more. Some of those I will keep, and a friend has ffirst dibs on others.

This should give some idea of how much shelf-space I'm looking to free up.

[ik9000]

A full inventory is some way off, but my first set includes :-

- CA Clipper for DOS 5.2. (Computer Associates "development system")
- Micrografx Picture Publisher 3.0
- Lotus Smartsuite 3.0 (Lotus 123, Approach, AmiPro, etc)
- Borland C++ for OS/2
- Another Pic Publisher
- MS Word 5.0
- MS FoxPro

SmartSuite is still shrinkwrapped.

Among the "to come" category would be MS NT Server, Win 2000 Server, Win 2000 Workstation, etc.

I will be keeping some, like CorelDraw 9, PageMaker 6.5, Photoshop 7, Cooledit, and, when I find it, MS Office.

And for less 'major' packages, there must be dozens, going back to QEMM for DOS, and so on. Then, there's games, which if I piled them atop each other would be floor to ceiling. Two or three times. Or more. Some of those I will keep, and a friend has ffirst dibs on others.

This should give some idea of how much shelf-space I'm looking to free up.

I join you at the 2000s era. Still have several CDROMs and the like. Will PM you the couple of things I'm looking for. If you can help then great, if not no-worries!

[spacein_vader]

QEMM, now there's a blast from the past! Not used that since MS bundled MemMaker in with DOS 6.0.

[Saracen999]

I join you at the 2000s era. Still have several CDROMs and the like. Will PM you the couple of things I'm looking for. If you can help then great, if not no-worries!

Glad to help if I can. I just hate the thought of the waste.

[Helios451]

This should give some idea of how much shelf-space I'm looking to free up.

With the size of the manuals and the boxes for the CDs/DVDs that you're looking to get rid, it sounds like you'll have a new spare bedroom!

[Saracen999]

Nope, Helios.

Two spare bedrooms.

Currently, BR-2 is my "lab". It's not huge, but at about 12' × 14', isn't tiny either. And it's set up witn loads of workbench space and shelves. It's where I've been doinng product tests for about 25 years, and currently has about 8 PCs, 4 or 5 printers, several scanners and loads of othrr stuff. The idea ix to get rid of most, strip out worksurfsces, etc, snd turn it into a man-cave with sound system, Xbox, etc

BR-3 is "admin".It's for accounting, file storage, etc. That room is smaller, at about 12'×10', and it's going back to a bedroom.

Then, there's what should br a garage, which currently id full of boxes.

So, hppefully, having scaled down to one PC, mainly for old h /ware and s/ware, a couple of laptops ancva tablet, the rest can go. Oh, and NAS in, full-tower server with 6x RAID-5 SCSI drives out.

It's a long-ish project.

[Jonj1611]

Currently, BR-2 is my "lab". It's not huge, but at about 12' × 14', isn't tiny either. And it's set up witn loads of workbench space and shelves. It's where I've been doinng product tests for about 25 years, and currently has about 8 PCs, 4 or 5 printers, several scanners and loads of othrr stuff. The idea ix to get rid of most, strip out worksurfsces, etc, snd turn it into a man-cave with sound system, Xbox, etc

Right this has to end now, we know you have Saracen, just give him back no questions asked, you won't be pursued as long as he is unharmed!