Free Computers: A Simple Guide to Building a Working Computer from Scavenged Parts

176 Pages·2004·8.729 MB·English

by  James MacLaren

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Momleisas
Waves and roses.
ptv ec
Computers
ganar Guide
to Building a Working
Computer from Scavenged Parts
James MacLaren
PALADIN PRESS « BOULDER, COLORADO
Free Computers: A Simple Guide to Building a Working SC ade
from Scavenged Parts
by James MacLaren
Copyright © 2004 by James MacLaren
ISBN 1-58160-455-6
Printed in the United States of America
Published by Paladin Press, a division of
Paladin Enterprises, Inc.
Gunbarrel Tech Center
7077 Winchester Circle
Boulder, Colorado 80301 USA
+1.303.443.7250
Direct inquiries and/or orders to the above address.
PALADIN, PALADIN PRESS, and the “horse head” design
are trademarks belonging to Paladin Enterprises and
registered in United States Patent and Trademark Office.
All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, no
portion of this book may be reproduced in any form
without the express written permission of the publisher.
Neither the author nor the publisher assumes
any responsibility for the use or misuse of
information contained in this book.
Visit our Web site at www.paladin-press.com
Table of
Contents
RY AR MUTIDIE 752 Bite rane) eae ee ket se cree ahcs i OO Ae ee ee ae vii
AEWR LEC Oete Mts es eA ai AEB aon oe eS Stee 1
RAY CO OBC ALIS DOOIOR a ae cee. a Mee tae ete ayer 1
Chapter lo Whavs Up with FréeesGomputers: 365..0°a- a 3
Why You Might Want Your Computer for Free,
fucluding: tie Unobvious- Reasons =”: Tee en, Se ee eee 4
You Can Get Something for Nothing,
but Don’t Go Mxzpecting a Cadillac, OK? ise oe. 5
We’re Talking PCs Here, Not Macs, and while
We're At It, Skip the SCSI and the Laptop Too ...... Zz
What This Book Contains and How You Will
DE AROSR ENO I oe Oct ere tid Moree amen e eae) iM
The Basic Premises Giving Coniputers Away «... .5.- Ze
You Needn’t Worry If the Damn Thing
(OORT OUP SO IA Btm ein dia te he Oe Ae a cal seem h ee ea 29
Chapter 2: Places to Look for Freebies
BiG Howe po aVOre Litei na acrvas ee en ee 39
SG UATITE ESOL SEN Uaen eh, leone tana 2 a eer a, aoe Sage4 0)
WYO eee ere. Sori eN ad et 2 pean heen tens Dek es 42
SIN Oly alan ec AAS re ee PIE a noc REA UE ac cae 44
Vi Free Computers
ETIGhds AnGsraiiuly., cma oMluletace oar eee rents cone 45
GHUTCEP eT res ocd ies A ena ee ae 46
Dunipsters andthe Side Ontie Rodda, «eee 47
Chapter 3; What Dol Do with Tis Pilevorduiik. 5,- ee 49
Keep ltSimple, Stupid ere he eaenae e ens Si)
Itiside. the: Box 2. cece eee tna ae are eae 2V4
N18ob)( 0) 4: en mn Scr eorapma MN i Be leh nf. f 103
|ae0t)( ltosth: | i:e emmMnEe, A os st eer ca ake mre ee 107
Glia pters4.SOnwWare 2, <. acc pmae ta ee eee ee: 123
OPETAUNG SV StCMMS rhode sire ure ae 123
IBS eth tasers Galg as arteso rd ais irae eee ns tO eee ee 124
Partitioning, Formatting, and That Kind of Thing .. .131
Face It--Bill Gates Owns the Entire World. ......2. 141
INUStsHaVesSOLwW aren... cote cet er oes ek 147
How Too Much Software Will Choke a Computer .. .153
CHaApter So) Conc hide Tid iitSic ons, ary earin aee ree e LS?
Warning
Some of the techniques discussed in this book, particu-
larly those involving monitors and components that hold an
electrical charge, can be extremely dangerous. It is not the
intent of the author or publisher to encourage readers to
attempt any of them without proper professional supervi-
sion and training. Attempting to do so can result in severe
injury or death.
The author, publisher, and distributors of this book dis-
claim any liability from any damage or injuries of any type
that a reader or user of information contained within this
book may incur from the use of said information. This book
is for academic study only.
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