advice please - re: old software

If you have a computer with a floppy drive, I would sure archive it- upload to a public Google drive or archive.org for their vintage software collection.
Believe it or not, all of the old Apple II 5 1/4" floppies still work fine, as does my Apple II+ (picture taken last year);

The sole use I found for the disks is to hang them from a string in the garden to scare the birds away from the plants.

Why not try to sell it on eBay? Never know.

The problem is finding a disk drive for 5 1/2" floppies. If you have the plastic case 3 1/2" floppies there are still disk drives sold that will install in a desktop PC that will read these disks. I have one in a computer that I built as we have software that came on those 3 1/2" disks. If the software did what you needed it to do before it will still do that now. They will run under Win XP - and if you have a copy of Win XP you can install it on a software Virtual Drive - there are good free Virtual Drives available. The upper versions of Win 7 have a Virtual Drive and Win XP built in. Just because MS is not supporting Win XP any longer does not mean it magically stops working. And for those that think software that is 15 years old is useless - you would be surprised how many still use it and older - including some businesses - and some of it DOS. If it works, it works. What may not work are software specific print drivers.

8.1 Van wrote:
I cleaned out my basement last summer and threw out hundreds of floppy disks but I saved one box from the late 80's that has Microsoft Windows 386 v2.03 disks in it. I might sell it on ebay.

Update: I see some on ebay .

I was just talking to my granddaughter today.

Early in my IT career, I participated in a discussion about if the company - an international Fortune 100 member - could afford to implement a system of digital imagery and searchable conversion of all the real estate documents of our stores. Everything from surveys, to purchase documentation or lease documents, to architectural and engineering drawings, etc.

Did some math - and came up with a potential need for about 1 TB of hard drive space. Since we didn't have a single server in the company with more than 1 GB of HD space - there was a technology and cost issue. The decision was deferred.

I was buying the granddaughter a new extra drive for her computer - 1 TB $49.99.

===================

When we moved out of the S&B - I shredded over 1,000 5 1/4 floppies.

+1 for ebay. Otherwise can it.

AsheGuy wrote:

2oldman wrote:
none

The correct answer.

Software 15+ years old is as useless as... (You fill in the rest.)

Oh the ignorance and disdain for older software is just amazing.

Just because YOU don't like, use or want old software doesn't mean it is "useless" to everyone..

Not everyone can or will upgrade to latest greatest OS, software, hardware for a variety of reasons..

To show you just how wrong you are perhaps you should take a look at BREADBOX which is the current generation of the very FIRST GUI interface/productivity software suite.

It was introduced on Commodore 64 as GeoWorks well before Windows 3.0. Later after Windows came to market, GeoWorks was ported to run on MS DOS and that version was called GEOS for PC..

Later was sold and marketed as NewDeal and eventually BreadBox bought the rights to GEOS and is now selling it as BreadBox..

I still have this software and still use it, very fast and light, runs much quicker than any MS Office versions..

BreadBox can be run on DOS, Win95/98, Win4/2000, Vista, XP, Win7/Win8 (recommend to use DOSBOX emulator but folks have been able to get it to work directly in Win7/8 without the emulator).. Pretty versatile little program..

And they are currently developing an Android compatible version..

For the OP..

Put it on Craigs list for a few weeks to see if any interest.. If none found perhaps see if your local Goodwill store will take it.. They may benefit from your gift..

Goodwill will likely give it a pass. They will tell you they have no use for it. They don't even want older computers, let alone defunct software.

fj12ryder wrote:
Goodwill will likely give it a pass. They will tell you they have no use for it. They don't even want older computers, let alone defunct software.

BS.

My local Goodwill TAKES in computers, they do not take in TVs..

Goodwill stores that do not have a local processing place may or may not take PCs in so you have to ask.

The computers are palletized then sent to their processing center nearby.. The PCs are then reworked or torn apart for parts. if the PCs are not of any use they palletize then sell the pallet to a electronics scrapper who will pay them a set amount per lb..

Goodwill gives folks jobs that may not be able to have one otherwise so don't make assumptions based on your own preferences..

On edit..

Last summer I donated 9 P4 at 2.4ghz PCs loaded with 250GB HDs, XP, CD roms and Open Office plus 3 15" CRT monitors and a bunch of used WIRED PS/2 keyboards and mice to a local small Catholic school.. They were extremely happy to get this equipment to expand their computer lab for the younger kids! I could have easily sold those PCs on craigs list for $40-$50 each or even scrapped them.. But no, I rebuilt them and loaded them for OTHER less fortunate folks to be able to have a computer to use.

There are a lot of folks out there that are far less snobby about how fast or new their computer is.