Computer Recycling Services

Take-Away Knowledge : How to turn an old, worthless, PC into a shiny, new, recycled Internet Access Device using DSL, for absolutely free!

If you have an old 486 lying around (and that still works - more or less) you can turn it into an Internet Access Device and join the Computer Recycling revolution.

What do I Need?
That really depends on what you want to do. For basic email, a command line interface is enough, but you have to be a bit of a geek to use it.
Most of us need a Windows-like environment, and for that, we need:

• A 486+ based PC
• 16MB of memory
• CD-ROM
• Network card
• Mouse, keyboard, screen, time, etc.

What's DSL?
DSL is a small, lightweight, and very clever Linux distribution. It's clever because you can burn it onto a CD, boot it, and have a whole new PC at your fingertips, with a Windows-like interface.
Get DSL here. It's a download link to the actual CD image.

Got DSL! What Next?
Burn the ISO image to a CD. Put the CD in the machine and boot it up from the CD (you might need to fiddle with the BIOS settings).

From here on in, you're at the mercy of DSL, but it's pretty smart and will detect your network card, etc. for you. If you get stuck, head on over to the Wiki.

Why Would I Bother?

There's always someone who asks that, isn't there?

Some answers: If the kids (spouse, life partner, etc.) are playing games and you want to check your email? If you just want something basic to get started with, and don't want to shell out a fortune? If you want to give your kids their first computer?

I don't have an old 486 laptop or PC...
Take a look below - someone's surely selling one...