My good deed for the day/week

[malada]

If you search on YouTube for maladamedialabs you'll find my channel. It's mostly me rescuing and resurrecting old computers. I'm a tiny channel. I don't post regularly or often, just when I've finished with a project that I've taken the time to video.

However, I got a request for help from the comments on one of my older videos. I had cleaned and resurrected an old Sony Vaio and posted my results. The machine is very old and weirdly built. The request was from someone trying to replace the CD drive for their uncle and hadn't a clue how to open up the box.

I still had the machine and quickly lashed up a 2 minute video on how to disassemble the Vaio and remove the CD drives. They were surprised and happy that I'd made a video just for them. I cut a lot of corners to get it done but I'm pleased to have helped out. It's really why I started documenting my trash bin computer rescues - to share my knowledge and save a few machines from going to waste.

Comments

[acelightning73]

I spotted that video a couple of hours ago, but didn't watch it. I have to take my existing computer apart. Somehow the CD drive stopped working, and I suspect so has the LAN card. I really need a new computer - Windows Updates keeps getting angry because my hardware won't support Win 11, which is apparently the greatest thing since flush toilets.

I suspect that I may have once met you in person (sometime in the previous millennium), and that I have in the pile of electronic junk in the corner of the room a computer you once built for a mutual friend (likewise sometime in the previous millennium) A few years ago my husband (who is a programmer by profession) tried to scavenge parts from that machine. He tried to get it to boot, and it was having trouble. I applied a little technomagery to it and it fired right up. But we smelled burning phenolic resin. One tiny spot on the case of the CPU turne orange and burst into flame until we pulled the plug.

[malada]

I don't use Windows unless I absolutely have to. Linux Grrl here.

If you don't mind doing a little work, picking up an Ebay special - an older desktop like a Dell 990 or something in the XPS series - can give you a good start. Some even come complete with RAM, CPU and hard drive. Pop in an SSD and you're good to go. If you want to do any kind of gaming get the full sized system so you can fit a graphics card into it.

As for meeting IRL - possible. I've built or fixed several systems for people over the years, usually for cheap or free.

If we have met... hello again! And welcome to the Zoo Crew.

[siliconshaman]

Subscribed, mostly because I occasionally resurrect old hardware too.

[malada]

Oh, thank you. Hope you find my videos helpful.

[sandypawozbun]

I was disappointed there were no haikus. But it was nice to hear your voice. :)

[malada]

Next time I do a Haiku (OS) video I'll try to throw in some Haikus for you.

Still loving your profile picture(s).

[sandypawozbun]

Yay! I love haikus. And thanks. :)