What's the best way to get data out of an old pentium 1 computer?

Question

I got it around 8 years ago. I probably have a few folders I might want to keep. Is there a quick way of downloading the files I want into an external drive? What kind of connection can I use? My current external drive has an USB port. I don't think they had that back then. Also, do I need to get a software to wipe off the hard drive if I want to donate it? Or could I just reformat it with the recovery disk? Thanks.

Answer 1

1. Floppy ought to do it or a series of floppies if the files arent to big. If they are slightly bigger than the floppy you can get a file splitter which will break the file up into parts so you can use a floppy, then you recompile them in your other computer then transfer them into your external drive via usb.

2. Install a burner into the old machine and burn the fiels off then put the burner back into your other machine.

3. Install a usb port with drivers and transfer the files using a memory stick

4. Take out the harddrive from your old machine and slave it onto your other computer. When you start your new computer click on "My Computer" and the old drive should be there as an extra drive (while its there right click it and format it after youve transfered the files).

5. Take the old machine to a PC shop and ask them to put the files onto a disc

Formatting: Yes use your recovery discs should be good because you'll actually be putting on a fresh installation of Windows for whoever you donate it to (give the recovery cd's with it because theyre specifically for that PC and no longer any use to you)

Answer 2

You said I think they didnt have USB's back then you never said you were sure if it had any check I think it does have atleast 2x1.0 ports.
If you got that coputer 8 years ago it must have been used since 8 years ago Pentium 2's were dying out and Pentium 3's were taking its place Pentium 1's domminated 1996 and half of 1997 so your pc must have been from 1996-June 1997 not 1999.
If IT DOES have USB's You Need to have Windows 98 to detect mass storage if you have that turn it on plug usb in IF its a pentium 1 the HDD is ro'und 1gb-8gb stock unless upgarded if its around 8gb with 1.0usb ports it will take a good 2 hours to transfer to the USB HDD.
TO reformat normally you need a windows disc put it in makle the c boot the disc b4 it boots the OS this can be set via the Bios the OS disc starts then you go through the Blahbalh stuff then Format.your pc will restart after a few hours and then if yuou want the OS back on put the disc in blahblah again then make a/or partion/s then install OS (Please do not use anything higher then 98 on a pentium 1 Xp will make it take 1 hour to start up!
The instilation takes a few hours and if you want to Brute format it eneter Command prompt mode (DOS mode) and type in the formating code whihc can be found on the net ive never done it I think someoen posted it but I think it might be the letter of your drive Format C:\ or something.

Answer 3

An 8 year old computer probably will not have a USB port, but IF it does, you're in luck! Just connect your external USB drive and drag & drop the folder you want into it.

If there is no USB port, then you may want to hook up the old machine to a router and transfer files through the LAN, make sure you have the same workgroup name and sharing privileges for the disk to be accessed.

Finally, you could email the folders , as attachments, to yourself via gmail or other web-based email system.

With your system so old, it may be better to destroy the drive, and give the computer to your local recycling center.

Answer 4

You can add the hard drive to your current system as a slave and drag whatever folders you want to keep to your hard drive on your current pc. If your computer does have a USB port you may be able to use your external drive, good luck finding drivers : (
You can use the floppy drive, or a CD burner.

As far as cleaning the Hard Drive. Depends who you're donating too. Reformatting and using the recovery disk will be good enough for the common user. But if it's someone who is tech savy and you don't want anyone to ever see any of your personal stuff use a software:
http://www.download.com/3120-20_4-0-1-0.html?qt=delete+hard+drive&author=&titlename=&desc=&dlcount=&daysback=&swlink=&gfiletype=&os=&li=&dlsize=&ca=2001

Answer 5

Honestly, those old hard drives were usually no bigger than 2-4 gigs. I would just email the files you want to your Yahoo account, which is about 2.5 gs.

Reformat it with the recovery disk, and include the disk with the computer when you give it away.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

Just get the old hard drive from your Pentium 1 PC then plug it to your new one. Make sure you get the pin setting correctly and BIOS.

Answer 8

Remove the hard drive & temporarily hook it up to your newer PC to copy & paste the folders you want to keep.

Just reformat it.

regards,
Philip T

Answer 9

restart to a DOS prompt, and type "format C:"

Hope you got start up discs.. this is brute force deletion of everything..

Answer 10

dont get pushy with it. just be real nice and ask it to tell you everything it knows.