Jedinovice
Member
OK, this could be interesting.
Topic: legacy issues with running Windows 3.0 on a Pentium.
Reason: My favoured OS is Windows 3.0 which I have used happily on a 386SX for many years, and still hope to do so. But… I have got married and, while I am waiting to get my wife with me in the UK (she’s Indonesian!) I am anticipating a need to reduce loading time and need for a more legacy gaming environment (for when I am knackered and need time out!) The Athlon XP I expect the missus to take over. Also, I have need of some more resource hungry S/W running like Access 1.0 for a while. It’s a teeny bit slow on a 386SX. I have no intention of running another OS (xcept 3.1 in conjunction with 3.0) as that OS, for it’s problems just works for me! Don’t ask!
Anyways, I am considering (only considering mind) running Windows 3.0 and associated apps on an old P75 I saved from work tipping. It’s dull old Dell optiplex. Worthy but, well, dull.
I attempting running up the usual components and things and hit a few problems. So I’m doing a technical feasility study here. Here are my issues/questions!
Keyboard. I am determined to have a full micro switch clicky keyboard on the PC. But the machine was not designed for such. I have an IBM PS1 clicky keyboard and an AT style clicky keyboard which I can connect via Din to PS2 adaptor. But both keyboards respond intermittently. When the P75 is fired up sometimes the keyboards fly… and sometimes they don’t. The PS/1 keyboard can be ‘dead’ for weeks and not fire up at all but when plugged into a work PC it lit up every time. Is there a timing issue here? Can it be ‘got around?’ Actually, the PS/1 keyboard can be dodgy even on the 386 but I can’t detect a loose connection. It’s all a bit strange. The AT keyboard (from a 286 luggable) responds sometimes but other times it’s ‘DOA’ and requires a reboot at which point it flies.
Display: The P75 has a built in S3 graphics card/chip. I am limited to Windows 3.0 drivers. I installed a Western digital (read ‘Paradise’) SVGA ISA card and that ran up fine. But I am curious as to whether I can use that S3 chip at all. I naturally assumed I couldn’t and didn’t try hard (having software problems in my earlier attempt to get her flying.)
One other option (which would be preferable in principle) would be to fit a faster AMD or Intel 386 m’board in the Dell. A friend in the US is offering me a number of boards of varying dimensions. But I wonder if a Pentium 75 power supply is suitable for a 386.
Thoughts? This is an open ended query and I am in no desperate rush though my friend will probably want to offload the m’boards to me ASAP so there refit option is of interest.
Many thanks in advance!
Topic: legacy issues with running Windows 3.0 on a Pentium.
Reason: My favoured OS is Windows 3.0 which I have used happily on a 386SX for many years, and still hope to do so. But… I have got married and, while I am waiting to get my wife with me in the UK (she’s Indonesian!) I am anticipating a need to reduce loading time and need for a more legacy gaming environment (for when I am knackered and need time out!) The Athlon XP I expect the missus to take over. Also, I have need of some more resource hungry S/W running like Access 1.0 for a while. It’s a teeny bit slow on a 386SX. I have no intention of running another OS (xcept 3.1 in conjunction with 3.0) as that OS, for it’s problems just works for me! Don’t ask!
Anyways, I am considering (only considering mind) running Windows 3.0 and associated apps on an old P75 I saved from work tipping. It’s dull old Dell optiplex. Worthy but, well, dull.
I attempting running up the usual components and things and hit a few problems. So I’m doing a technical feasility study here. Here are my issues/questions!
Keyboard. I am determined to have a full micro switch clicky keyboard on the PC. But the machine was not designed for such. I have an IBM PS1 clicky keyboard and an AT style clicky keyboard which I can connect via Din to PS2 adaptor. But both keyboards respond intermittently. When the P75 is fired up sometimes the keyboards fly… and sometimes they don’t. The PS/1 keyboard can be ‘dead’ for weeks and not fire up at all but when plugged into a work PC it lit up every time. Is there a timing issue here? Can it be ‘got around?’ Actually, the PS/1 keyboard can be dodgy even on the 386 but I can’t detect a loose connection. It’s all a bit strange. The AT keyboard (from a 286 luggable) responds sometimes but other times it’s ‘DOA’ and requires a reboot at which point it flies.
Display: The P75 has a built in S3 graphics card/chip. I am limited to Windows 3.0 drivers. I installed a Western digital (read ‘Paradise’) SVGA ISA card and that ran up fine. But I am curious as to whether I can use that S3 chip at all. I naturally assumed I couldn’t and didn’t try hard (having software problems in my earlier attempt to get her flying.)
One other option (which would be preferable in principle) would be to fit a faster AMD or Intel 386 m’board in the Dell. A friend in the US is offering me a number of boards of varying dimensions. But I wonder if a Pentium 75 power supply is suitable for a 386.
Thoughts? This is an open ended query and I am in no desperate rush though my friend will probably want to offload the m’boards to me ASAP so there refit option is of interest.
Many thanks in advance!
I'm still not sure what your question is, but just hang out on ebay or thrifts for a good old IBM Model "M" keyboard. It will work and last a lifetime.