Getting Prodigy back online

[Bill-kun]

Not sure where else to put this.

Benj Edwards just tweeted the following:

https://twitter.com/benjedwards/status/1350110063449530371?s=21

“Remember the Prodigy online service? Phillip Heller is working on reverse-engineering it so we can bring it back to life. We need volunteers to help transcribe the source code. If you're interested in joining the Prodigy Preservation project, DM me”

https://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/2921/reverse-engineering-prodigy-part-1

 

[Bill-kun]

Does anyone know where I can download image files of the Prodigy installation disks? My own ones from years ago seem to have some unrecoverable read errors on them. WinWorldPC doesn't look like it has them. It doesn't look like Benj's site does either.

 

[jafir]

I’ve got a couple of unused prodigy client media kits, but the project specifically says only installations that have actually been used to connect to the system are useful because they need the cache files.

 

[NeXT]

All I have are the installers for Prodigy that are included with Windows 95/98

 

[VERAULT]

I used to love prodigy. As a teenager I would break in all the time (I was a poor kid what can you do).

 

[whartung]

I’ve got a couple of unused prodigy client media kits, but the project specifically says only installations that have actually been used to connect to the system are useful because they need the cache files.

I think there's actually someone out there trying to redo the backend of Prodigy.

 

[pheller]

Hi there - just came across this. I am working on recreating the backend.

There is a second blog post with more detail on the backend progress here.

I can furnish most versions of the client software to anyone interested, and I’m happy to chat more about the project.

—Phil

 

[Bill-kun]

I just ran across this upload to YouTube by VWestlife. It's a 46-minute 1995 VHS tape showing how to sign on to Prodigy, and use it's features. Thought Prodigy enthusiasts would like to know.

 

[Casey]

Does anyone know where I can download image files of the Prodigy installation disks? My own ones from years ago seem to have some unrecoverable read errors on them. WinWorldPC doesn't look like it has them. It doesn't look like Benj's site does either.

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Occam's Razor is more accurately phrased as: If you have several possible hypothesis, the one with the fewest assumptions is preferable. It's not about complexity per se.