Yard Saling
Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 2:46 pmLast weekend I went yard saling ( boot sale ) and made an incredible haul at one. At the yard sale was a bunch of boxes with various computer parts and a lot of fairly recent printers. Seems that the policy was use a printer until it ran out of ink, then purchase a new printer as the printers are cheaper new than the ink cartridges.
While looking through the boxes, the old gentleman looking after the sale came over and asked if I knew anything about fixing computers, to which I replied " I pretend that I do" He went on to say that he had two computers in the house that did not work, but if I could get one running that I could have everything there for just getting one to run for him. I said that I could try to get one working for him as I had parts at home that I could possibly use to try to get one working. We then settled on a price of $25.00 if I could not get one working. Shook hands, and I started to put what was out in my truck while he went to get the two computers in the house.
He brought them out and loaded them. I went to give him the 25 bucks for security and he would not accept it, just said " wait to see if you can get one working, if not we can settle up then. " We exchanged phone numbers and names. Shook hands again and I went to leave.
He told me to wait as there were a couple more boxes on the shelves in the garage. I helped get them down, and put them in the truck, the bed of the truck was full.
Went on our way and continued yard saling, picked up a Gamecube, with adapter for Gameboy and few games , and at another sale could not resist picking up a sealed copy of Corel Linux with Word Perfect 8 included for 25 cents, only because it had a rubber penguin included in the box, ( no rubber ducky for me! )
Came home, and unloaded the truck, the printers I just posted them on Freecycle, except for a couple of the really old ones, and am happy to say the ones I posted have all been taken. In the boxes was an assortment of video cards, sound cards, and other computer parts. As well there were some DOS games, Win 95 Games,
and in the boxes from the garage there were Commodore manuals, games and a 1571 drive, and a keyboard for a Compaq Portable III.
I then started to look at the newest of the two computers from the house, a Compaq Presario. opened it and gave it a cleaning, hooked it up turned it on, and it booted fine into Windows XP, But really slow. Did a check of hard disk and it was at 92% usage. Then did a disk cleanup, and got back almost 1.5 gig of usage, defragmented the drive. Then checked what was on the computer, a lot of games and pictures and music. After phoning the guy, to see what he wanted left on the computer, I started to delete and remove almost everything, did another cleanup, defragment , and then ran Bleach Bit to really clean the system up.
Sunday morning, i get a call from the guy, to come over when I can as he has a few more boxes for me, and I go over and he has three boxes for me, with two Commodore 128 with disk drives and more Commodore books, and two plastic cases with 5 1/2 floppies. He said there is a few more boxes yet, but can not remember where he put them.
I hope, that one of the boxes contains the Compaq Portable III, if he finds them.
He has his working computer, with only 15% HD usage, and I gave him an LCD monitor, and speakers that I had for it. He is happy , I am extemely happy.
The Portable III is a very handy, IBM compatible portable computer. Attractive and easy to lug around, it has a bright and easy-to-read gas plasma screen.
The screen pivots for a comfortable viewing angle, and the keyboard attaches to the system during transportation.
The built-in 20Meg hard drive means no floppy disks are required to run it. Sorry, there are no batteries, you have to plug it into a 110VAC power outlet.
An optional internal 1200 baud modem and additional memory are the only internal expansion capabilities.
Originally listed for $199, an external expansion chassis (model 2662A) capable of holding two full-length expansion cards can be attached to the back of the Portable III for additional capabilities.
Unlike modern computers, there is no BIOS or set-up screen in the Compaq Portable III computer (and many other old Compaq 286 and 386 systems).
Compaq Portable III
Model: 2660
Released: 1987
Price: US $4,999.00 w/ 20meg HD
US $5,799.00 w/ 40meg HD
Weight: 20 pounds.
CPU: Intel 80286, 12MHz
RAM: 640k, 2048k max.
Storage: 20 Meg hard drive
1.2Meg 5-1/4 inch floppy
Display: 10" gas plasma screen
640 X 400 resolution
80 X 25 text
Ports: RGB, serial, parallel
Expansion: Optional external expansion
OS: MS-DOS 3.31
Looking at the first picture of the computer, it seems I will be able to make my toast as I use it ????
Footnote : Have had no luck on the other computer thus far, just black screen, OCS Technologies on front, and video card has a bunch of dip switches on it, my suspicion that some of the switches are set wrong?
While looking through the boxes, the old gentleman looking after the sale came over and asked if I knew anything about fixing computers, to which I replied " I pretend that I do" He went on to say that he had two computers in the house that did not work, but if I could get one running that I could have everything there for just getting one to run for him. I said that I could try to get one working for him as I had parts at home that I could possibly use to try to get one working. We then settled on a price of $25.00 if I could not get one working. Shook hands, and I started to put what was out in my truck while he went to get the two computers in the house.
He brought them out and loaded them. I went to give him the 25 bucks for security and he would not accept it, just said " wait to see if you can get one working, if not we can settle up then. " We exchanged phone numbers and names. Shook hands again and I went to leave.
He told me to wait as there were a couple more boxes on the shelves in the garage. I helped get them down, and put them in the truck, the bed of the truck was full.
Went on our way and continued yard saling, picked up a Gamecube, with adapter for Gameboy and few games , and at another sale could not resist picking up a sealed copy of Corel Linux with Word Perfect 8 included for 25 cents, only because it had a rubber penguin included in the box, ( no rubber ducky for me! )
Came home, and unloaded the truck, the printers I just posted them on Freecycle, except for a couple of the really old ones, and am happy to say the ones I posted have all been taken. In the boxes was an assortment of video cards, sound cards, and other computer parts. As well there were some DOS games, Win 95 Games,
and in the boxes from the garage there were Commodore manuals, games and a 1571 drive, and a keyboard for a Compaq Portable III.
I then started to look at the newest of the two computers from the house, a Compaq Presario. opened it and gave it a cleaning, hooked it up turned it on, and it booted fine into Windows XP, But really slow. Did a check of hard disk and it was at 92% usage. Then did a disk cleanup, and got back almost 1.5 gig of usage, defragmented the drive. Then checked what was on the computer, a lot of games and pictures and music. After phoning the guy, to see what he wanted left on the computer, I started to delete and remove almost everything, did another cleanup, defragment , and then ran Bleach Bit to really clean the system up.
Sunday morning, i get a call from the guy, to come over when I can as he has a few more boxes for me, and I go over and he has three boxes for me, with two Commodore 128 with disk drives and more Commodore books, and two plastic cases with 5 1/2 floppies. He said there is a few more boxes yet, but can not remember where he put them.
I hope, that one of the boxes contains the Compaq Portable III, if he finds them.
He has his working computer, with only 15% HD usage, and I gave him an LCD monitor, and speakers that I had for it. He is happy , I am extemely happy.
- compaqiii-name.jpg (17.35 KiB) Viewed 4438 times
- compaqiii-back.jpg (22.52 KiB) Viewed 4438 times
- compaqiii-closed.jpg (17.24 KiB) Viewed 4438 times
- compaqiii-expansion.jpg (20.35 KiB) Viewed 4438 times
The Portable III is a very handy, IBM compatible portable computer. Attractive and easy to lug around, it has a bright and easy-to-read gas plasma screen.
The screen pivots for a comfortable viewing angle, and the keyboard attaches to the system during transportation.
The built-in 20Meg hard drive means no floppy disks are required to run it. Sorry, there are no batteries, you have to plug it into a 110VAC power outlet.
An optional internal 1200 baud modem and additional memory are the only internal expansion capabilities.
Originally listed for $199, an external expansion chassis (model 2662A) capable of holding two full-length expansion cards can be attached to the back of the Portable III for additional capabilities.
Unlike modern computers, there is no BIOS or set-up screen in the Compaq Portable III computer (and many other old Compaq 286 and 386 systems).
Compaq Portable III
Model: 2660
Released: 1987
Price: US $4,999.00 w/ 20meg HD
US $5,799.00 w/ 40meg HD
Weight: 20 pounds.
CPU: Intel 80286, 12MHz
RAM: 640k, 2048k max.
Storage: 20 Meg hard drive
1.2Meg 5-1/4 inch floppy
Display: 10" gas plasma screen
640 X 400 resolution
80 X 25 text
Ports: RGB, serial, parallel
Expansion: Optional external expansion
OS: MS-DOS 3.31
Looking at the first picture of the computer, it seems I will be able to make my toast as I use it ????
Footnote : Have had no luck on the other computer thus far, just black screen, OCS Technologies on front, and video card has a bunch of dip switches on it, my suspicion that some of the switches are set wrong?
) lad comes by and makes an awesome trade like this.