First post, by ildonaldo
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I don’t know if is just me, but when I build a retro PC at some points I tend to hesitate or I'm even reluctant to go on with the project.
That’s what I call the “retro build scare”.
1. In most cases the first time is after collecting/buying/finding/stealing (NO, forget stealing!) all pieces and preparing to assemble the Hardware.
It is the point where you have to plan thoroughly what to put into the case first and you hope that everything is compatible. That’s always a risk with this old stuff and in worst case it sends you on an endless ordeal to find out the culprit.
2. The second time is when everything is assembled and waits for the first Power on.
It is the point where everything could go up in smoke if this bl**dy capacitor rott strikes or nothing happens at all and you have to start the painful elimination process.
... where you will find out that some "tested" piece of HW you bought is just junk.
3. And the third time is when I start installing the software – man, how I hate Windows 9.x
It is, when you realize that you need some exotic drivers from a long gone vendor to get rid of this annoying question marks out of the Hardware control center.
Oh, to be honest, the most of the building process it is the hell of fun, especially because of these challenges.
But in most cases I can do well without it - I guess, I am a bit spoiled nowadays.
Approximately since the introduction of XP things got gradually better, but building a PC with current Hardware is only half the fun.
At the moment I am stuck in Phase 1 of my new project (year 2010/2011) and just can’t bring myself to start assembling the stuff ...
((... despite the fact that it's rather up to date HW))
Building my own PCs since 1991 - for my retro builds it's "no CF-disks, no Floppy emulators, no modern cases etc.", only the real and authentic stuff whenever possible.