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Found some older original system disks

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First post, by DaveDDS

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Hi Guys, In a back corner of my workshop, I came across a box with a bunch
of original (from manufacturer) mostly-system disks.

I don't really have need these (didn't even recall they were here), but it
seems a shame to "just toss them". I realize due to various copyrights I can't
just "give away copies", but I thought I'd let everyone know I found them just
in case any of these are things others were really looking for.

If so, there are a few ways you might be able to get them:

I know some manufacturers have released old versions of their software
under various "free" licences - worth asking them.

Some software companies don't keep copies of their old released software
- I have on a couple occasions gotten letters from vendors giving me permission
to pass on some of the old stuff I have (see "Daves Old Computes" - I have a
LOT of very old non-PC software!)

And.. if neither of the above are options, contact me - perhaps we can arrange
to have the actual diskette(s) sent to you.

This is what I found today - perhaps more will turn up as I go:

Microsoft MS-DOS 6 -3x3.5" Disk1(Setup)/Disk2/Disk3
Microsoft MS-DOS 5 -3x3.5" Disk1(Setup)/Disk2/Disk3
Microsott StandardSDT MS-DOS 5.0 -2x5.25"Disk1(Setup)/Disk2
Microsoft MS-DOS 4.0 -3x5.25"/360kk - Install/Oper1/Oper2/Oper3/Select/Shell
Microsoft Windows286 -5x5.25" Setup/Paintbrush/Display/Utilities/Applications
Microsoft Mouse -3 editions, Mouse&Pantbrush
IBM DOS 3.30 -2x5.25" Startup/Operating
IBM DOS 3.00 -1x5.25
IBM PC Hardware Reference -2x5.25"
IBM PC ENHANCEMENTS 3270 Attachment Option -1x5.25"
(also what looks like unaltered backup of IBM DOS 2.10 -but not original)
Compaq MS-DOS 3.31 -3x5.25" Startup/Operating1/Operating2
Compaq MS-DOS 2.11 -1x5.25"
DFI EG-3000 Utilities -3x5.25"
FastBacPlus -2x5.25"
QuickStart -1x5.25"
MicroSolutions UniDos w/Z80 version IBM PC/XT/AT -1x.25"
M&T Programming in 3 dimensions,3-d Graphics,RayTracing&Animation-1x5.25"

Dave ::: https://dunfield.themindfactory.com ::: "Daves Old Computers"->Personal

Dave ::: https://dunfield.themindfactory.com ::: "Daves Old Computers"->Personal

Reply 1 of 2, by tauro

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Nice finds Dave!
I would upload everything to archive.org including scans of the sleeves/labels and manuals if there are any.
Since it's very old stuff I don't think there would be any problem.
But I wouldn't post links here just in case.

Reply 2 of 2, by DaveDDS

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tauro wrote on 2025-02-17, 05:14:
Nice finds Dave! I would upload everything to archive.org including scans of the sleeves/labels and manuals if there are any. Si […]
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Nice finds Dave!
I would upload everything to archive.org including scans of the sleeves/labels and manuals if there are any.
Since it's very old stuff I don't think there would be any problem.
But I wouldn't post links here just in case.

Agreed.. Still "considering" archive.org ... I don't know how legal it actually is as some of these companies are
still around (and even it they weren't that doesn't void a copyright).

As someone who made my living selling my own software for many years, I do tend to err on the side of caution
when it comes to posting other peoples work. (In my own case - my "retirement project" is to publish all the
source code to my various products ... but I know that many (most) others aren't inclined to want do do this)

But I just wanted to get the word out in case anyone has been trying to find any of this stuff!

One case where I can/have posted something like this - when I wrote my Altair emulator, I wanted it to boot/run
"NorthStar Dos" - the OS I did run on the actual machine.. I was able to find/contact one of the founders of the
NorthStar company, and he sent me a letter authorizing me to post images of their OS.

On "Daves Old Computers" I do post disk images for a lot of very old (before PC system disks) for many of the
systems I present - These companies are "long gone", but I have a prominently posted notice that if any copyright
holders who wish - please contact me and I will remove their material from the site - it's been many years, and I've
not receiver any such requests!

Dave ::: https://dunfield.themindfactory.com ::: "Daves Old Computers"->Personal

Dave ::: https://dunfield.themindfactory.com ::: "Daves Old Computers"->Personal

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