Anybody ever use Winworld for old OS and abandonware?

[DrSheld...@bazingstate.com]

http://winworldpc.com/



About Us

"WinWorld was created with one purpose in mind: to share and preserve
abandonware and pre-release software that has long since fallen out of common
use for the public good. Many of us grew up experimenting with old computers
and software, and we wish to continue providing the opportunity to learn and
experiment with old software for the next generation of geeks. In addition to
aiding young geeks like us, we also aim to help people in less fortunate
circumstances, who may not have the resources or means to acquire modern
hardware and software."



Every version of DOS and all the old Windows versions through Windows 2000
are there. I even see old versions of Lotus 123 and Wordperfect.

[VanguardLH]

This is not a pro-piracy, pro-crack, pro-warez, or pro-thievery
newsgroup.

Abandoned does NOT equate to no longer owned. Microsoft, IBM, and other
authors still own all their old software whether or not they choose to
continue supporting or distributing it. Same for any other author.
Even if a company vanishes, its properties may still have ownership by
one, or more, or the prior owners or perhaps were sold to another party.

"Also keep in mind the criteria for software being included in our
collection is that the title in question be a minimum of 7 years old,
and no longer sold or supported by the original publisher or a licensed
distributor."

That does NOT qualify software as being abandoned nor does it mandate
the software's owner has ceded ownership. Age (from release or last
manufacture) does not obviate ownership. Dropping support does not
obviate ownership. Even [lack of] availability does not obviate
ownership.

[JoeBro]

VanguardLH <V...@nguard.LH> wrote in news:l5to1l$6i1$1...@dont-email.me:

> Subject: Re: Anybody ever use Winworld for old OS and abandonware?
> From: VanguardLH <V...@nguard.LH>
> Newsgroups: alt.comp.freeware

>
> DrSheld...@bazingstate.com wrote:
>
>> http://winworldpc.com/
>>
>> About Us
>>
>> "WinWorld was created with one purpose in mind: to share and preserve
>> abandonware and pre-release software that has long since fallen out
>> of common use for the public good. Many of us grew up experimenting
>> with old computers and software, and we wish to continue providing
>> the opportunity to learn and experiment with old software for the
>> next generation of geeks. In addition to aiding young geeks like us,
>> we also aim to help people in less fortunate circumstances, who may
>> not have the resources or means to acquire modern hardware and
>> software."
>>
>> Every version of DOS and all the old Windows versions through Windows
>> 2000 are there. I even see old versions of Lotus 123 and
>> Wordperfect.
>
> This is not a pro-piracy, pro-crack, pro-warez, or pro-thievery
> newsgroup.
>

Just ignore Vanny. He wants to be a cop or net-nanny but no one will hire
him. Info about WinWorld is welcome here.

[DrSheld...@bazingastate.com]

VanguardLH <V...@nguard.LH> wrote in news:l5to1l$6i1$1...@dont-email.me:

In theory you're correct. However, none of those programs are supported any
longer and most people wouldn't even want to bother with it. The only users
who would have any desire for it are enthusiasts such as us and other techies
who post on computer forums and want to play around with virtual boxes or
multi-boot systems.

I know that even before I learned Lotus 123, I started with a program called C-Calc in 1987
on an old DEC minicomputer network,before converting over to Excel and now
Libre Office. Didn't IBM offer a version of Lotus 123 for free in the free
Lotus Symphony suite before they discontinued it and gave the code to Apache
Open Office? Lotus Symphony once cost around $500.

I wonder if Corel really cares that old versions of Wordperfect are up there.
To use them, you have to have an operating system installed that's no longer
supported, and a compute that's probably as old as the hills.

In essence, they have the history of operating systems on that site, and
for all we know it may be a useful tool for educators who would otherwise
have no access to them.

Btw, Winworld seems to be in competition with this site for archaic software,
although this one specializes in Beta versions.

http://www.betaarchive.com/

The photo gallery is pretty cool. Who can ever forget this monstrosity
of an operating system?

http://www.betaarchive.com/screenshots/Millennium%20Build%202348/setup_02.PNG


Do you really think MS still cares about this program? I think they would like
to forget they ever released it!

http://www.betaarchive.com/screenshots/popup.php?file=./Millennium Build 2348/setup_24_first_boot.PNG

[VanguardLH]

DrSheldonCooper wrote:

> In theory you're correct. However, none of those programs are supported any

> longer ...

Lack of support does not obviate ownership.

> and most people wouldn't even want to bother with it. The only users
> who would have any desire for it are enthusiasts such as us and other
> techies who post on computer forums and want to play around with
> virtual boxes or multi-boot systems.

Still not an excuse for piracy. The inconvenience in the lack of having
something is inconvenient is not cause to steal it.

That you have not used something for many years sitting in your attic
doesn't grant permission to someone else to steal it. That they have a
use for it doesn't mean you no longer own it.

> I know that even before I learned Lotus 123,

IBM ceded ownership of Lotus to the Apache Software Foundation who
distributes their wares for free. I don't know if IBM ceded ownership
of all versions and licenses for old and new versions. Microsoft has
not ceded ownership for any of their software.

> I wonder if Corel really cares that old versions of Wordperfect are up there.

That stealing occurs does not mean it is financially prudent to pursue
the thieves or any particular source. WinWorld[PC] is just one of many
sites proliferating pirated software under the guise that "abandoned"
(by their definition, not by the software owner) means no ownership.
They are part of the "Abandonware Ring" of sites.

> To use them, you have to have an operating system installed that's no longer
> supported, and a compute that's probably as old as the hills.

I don't see any requirement that the hardware must be as old as the last
date of official distribution of the professed abandoned software. In
fact, your example of using a virtual machine to run the old OS as a
guest proves otherwise.

"No longer supported" does not legally circumcise ownership.

> Do you really think MS still cares about this program? I think they
> would like to forget they ever released it!

Disinterest also does not obviate ownership.

They (Microsoft and other owners) let the BSA (The Software Alliance)
handle many anti-piracy cases. Remember that the total value of all
illegal copies distributed by a source is the amount claimed in a
lawsuit, not just the copy that you got. The BSA is a trade group out
to make money from and punish piraters beyond the interest of their
member companies they protect. It is very unlikely they (BSA, IBM,
Microsoft, Symantec, etc) will go after individual thieves rather than
the much higher-volume sources. Kill the source, starve the thieves.

[Jeffrey Needle]

Thanks! I've actually been looking for some of these old apps. What a great find!

[Flasherly]

On Tue, 12 Nov 2013 11:20:53 -0600, VanguardLH <V...@nguard.LH> wrote:

>Abandoned does NOT equate to no longer owned. Microsoft, IBM, and other
>authors still own all their old software whether or not they choose to
>continue supporting or distributing it. Same for any other author.

There's legislature floating around for taxing the laggards sitting on
a bloat of wholesale holdings in perpetuity through disuse among
extant copyrights. A core opposition I doubt wouldn't want see a
residual to potential flushed down the same sewer line of inspiration
they draw for a likes of broadcast channels catering solely to "as
seen on teevee" advertising.

Of course international law, since there isn't one, shifts its right
upon the country of origin. In effect over WWW distributional means,
then, one less based on subsequent common engagement of practice or
interpretive impingement, than an onus actual enforcement and
censorship inculcate.

[Zak Hipp]

What a DOS trip down memory lane. If you used mouse.com in autoexec.bat instead of mouse.sys in config.sys you could
gain an extra kB or three if you tweaked the loading order:

"He can get 625!"
"I'm not sure what mine is"
"Run mem"... "What!! 628!"
"Is that good? :)"

Every extra kB a badge of honour.

I was surprised at how much of that stuff I've played with.

I won't use the site, but the revived memories were great.


Zak Hipp

[Shadow]

On Tue, 12 Nov 2013 22:21:35 +0000, Zak Hipp <Z...@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

Ever used QEMM386 ?
Even then you sometimes needed to twiddle, and sometimes play
games with no sound, because the audio drivers were too big.....
;)
[]'s
--
Don't be evil - Google 2004
We have a new policy - Google 2012

[JJ]

On Tue, 12 Nov 2013 13:20:00 +0000 (UTC), DrSheld...@bazingstate.com
wrote:

Wow, very nice! Although it's not actually abandonware, I've been looking
for vetusware alternative since it's gone caput. Thanks. :)

BTW, for sites like these (open directories), use this Explorer-like browser
UserScript. Made and optimized for Opera (not the Chrome crap), and tested
with Firefox.

http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/180497

Screenshot:

http://s3.amazonaws.com/uso_ss/23762/large.png

[Craig]

Do what you want, it's alt* after all. But Vanguard's right. This was
never intended as a forum for pirated s/w, warez and the like.

--
-Craig

[John Corliss]

JoeBro wrote:

VanguardLH is correct. This *isn't* a warez or piracy newsgroup, it's
for the discussion of freeware and Warez isn't freeware.

From the website in question:

"Our collection includes abandonware operating systems (like Windows 3.1
or 95)"

I can assure you, Microsoft does NOT consider those Windows versions to
be abandonware.

--
John Corliss BS206. No ad, CD, commercial, cripple, demo, nag, share,
spy, time-limited, trial or web wares, OR warez for me, please: just
freeware -which I define as legally obtainable, local install computer
programs that can be used indefinitely at no cost, monetary or otherwise.

[Zak Hipp]

On 13/11/2013 00:35, Shadow wrote:
> On Tue, 12 Nov 2013 22:21:35 +0000, Zak Hipp <Z...@invalid.invalid>
> wrote:
>
>>

>> What a DOS trip down memory lane. ...

>
> Ever used QEMM386 ?
> Even then you sometimes needed to twiddle, and sometimes play
> games with no sound, because the audio drivers were too big.....
> ;)
> []'s

Back in the day when Microsoft had "These disks are not copy protected" printed on the side of the box, I had no concept
of programmers toiling for months to make a living existed; only big business. I was one of the thousands and thousands
of trouble-shooters that pushed Microsoft to dominance. Had a short stint with VAX/OpenVMS (basically machine minding)
and the odd Novell NetWare installation, even hired by a team of Super-Geeks to look after the Novell networks at a
couple of buildings used by an American ISP (Diamond Cable), converting Novell to Microsoft and my prowess with an
oscilloscope, soldering iron and screwdriver. They were the true high-end UNIX type gurus that didn't realise before it
was too late that someone of the next generation, like me but at a much higher level, should have been hired at least 18
months before, with me following on 6 months later. Diamond Cable announcing 90 day payments killed them.

Now back on the road again with a corpus of non-corporate type high-end "jack of all trades" street technicians. We
exchanged information, utilities and programs, at no cost, or sold or given to anyone else; pirated software was
everywhere and we grabbed anything free that would help us. We weren't friends, but we had to know the software out
there. Corporate entities had no interest and totally absent in the areas we operated. We had nothing to do with each
other, each doing our own thing. I was into networks and had my own networks to look after. If you wanted to go up a
level and team up with another skilled enough to work with in this game, they'd just run off and get their own set of
networks and hone their own way of doing things. There was just too much work out there and so few of us. Networking in
this arena wasn't like it is today; you built the machines yourself (waiting for "return to manufacturer" was not an
option), cabling them, configure them, write databases, teach them how to use it; whatever was needed that convinced
them to buy the hardware and software needed to provide high end infrastructure and services, only available to the
big-boys, that you can provide for them at an affordable price. :) You had to know hardware, have your own network and
know how to do things with the software running on it.

I had nearly everything back in the day.

My memory of the main period (DOS 3.3 to 6.22) blurs into one experience. I did look at QEMM386, there was a couple of
them at the time, but I didn't use them. I can't remember loading sound drivers for DOS. All I remember doing is writing
the entry in autoexec; something like Blaster=I5 D1 D5 T4 and games like Doom would just send the stream to it. I just
can't remember. I didn't use sound on a computer back then; except for Doom and Heretic.

I just felt like rambling.


Zak Hipp

[Shadow]

On Wed, 13 Nov 2013 23:58:05 +0000, Zak Hipp <Z...@invalid.invalid>
wrote:

QEMM386 was a memory optimizer from Quarterdeck. DOS 6.0 came with an
utility called memmaker. QEMM386 was better.

> I didn't use sound on a computer back then; except for Doom and Heretic.

Suicide without sound

>I just felt like rambling.

OnT with the OT flag :)
Never wrote your own Doom maps ?
I have a copy installed somewhere on this PC.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/doomlegacy

You can play it in DOSBox.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/dosbox

Not more than once a year. You will get bored.

[Zak Hipp]

On 14/11/2013 01:01, Shadow wrote:
> On Wed, 13 Nov 2013 23:58:05 +0000, Zak Hipp <Z...@invalid.invalid>
> wrote:
>
> QEMM386 was a memory optimizer from Quarterdeck. DOS 6.0 came with an
> utility called memmaker. QEMM386 was better.

I did a stint in a computer custom build/repair shop and pushed out about 500 or so custom builds. Over time, you got to
know what components and set-ups were reliable by the returns you had to sort out. You soon stop using fancy stuff if
reliability is the goal. This machine is from the end of that era.

FUJITSU MPE3204AT : 20.4 GB - 104967 running hours (12 years)
WDC WD1200BB-00CAA1 : 120.0 GB - 92761 running hours (10.6 years)

This machine is a bit older than the drives. A GigaByte BX2000+ with AGP, PCI and ISA where my Soundblaster sound card
sits with a Yamaha DB50-XG Daughter-board slapped on the side.

I was into Intranets where stability is king.

>> I didn't use sound on a computer back then; except for Doom and Heretic.
>
> Suicide without sound

I came from an Engineering/Electronics background. Its the Machines.

>> I just felt like rambling.
>
> OnT with the OT flag :)
> Never wrote your own Doom maps ?

A couple, but so I'd done it.

> I have a copy installed somewhere on this PC.
>
> http://sourceforge.net/projects/doomlegacy
>
> You can play it in DOSBox.
>
> http://sourceforge.net/projects/dosbox
>
> Not more than once a year. You will get bored.
> []'s

That's so yesterday :)

Doomsday Engine:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/deng/


Zak Hipp

[Shadow]

On Thu, 14 Nov 2013 21:33:36 +0000, Zak Hipp <Z...@invalid.invalid>

wrote:

>On 14/11/2013 01:01, Shadow wrote:
>> On Wed, 13 Nov 2013 23:58:05 +0000, Zak Hipp <Z...@invalid.invalid>
>> wrote:
>>
>> QEMM386 was a memory optimizer from Quarterdeck. DOS 6.0 came with an
>> utility called memmaker. QEMM386 was better.
>
>I did a stint in a computer custom build/repair shop and pushed out about 500 or so custom builds. Over time, you got to
>know what components and set-ups were reliable by the returns you had to sort out. You soon stop using fancy stuff if
>reliability is the goal. This machine is from the end of that era.
>
>FUJITSU MPE3204AT : 20.4 GB - 104967 running hours (12 years)
>WDC WD1200BB-00CAA1 : 120.0 GB - 92761 running hours (10.6 years)
>
>This machine is a bit older than the drives. A GigaByte BX2000+ with AGP, PCI and ISA where my Soundblaster sound card
>sits with a Yamaha DB50-XG Daughter-board slapped on the side.
>
>I was into Intranets where stability is king.

I build my own since 1994. I used to go on smuggling trips to
Paraguay to buy the components. Dangerous, I know a few people that
died on those trips.
My mother still uses an ASUS TX 97 with Win 98 for email on a
dialup. (When she remembers how to use it). Eudora 3 rulez. The drive
went "clunk" last year, so I replaced it with a more modern Quantum
4Gb. Tons of space now. And it scares the s*&t out of malware.
>>
>> http://sourceforge.net/projects/doomlegacy

>>
>That's so yesterday :)
>
>Doomsday Engine:
>http://sourceforge.net/projects/deng/
>

It says something about "modern hardware". Hum. But there are
some versions from 2005. I might try it.
;)

[Zak Hipp]

On 14/11/2013 23:10, Shadow wrote:
> On Thu, 14 Nov 2013 21:33:36 +0000, Zak Hipp <Z...@invalid.invalid>
> wrote:
>
>> On 14/11/2013 01:01, Shadow wrote:
>>> On Wed, 13 Nov 2013 23:58:05 +0000, Zak Hipp <Z...@invalid.invalid>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> QEMM386 was a memory optimizer from Quarterdeck. DOS 6.0 came with an
>>> utility called memmaker. QEMM386 was better.

[snip]

>> This machine is a bit older than the drives. A GigaByte BX2000+

[snip]

> I build my own since 1994. I used to go on smuggling trips to
> Paraguay to buy the components. Dangerous, I know a few people that
> died on those trips.
> My mother still uses an ASUS TX 97 with Win 98 for email on a
> dialup. (When she remembers how to use it). Eudora 3 rulez. The drive
> went "clunk" last year, so I replaced it with a more modern Quantum
> 4Gb. Tons of space now. And it scares the s*&t out of malware.
>

> It says something about "modern hardware". Hum. But there are
> some versions from 2005. I might try it.
> ;)
> []'s

We don't know we're alive over here.

That reminds me. I was telling Flasherly how I became fascinated with sound after perforating an ear drum. It was an
experience and a half; even so, I can't begin to imagine the "little bones" chewing beetle.


Zak Hipp

[John Corliss]

Shadow wrote:
> Zak Hipp wrote:
>> Shadow wrote:

Home page is here:

http://www.dengine.net

I used to use it. Made Doom and Heretic way better, far more fun. Helped
Hexen, but there were few 3D models for it at the time. Don't know if
that's changed.

[Shadow]

On Thu, 14 Nov 2013 23:46:06 -0800, John Corliss <q34w...@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>>> Doomsday Engine: http://sourceforge.net/projects/deng/
>>
>> It says something about "modern hardware". Hum. But there are
>> some versions from 2005. I might try it.
>> ;)
>
>Home page is here:
>
>http://www.dengine.net
>
>I used to use it. Made Doom and Heretic way better, far more fun. Helped

>Hexen ...........

I don't think anything could help Hexen. Doom was quick fun,
Heretic was fun, but a bit drawn out, Hexen was drawn out, no fun at
all. IMHO.

[brenn...@gmail.com]

i remember when winworld had everything up to windows vista and yes i have used winworld before so i can use it for my virtual machine it is very good even with the update that got rid of some of the OS