Old programmers never die, they just log out, as the joke goes. But old software does die. And it goes to the software graveyard without proper observance or ceremony. Like old rusty cars that sit in fields, long abandoned, long forgotten, old software is useless. I can say with certainty, I will never install DOS from my set of floppy disks. Nor will I ever again use Windows 95 on a computer I own.
In a back bedroom, in a closet, I have a CD case filled with operating systems, programs and utilities, all useless. Anyone who has been using a computer for the last decade has either stored all this stuff somewhere or pitched it. Donating software is not an option in most cases. Due to licensing issues (are you listening Microsoft?) it is way to hard to LEGALLY give it away. Besides, who wants copies of Windows 95?
I have not taken account of exactly how much old software I have. Some of it is stored in boxes, some in CD cases and some piled in a storage shed in the back yard. A rough estimate would be about 100 CDs and maybe 100 floppies. When the weather is warmer, I’ll smash most of these and send them to the software heaven. Or, as I think of certain programs that caused me hours of frustration, hell.
Several things bother me about this. First, this represents a lot of money spent over the years to keep me current with the software upgrades. What a shame to just throw it all in the trash. Then there is the feeling that it still has some value to someone, somewhere. My research tells me it doesn’t. There is no need for a copy of Norton’s Antivirus 1995, or that damned expensive Dragon Speak circa 1999.
I worked in IT, owned a company and did consulting work for more than 10 years. During that time I collected boxes and boxes of hardware parts, now nearly all useless. Just as floppy disks have gone the way of outdated software, so has most everthing else 10 years old. Rear connectors for example, modems and 2GB hard-drives, special networking devices, all worthless.
What will be in my closets and throwaway boxes in 2020? I can say with a degree of certainty, not much. With cloud computing, downloading software and more portable devices, well, the times they are a changin’.
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Cloud Computing??? Do I admit I'm still using the same hard drive I purchased 7.5 years ago? My “system administrator” (brother in law) is amazed by it. Though he's the reason – he's saved it from certain destruction at least 4 times. :)
I hope you have a backup plan. :-)
You are not alone. Most people I know are content to use whatever they have. Hey, I'm a geeky IT guy, fanatical about old hardware. Good luck with that 7.5 year old HD. My condolences to your brother in law. – Kidding, just kidding!
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