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Problems in Computer Conservation

Posted by michael on from the don't-make-em-like-they-used-to dept.

sobachatina writes "The Computer museum at The University of Amsterdam has an interesting page with examples of the problems that they run into maintaining 20+ year old hardware such as rubber rollers from card readers melting or mold growing inside CRT terminals.I hate it when I get mold growing inside my monitor!"

10 of 256 comments (clear)

  1. No moldy monitors @home by tcd004 · · Score: 4, Funny

    This has never been a problem for the folks down at Not@Home cable internet servce.

    Just check out their state-of-the-art equipment!

    tcd004

  2. Mold? That's nothing. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I work as tech support, and the other day I opened up a computer case. I thought the dust bunny in there the size of my fist was a rat at first and figured it was about to jump out and bite me.

  3. And with all the porn people look at today... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The problems for future computers are going to be worse! Ewwwww!

    1. Re:And with all the porn people look at today... by iggymanz · · Score: 4, Funny

      and 10,000 years from now, they'll be able to clone ugly fat smart male nerds from DNA residue found in keyboards, mice, mouse pads, and the underside of workstation desks.

  4. Mold, nothin'! by Satan's+Minion+666 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm fairly certain that enough particles have wafted in for some really nice little pot trees to be growing in my CPU by now...

    --
    I am Law! You are Crime!
  5. Maybe... by craenor · · Score: 4, Funny

    They should stop running their webservers on the antique computers. Then they would last longer...and maybe they wouldn't be /.'d already.

  6. Re:You think mold is a problem? by ObviousGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've heard that some laptops are buggy.

    *commence rotten tomato barrage*

    --
    I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
  7. Keyboards by big_groo · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've solved my 'dirty keyboard' syndrome by purchasing black ones.

    I used to put 'em through the dishwasher.

    Works like a charm.

    (just remember to remove the circuitry, m'kay?)

  8. Re:Hermetically sealed vacuum containers by Phexro · · Score: 4, Funny

    Then, seal the display case inside a solid block of concrete, and bury it no less than three miles under the surface of the earth. With these precautions, you can overcome the risk of exposing the equipment to harmful substances, including water, air, light, or observation.

    Since there is no conclusive evidence that exposing decrepit hardware to large quantities of dark is harmful in any way, the systems should last for a few million years, easy. Just don't bury them near the edge of a continental plate.

  9. Re:Mold? That's nothing. by ejaw5 · · Score: 4, Funny

    sounds like the hampster powering the computer fell off it's wheel.

    --

    $cat /dev/random > Sig