"N Cook" wrote in :

CheetahHugger wrote in message
m...
Complicated one, let's say i have a need to keep certain programs/data
in running order for the next 50 years.
Don't discuss upgrading, converting ect, it's not applicable in this
situation as the actual structure hard and software have to match each
other and you cannot emulate.
I see a lot of survivors among early PIII slot 1 machines, may sound
strange but i have seen quite a lot of those that are still in use and
work just fine.
So if i need a computer for the following 50 years based on either PII
PIII PIV or similar (AMD/CYRIX...) (isn't that called I865
architecture) what machines/brands of components i would source that
could last that long, storing units for spares is possible until
certain level but i think aging on stored components could be a problem
as well sudden shoch when becoming operational again?
Or am i paranoia and should just get myself a batch of PIII machones
from a recycler and strip them down, pack and vacuum seal the parts and
stock them?

Do NOT vacuum seal them!

That will draw out any volatile or semi volatile materials in any
components.

You probably should seal them with 1 or 1.5 atmospheres of DRY nitrogen.

Even then, some plastics will out gas plasticizers over time and may
crumble.


I was thinking of aquiring a few older generation workstations as i
assume those ones were still built to proper industrial specs.
Any suggestions?

Cheetah


"have you counted your spots today?"

No one has considered the software in this thread.
The ferrite material , whether on a hard disc platten, floppy or tape
streamer tape can debond from the backing.
With optical media the code carying metal surface can oxidise/ part
company from the plastic media,

Again slightly above atmospheric pressure, a dry, inert gas such as
nitrogen, will give the best protection.

Unless anyone knows of the ideal storage media that is incorruptible, is
this the best procedure ?
Store the original media plus copies on perhaps more futureproof media
in an evacuated container. Then another repeat of that collection at
another site , in case of fire or flood at one site.
Is long term optical storage more reliable as far as it cannot
spontaneously change magnetic state by coalescence of neighbouring
magnetic poles or whatever the corrupting process is.

--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/









--
bz 73 de N5BZ k

please pardon my infinite ignorance, the set-of-things-I-do-not-know is an
infinite set.

remove ch100-5 to avoid spam trap