You can buy copies of Win 98 on ebay.  I suspect that you would not be the
first person in the world to sell or give away a computer with an OS and
probably all the software still on the hard drive.  If your poor neighbors
don't go into the registry to change the ownership and registration of the
OS, it will still show on the Internet as yours.  The problem would come if
they registered something in their own name on the Inet.  If you wipe it
clean the kid won't be able to use it since you say he/she can't afford an
OS.  If you're in a generous mood go to eBay and buy the kid a Win 98 OS,
install it, and then give him/her the computer.  There are lots of
organizations that accept old compys to either recycle or give them to
organizations that teach underprivileged kids how to use them.  Do a google
search for these organizations at www.google.com.

If you give it to them with an OS, a part may fail, but that happens on
brand new computers or with brand new parts.  They can always fix it or
donate it since it cost them zero.  Maybe you can fix it for them.  You are
not giving them a lemon if it has run for many years 24 hours a day.

I guess my problem follows on from the recent PacBell/NEC discussion.

The old Packard Bell P133 clunker I'm using to write this has run 24/7
ever since it was a bargain buy at the time of 200MMX? introduction.
Apart from a new fan, it hasn't stopped.

I'm in the process of building a new system to better suit my needs, and
I would like to give this one to the refugee family next door so that
their children have some chance of being computer literate at an early
age.

Several issues arise,
1/ As they certainly can't afford to buy an original WinMe, and W98 is
now basically unavailable, I will probably wipe and reformat the HDD
using my legitimate copy of W98SE.
The situation then arises that I have one copy on this desktop,
eventually another on the new system, one on my laptop and another on my
computer which might be next door !   (or might not be)    Is this
piracy ? or has MicroShaft shot itself in the foot again ?

2/  My other worry is hardware related. I don't want to give them a
lemon. What has worked well for me, may not in another situation. I'm
aware that Packard Bell has been described at times as Packard Hell.
Never mind, -  my concern is that if any single part fails, - then the
whole system is shot.
'It's not worth trying to fix'  is my first thought.

I guess my real question is ........is it worthwhile?
Or is there an organisation dedicated to re-cycling old computers who I
can refer to?

Comments and suggestions gratefully received,

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