How long can a computer continue to work?

Question

I have a Laptop from the late 90s it is a Toshiba Satellite Pro 4200 Series it was previously used as an office computer. My dad had received it from my uncle who was the previous owner in 2004/2005 I assume my uncle used it for work for at least 6 years. It was running windows 2000 when we got it, but we later downgraded to Windows 98se due to comparability and to prevent slow downs.

The computer is now considered out dated as you would expect and it has been drained of it's practical usefulness. However my question stems deeper than the computer being just something to work on and my curiosity is how long can this computer continue to work and play games and operate as it should?

The computer is about 20 years old it came out when Windows 98 and Windows ME was popular which is what the computer was designed to work with.

The computer is considerably much more reliable compared to modern computers I've used which tend to last until their hard drive fails.

This computer on the other hand is by comparison a much more reliable system in and of the fact that it is the only computer I have owned that hasn't yet died.

My question is how long can this computer continue to function as it was intended?

Note: I don't care about modern functions since I I don't want to use this computer for that, it just isn't capable, I use it simply to play old games I had and DOS games.

Currently, the computer I'm writing this on and the computer I work with is a Windows 8.1 Dell Inspiron 15.

keerok · Accepted Answer

"More reliable." I agree 100% on that!

If the laptop still functions then good for you. Being outdated doesn't mean end of life. Functionality-wise, it's good. If you stick to your old programs, never have to open new file formats, and don't connect to the internet you may survive with this one. Your main problem would be printing. Connecting new printers will pose a problem and if you have the old one, ink would be the problem.

daisy · Answer

YES if it is in good condition to work .. then you should continue with it.

rbkgolfshop · Answer

a lifetime.  I have been using Desktop PC for almost 20 years since college years.   When it's broken, usually the Power supply.   Buy a new power supply and it will work again.   Laptop has a shorter lifespan due to the computer parts are made for a shorter use.  Most laptop only can be used for 2 hours a day.  If you use it longer on a day, the shorter the lifespan, probably only 2 years.....

The_Doc_Man · Answer

In practical terms, it will die for good when the boot drive dies.  My wife's machine lasted for 14 years before I had to replace it this year.  Fortunately, I had a week-old backup so it wasn't a total disaster.  She lost a few personal files that she had created since the backup.

At the time that the boot drive dies, a really old computer probably should be discarded.  The reason is simple.  Machines from the Win98 era were built on a 32-bit internal addressing paradigm and would not be able to handle more than 4 GB of RAM.  Modern versions of operating systems will work better if they can have 6 or 8 GB of RAM because of advances in memory management hardware and techniques.  So you would not be able to just repair the hard drive and keep using the box.

? · Answer

useless novelty you have

~Aizen

Anonymous · Answer

It depends, I don't think there's really  a clear answer. Parts can fail, hard drive can be replaced if it fails and fixed. It certainly helps if you take good care of it and remove dust regularly.

Anonymous · Answer

just keep it away from moist and wet environments. also keep away from where it could possibly collect dirt and dust ,then will work for a lifetime plus

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How long can a computer continue to work?

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