Glossary
Reference
Here you will find short explanations of words that come up again and again when people talk about old hardware, from motherboard to re-release. The definitions are deliberately brief: they help you read the guide's articles and are not meant to be an electronics textbook.
Knowing the name of a part is already half of staying safe. Once you understand that you are looking at a CRT, your hand stops reaching for the screwdriver.
Hardware
- Motherboard
- The main circuit board of a computer, which the processor, memory, expansion cards and drives connect to. It is the first thing to inspect before powering on an old machine.
- Capacitor
- A component that stores and releases electrical charge. Over time some capacitors dry out, bulge or leak, and this is one of the most common causes of failure in old hardware.
- Clock battery
- A small flat battery on the motherboard that keeps the time and settings while the computer is off. An old battery can leak, so it is removed during inspection.
- Power supply
- The metal box that converts wall power into what the computer needs. A dangerous charge remains inside even after it is unplugged, so it should not be opened.
- CRT
- The large glass tube in old monitors and TVs that creates the picture. It runs at very high voltage and holds it for a long time, which is why such monitors are never opened.
Media
- Floppy disk
- A flexible magnetic disk in a plastic shell. It is vulnerable to magnets, moisture, dust and bending, and over time the data on it can start to fade.
- CD
- A plastic disc whose data is read by a laser. It doesn't like scratches, sunlight or heat; hold it by the edges without touching the data side.
- Hard drive
- A storage device with spinning platters inside a sealed case. It handles bumps and shaking poorly, especially while running, and with age it may start making noise or producing errors.
- Disk image
- A file that holds the complete contents of a disc or floppy. Making images of your own media for a personal archive is handy; distributing other people's images without permission is not allowed.
Software
- Operating system
- The core program that runs the computer and launches all the others. It can often give you a rough idea of how old a machine is.
- Emulator
- A program that imitates another computer or console on a modern device. It is legal in itself, but you should only run legal copies on it.
- License
- Permission from the rights holder to use a program or game under certain conditions. Buying a boxed disc once meant getting exactly that kind of license.
- Re-release
- An official new release of an old game or program, often adapted for modern devices. The simplest legal way to play the classics again.
Where these words come in handy
- How-to
A step-by-step article on gently cleaning an old computer, plus the article catalogue.
- Q&A
Short answers about first power-on, storage, safety and legal ways to play old games.
- Sections
Four guide topics: inspection and startup, safety, media and data, history and emulation.
- Reading lists
Reading paths: a retro corner at home, an old computer with your kids, and what to do with unwanted gear.
Read next
Sources
- Reference materials on the history of personal computers
- Safety rules for working with electrical equipment
The information is current as of the date this page was prepared. Old hardware was built in very different ways, so every tip here is general: if a device behaves strangely, stop and ask someone experienced instead of carrying on by guesswork.