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Pete
10-06-2002, 12:11 PM
It might be useful if the listings for old versions of programs included a description that included system requirements. For instance, are any of the older versions of IE compatable with Win 3.1?



Last edited by Pete at Oct 6 2002, 12:12 PM

OldVersion.com Admin
10-06-2002, 12:14 PM
We've thought about it, but our question is whether you would like us to post only a few old versions once in a while while reviewing them or do what we wanted this new system to do for us which is expand our collection quickly and painlessly. We could possibly do that, but it would be harder for us to update as quickly as we plan to from now on.

Timeless516
10-28-2002, 11:45 AM
I think it would be helpful if before a Download begins the MINIMUM System requrements are displayed.
Users are sometimes looking to upgrade but not to the NEWEST version and knowing the MINIMUM requirements prior to download can be critical...

Batty
11-06-2002, 04:24 PM
I can completely understand that.

I do, however, like to know the system requirements of an application before I download it, so that I don't have to find out the hard way (having an application failure or computer crash :blink: )

I suggest making a standard template table for the layout of system requirements so that you can just copy&paste, and then "fill-in-the-blanks" as you need to.

Example:


MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Application Version: 1.0
Processor: 166MHz or higher
RAM: 32 MB RAM or higher
OS: Windows 95/98/ME
Hard Disk Space: 5 MB Space, 8 for install
Video/Monitor: 640X480 resolution at 256 Colours
Sound: Optional
Internet Connection: 28.8 K or faster


Those are generally the system requirements I look for when downloading or purchasing a piece of softare.

OldVersion.com Admin
11-06-2002, 04:42 PM
Yeah, but then we would still have to find out the information for each seperate old version which can take hours. It takes us long enough to find the programs, rather the system requirements - and we do not the resources to test it.

We try to provide as much information as we can, but our main purpose is to archive the software - we add the software in batches of many to keep our archive growing as much as we can accomplish as that is our ultimate goal.

Any other tips on how we can implement that would be considered.

Thanks.

SSS
12-07-2002, 10:33 AM
Pete, i think that Internet Explorer 2.0 and 1.0 would be compatible with Windows 3.1.

SSS
01-02-2003, 11:31 AM
The minimum requirements should be at the page that you are downloading a program from.

BlueKnight
01-24-2003, 02:48 AM
He is right i tried to downgrade to msn 4.7
but it says i cant run it cause im not running windows xp

:/ :(

Steve 195527
02-25-2003, 09:15 AM
Its just as easy for us after downloading a program to find out system requirements for that one app as it is for the guys running old version.com.If anybody who downloads an application they want and cannot be bothered to researching the system requirements of one or two programs they download why should they expect the people running this FREE site to spen considerable time researching every download posted and after all a crash isn't the end of the world if your trying a program you really need/want

igor
02-28-2003, 01:41 AM
I think we can all agree that posting system requirements would be a great idea. However, at this point, it is not something that we can do. This is a very time-consuming task. More importantly, it is usually impossible to find system requirements for old versions. When you find a file, you can always check the version of the program by installing it, but perhaps the only reliable way to find system requirements is by finding them in the readme file. Sometimes they can be found there.

Another point to remember is that system requirements are not a great way to evaluate the program's complexity. Each software maker has its own rules on how it calculates the minimum system requirements. Just because your system exceeds them does not mean the program will run flawlessly.

All hope is not lost. We listen to your suggestions. This feature may be added on at a later time.

- Igor

helpful
04-01-2003, 07:46 AM
IE2 and IE3 will work with win3.1, but there is also a 16bit version of IE5 that will work and offers some java compatability although best to disable it if running on a pre pentium computer.

lightsup55
04-01-2003, 12:47 PM
Originally posted by helpful@Apr 1 2003, 08:46 AM
IE2 and IE3 will work with win3.1, but there is also a 16bit version of IE5 that will work and offers some java compatability although best to disable it if running on a pre pentium computer.
If anyone wants them, you'll find them here (http://browsers.evolt.org/?ie/).

patrick
04-06-2003, 12:23 PM
hey, nice website you guys have here. i just have one suggestion. Maybe someone knowledgeable could write descriptions in the program section to describe the strengths of each version or at least to highlight the "editor's pick" version. As it is, i encounter a long list with no information when each version came out, whether the versions are compatible with my OS, and whether certain versions have the functionality i'm looking for. to determine these i have to install them for trial-and-error, and we all know that heavy un/installing is not friendly to MS Windows.

just a friendly suggestion.

Alan
05-03-2003, 02:11 AM
Yeah, but then we would still have to find out the information for each seperate old version which can take hours...

Any other tips on how we can implement that would be considered.

I suggest let the users contribute that info. Many software sites have links to so people can add comments. At the moment on each app's download page you have a link to "Discuss xxx", but they all lead to the same "http://www.oldversion.com/talk" top level. If you created a specific forum for each app and linked it from there, people could quickly go there. If you felt up to it, you could review these comments and summarise on the download page.

cRaZy DuTcHmAn
08-17-2003, 08:22 PM
Hi there,

Great initiative you have. I was looking for an old version of Zonealarm and found it here. Perfect.

One question comes to mind though.

Wouldn't it be handy to show at each version you have which OS it will function correctly on?

Some people might not know which version to pick for for instance win95.

Thanks in advance.
And I will see if I have some old software which you might find usefull

Ciao for now

mail2.the.crazydutchman@spamgourmet.com

locustfurnace
08-17-2003, 08:44 PM
Your message has been discussed before on this board.
http://www.oldversion.com/talk/index.php?a...?act=ST&f=5&t=7 (http://www.oldversion.com/talk/index.php?act=ST&f=5&t=7)
http://www.oldversion.com/talk/index.php?a...ct=ST&f=5&t=734 (http://www.oldversion.com/talk/index.php?act=ST&f=5&t=734)
The problem with figuring out which program works with which OS, is that since they are older software titles, it will be harder to locate the requirements for each version, and there really is not that much variance in the smaller updates to note those requirements.

Figuring out 400 title requirements would be a task in itself. PLUS, it would require testing them on each version of windows. ( Since it is not always noted what the requirements are.)

Figuring out what works on your PC will mostly be left to the downloader, they are not coming to this site to discover new titles, as much as to go back to a version they had once used, and prefer. So they know it worked on their computer and want to use it again.

cRaZy DuTcHmAn
08-19-2003, 11:38 AM
Originally posted by locustfurnace@Aug 17 2003, 08:44 PM
"Your message has been discussed before on this board.
The problem with figuring out which program works with which OS, is that since they are older software titles, it will be harder to locate the requirements for each version, and there really is not that much variance in the smaller updates to note those requirements."
Point Taken. True indeed. It's a hell of a job and I therefor can understand why you don't do it.

Still IF you know it works on a specific OS for shure because you used it yourself or someone else knows, it would be handy (if that is not too much work) to put it there. So no research needed. Just commen knowledge.

locustfurnace
08-19-2003, 06:41 PM
Originally posted by cRaZy DuTcHmAn@Aug 19 2003, 11:38 AM
Still IF you know it works on a specific OS for shure because you used it yourself or someone else knows, it would be handy (if that is not too much work) to put it there. So no research needed. Just commen knowledge.
Yes, the problem lies here. I install ABC program, and it works fine on my system. So i say, this works well on Win 9x, 256RAM....etc.
Then Someone else downloads it and it doesnt work on their system. Becasue they either have a conflicting app which doesnt work well with ABC program. They say the program does not work under the same requirements which i just stated it does work on.
So it would give alittle, alittle help for someone, but in the end, it really still depends on your system.

It might be good if everyone who downloaded apps and ran them and had success to submit a ticket on working apps and on non working apps success, with system info.

But I still believe those who are looking for apps, have either a need for an older app due to previous useage of app. I don't think people come to OldVersion to find "new" apps to try on their system, This is not Cnet, or Tucows. The purpose is to get back apps people preferred using, have used, and want once again since the newest app does not fit their bill.

Requirements would be a good idea, but most likely very unwarranted for the average person who lands on this site looking for an old app.

Red
12-21-2003, 08:26 PM
First off, congrats on a great and very usefull site. As your "mission statement" implies, many of us do not have 'state of the art' computers that can run the latest versions of software. It would therefor be useful if basic system requirments could be listed against the software versions available on this site, ie "requires Pentium 100 + 16M RAM....." etc. This would assist in choosing the right version of software compatable to your computer.

locustfurnace
12-21-2003, 08:52 PM
please search the forum for past posting that are of the same topic, this topic has been discussed several times. By searching the past postings you will find many explainations to this question.

SSS
12-21-2003, 10:17 PM
Here's one topic I found that discusses about this very same thing:

http://www.oldversion.com/talk/index.php?a...em+requirements (http://www.oldversion.com/talk/index.php?act=ST&f=5&t=7&hl=system+requirements)

Here's what ABlix said:

Yeah, but then we would still have to find out the information for each seperate old version which can take hours. It takes us long enough to find the programs, rather the system requirements - and we do not the resources to test it.

helper
02-28-2005, 12:59 AM
I think many people want to use older software on newer PCs.

This contrasts with those who may want to use older versions on older hardware. Often, newer software will not work on those PCs.

Consequently, it would be most helpful to have your web site indicate the minimum requirements. This should include (a) CPU speed, (B) CPU type, such as Pentium I, II, III, IV or Celeron, © Windows version, if applicable.

For instance, Windows 95 lacks certain abilities compared to Windows 98. In some instances this is important, other times it is not. Sometimes the ".NET" component is required.

Since the manufacturer's web site may no longer or may SOON no longer have this information, it would be best to have it available on your web site. As the software gets older, the manufacturer may choose to delete it's information from their web site.

Goslow
02-28-2005, 02:14 AM
System Requirments (http://www.oldversion.com/talk/index.php?act=ST&f=5&t=1705) works in all forums

oceanmaiden
05-14-2005, 07:54 AM
Please tell me the minimum and recommended system requirements for each of these DirectX versions.

Let me know operating system (Windows 95a, 95b, 95c, 98, 98se, Me, Xp, Xp SP1, Xp Sp2), processor type and speed, memory, hard drive, and all other requirements. I tried doing a search on Microsoft and Google, but a lot of this information is no longer online. If it is, it's not easy to find.

The operating system version distinction is very important because some things that claim to work on Win95 really only work on 95b and higher, and some things that claim to work on Win98 really only work on Win98se. I do not use NT or 2000 but do use XP.

What I know has been provided below.

DX 6.0
Win95, 98. Need to know 95a/b/c and 98/98se and other requirements.

DX 6.1
Win95, 98. Need to know 95a/b/c and 98/98se and other requirements.

DX 7.0a
Win95, 98. Need to know 95a/b/c and 98/98se and other requirements.

DX 8.0
Win95, 98, Me. Need to know 95a/b/c and 98/98se and other requirements.

DX 8.0a
Win95, 98, Me. Need to know 95a/b/c and 98/98se and other requirements.

DX 8.0b
Win95, 98, Me. Need to know 95a/b/c and 98/98se and other requirements.

DX 8.1b Redistributable
Win98, 98se, Me. 2000. Need to know XP and other requirements.

DX 8.1b Runtime
Win98, 98se, Me. Need to know other requirements.

DX 8.0a is the highest for Win95. Is that 95a, 95b, 95c, or all of 95?

DX 8.1 comes on WinXP, but I do not know whether that is 8.1, 8.1a or 8.1b and how they correspond to Win XP RTM, SP1 and SP2 as well as Home/Pro.

Lost In Time
06-13-2005, 01:50 PM
Maybe a "compromise."

Start a discussion by members to state what it works on or do not work on.

But rather than a generic topic on the forum, have the link with the product listing so people can find it as they look at the software of interest. This way the sys req thread for products will not be lost in time but always accessible to people who are interested.

Guest
06-14-2005, 12:58 AM
Originally posted by Lost In Time@Jun 13 2005, 01:50 PM
Maybe a "compromise."

Start a discussion by members to state what it works on or do not work on.

But rather than a generic topic on the forum, have the link with the product listing so people can find it as they look at the software of interest. This way the sys req thread for products will not be lost in time but always accessible to people who are interested.
it wouldnt get lost in time as people can always find it by doing a search which unfortunately they seem to not want to do,also as stated already in this thread it depends on what other software you are running i have 2 machines with identical spec but due to conflicts some software runs on one but due to other installed programs will not run on the other,so having system requirements for software wouldnt necessary help people. developers state what minimum system requirements you need to run a program but that doesnt mean it will run on your machine,as it may well conflict with other programs