TheaterFire

Should I archive these Microsoft tech binders of discs and if so, how should I put these on Archive.org (best method to put them up)? (I have no keys though at all)

Posted by LaundryMan2008@reddit | vintagecomputing | View on Reddit | 26 comments

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26 Comments

nourish_the_bog@reddit

You're asking a board full of those fascinated with vintage tech if something needs to be preserved, I think you know the answer to expect here buddy haha In any case, it's worth first sorting through the stuff that's already up on archive and/or winworldpc before you waste time pulling ISOs, otherwise, please do, for a start I'd personally appreciate it, and I won't be the last.
View on Reddit #50800008

LaundryMan2008@reddit (OP)

Just wanted to ask before I throw unwanted stuff up on the archives, it’s mainly office software with lots of server drivers for different mainframes and servers. It’s a pack used by a Microsoft technician that goes back all the way back to 98 and up to Vista with server versions peppered in there
View on Reddit #50800259

thunderbird32@reddit

You'd be surprised how many of us are actually interested in client/server stuff. I've got copies of Lotus Domino, Informix Database, Sybase, etc. It's interesting to play with, for me at least.
View on Reddit #50802413

Suspicious-Ad-8474@reddit

I was wondering about as400 cds I have
View on Reddit #50929783

LaundryMan2008@reddit (OP)

I’m planning on building a “server” which will mainly consist of removable data storage media drives which I put in rack mounts which is where the server part comes from as my pc case won’t be able to handle 20+ media drives so it isn’t an actual server but will look like one. There will be some server/datacenter tape backup drives in there but most are consumer things.
View on Reddit #50802792

JamieEC@reddit

Nothing is ever unwanted. The amount of times I have seen someone on forums or youtube after some obscure driver or piece of software from 15 years ago because no one thought to archive it is ridiculous.
View on Reddit #50801608

2HDFloppyDisk@reddit

If it’s from the 80s, 90s or early 2000s you can expect people here will go koo koo for coco puffs over it.
View on Reddit #50800837

Suspicious-Ad-8474@reddit

Note to all please don’t archive and bin the original please find a home with user groups and all original packaging
View on Reddit #50925693

LaundryMan2008@reddit (OP)

I will try to find a home at some point, just pulled them out and will be archiving before they go back into storage to focus on other projects
View on Reddit #50927569

sinned_@reddit

Oh I remember those! Back when MSDN subscription would send you literal binders of CDs rather than the downloadable catalog of ISOs they have today. But like others have said, probably compare to see what's already available and archive anything that isn't.
View on Reddit #50818701

LaundryMan2008@reddit (OP)

Are these for computer repairmen? Or is it something you can purchase and use at home?
View on Reddit #50819074

hamellr@reddit

They were for Microsoft Certified Techs and Microsoft Partners. We got charged about $300 each for them, but they were well worth it.
View on Reddit #50825403

r1ckm4n@reddit

This looks like the binder I got with my TechNet subscription. This was standard kit for MCSE’s back in the early 2000’s/ Late 90’s. Also, there were no Microsoft Certified Technicians back then. There was the MCSE - which is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Engineer, and there were between 5-7 exams you’d take depending on your specialty. This was not an easy designation to get. There were also MCSA’s which were Solutions Architects. If you just tested out for a single product like windows 2000 server or workstation, you were awarded MCP, or “Microsoft Certified Professional.”
View on Reddit #50865745

hamellr@reddit

Thank you, for the clarification. certification titles tend to run together after a few dozen of them. Especially when they all have similar names.
View on Reddit #50883428

rpocc@reddit

I used these CDs like that when I worked as a system administrator, but first what I’ve done was putting them all on network share. However, these CDs were 100% guaranteed source of virus-free, modification-free copies of original M$ software.
View on Reddit #50879280

r1ckm4n@reddit

This binder would have been carried by an MCSE, or a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert with an annual technet subscription. You could buy a subscription for the year without the certification, but a lot of MCSE’s worked for MSP’s and had to deal with a lot of different clients that had a diverse distribution of Microsoft products that you might need to support.
View on Reddit #50865807

DingusCat@reddit

use imgburn to rip them. If that doesn't work, use the trial of Alcohol 120%. Take photos of the Discs and upload them with the file(s) so people can verify that your post is legit on archive :)
View on Reddit #50871682

LaundryMan2008@reddit (OP)

I’m planning to take pictures of the discs and put them into a folder along with the software and when it comes time to upload them, they will be neatly organized so I can put the image up along with the software from the folder without having to search for the picture
View on Reddit #50874378

Sharp-Ad-8676@reddit

Yes upload them. People have ways to make them work....... iykyk
View on Reddit #50854677

mousepad1234@reddit

Yes, please upload them. I've got a few binders I need to upload as well.
View on Reddit #50853834

todd0x1@reddit

oh man the action pack!! I still have mine somewhere. That was awesome, $300 or so and you got 10 keys of windows, office pro, visio, and all the server stuff.
View on Reddit #50848868

WaterAny5543@reddit

I have a bunch of these as well.
View on Reddit #50835419

KRed75@reddit

I remember seeing a bunch of there there when I was searching for something else.
View on Reddit #50819571

rkrenicki@reddit

Pretty much everything from the old Microsoft Action Packs are already posted [Archive.org](http://Archive.org) (often multiple times over) and other sites. I would look through the binders and search [archive.org](http://archive.org) for each one before going through the effort of archiving them all.
View on Reddit #50819570

Wild_Egg_4382@reddit

I use PowerISO to make ISO’s
View on Reddit #50816975

sidusnare@reddit

Rip them, hash them, see if they're unique or not. Someone probably already has them uploaded.
View on Reddit #50806060