Hello everyone!
I was recently given an old Libretto 50ct and I am thinking about bringing it back from the dead.
The computer was lying in a moist cave for 10+ years. I saw it running pretty well back in the days and gave it a try. Plugged the power in and the Bios launched, the screen looked in nice shape (pretty amazing given the conditions it was stored in
) but the HD, despite spinning wasn't recognized. Tried to load the HD in an external USB closet into my main laptop but it looks like it is impossible to recognize it anyway... I have not tested the state of the battery yet but I am not very hopeful. I may decide to open it and try to replace the cells if I can make the computer work in the first place.
I was always impressed as a kid by this tiny piece of technology and this computer has a couple of interesting features that gave me an idea for a project, let's define what I'd like to do and how I see it:
- My first goal here is entertainment and learning eager as well as a passion for recycling. I expect to learn new things about hardware and OS function, installation and configuration (if needed in the project). I don't want to put much money in this project (otherwise I don't see the point, I could buy a more recent U100 for 150€ or something).
- I have in mind a primary function that maybe this old piece of hardware could handle.
I'd like to turn it into a small and easy to carry around, pdf reader. Reading pdf articles and books in the transport, having it in front of me while writing and things like this would make a laptop with a 6.1" sized screen more than useful.
I am also considering a second task for it which is allowing me to play some old classic games. First name in mind would be Duke Nukem 3D but I'll expand on this later in the project.
[These two functions may be separated projects using the same laptop but different Hard Drives.]
Getting Started
The first step is obviously to replace the HD. Since I don't have any 2.5" left right now and given the specific aspects of this computer, I was thinking about givind solid state a try.
I'll try to follow these steps. I have ordered a SD>IDE adapter from ebay a week ago. I'll make use of one of my many 2Go SD cards lying around. I'll have to make a choice between a couple of cards that are different quality wise.
I am considering whether I should keep it to 2Go and swap SD cards from time to time, using a 1~2go main card and plugging another using one of these SD>PCMCIA adapters (I'm not sure that they work with a libretto though) or trying to find a 2.5" HD cheap enough and work around HD size limitations from the libretto (I think the BIOS can't accept over 2Go, not sure).
I will also take it apart and perform the overclocking trick to boost it up to 100Mhz.
Further in the project I am thinking about either installing Puppy Linux version 2.16 Fat-Free-Dillo or trying to find a version of Win9x (I am supposed to have a license for 95 with it but I can't find the boot floppies).
I will make all installations swapping HD with a second laptop, a bit more... CD & USB friendly
Misc
Here is a list of links that I'd like to save along this project as they may prove helpful in the future:
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=40512
http://partmaps.org/era/unix/libretto.html
This post is gonna be updated as a sort of blog. I just hope for tips and links (cheers if not
) that could be helpful. I don't consider myself any good at computer hardware and OS even if I develop apps as a living. I hope this post could end in a succesful project giving inspiration to someone finding himself an old ct50. Also please... well... pardon my french, english is not my mother tongue 
