News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Windows 96 by jamal-kumar on Tuesday July 27, 2021 @10:10PM (#27979670)
I learned computers because in 1996 I was completely ignorant and a little kid who decided to drag everything into the recycle bin because I thought it would be 'recycled' back into place but really it just destroyed windows enough that I had to learn how to reinstall from floppies created in DOS
Re:Windows 96 by pjerem on Wednesday July 28, 2021 @01:50AM (#27980600)
I like how old OSes let you place anything in the recycle bin, or remove system files without permission (because the concept barely existed).

Simplicity at the extreme. I miss those times where hacking and learning was as easy as breaking things and repairing them. But I think this also was a source of fear against computers for most people : if I click on the wrong place, it will break and cost money.

Nowadays systems are nearly unbreakable, and that’s cool, but o boy when they break, good luck finding why.

Re:Windows 96 by touggourt on Wednesday July 28, 2021 @05:25AM (#27981853)
The concept of permissions existed far before Win95 launch. At least on Unix and WinNT. As a Unix and WinNT seller, Microsoft knows it perfectly. It was also not possible on Macos to through system files in the trash bin.
Re:Windows 96 by jamal-kumar on Thursday July 29, 2021 @02:53AM (#27993618)
Hahaha yeah I was freaking out. My whole family was pretty pissed off at me.

Good thing I had a copy of "PCs for Dummies" which told how to fix the catastrophe

Re:Windows 96 by ycuser2 on Wednesday July 28, 2021 @02:03AM (#27980650)
Same here: "Why there are so many files? I only need the .exe to start my game." After deleting the "unnecessary" files the game woudln't work.
Re:Windows 96 by LadyCailin on Wednesday July 28, 2021 @07:11AM (#27982473)
I went through system32 and deleted all the files that we never used, to free up disk space.

And that was the day I learned how to reinstall an OS.

Re:Windows 96 by asr21 on Wednesday July 28, 2021 @07:51AM (#27982731)
Hahahaha.. same thing I did. I didn't realise there is a thing called hidden files.. I went to a folder in system32 and it seemed empty to me.. I was like let's delete it.. I deleted some 10-20 folders like these and when I try to restart the OS.. it wouldn't load.