Where to reliably source old(er) OS, Software and more

[RealBlackStuff]

Based on the many regular request on this forum for old(er) OS versions and Software, I think this is NOT spamming.
On the contrary, this is what most of us have been looking for!
I found this website: http://www.emsps.com/
Among other things they have tons of programs (check their Software Exchange) from the below mentioned companies.
Well worth bookmarking!

Adobe®
Borland®
Clarion®
Claris®
Computer Associates®
Corel®
IBM®
Intuit/Quicken®
Lotus Development Corp®
Microsoft®
Microrim®
Novell®
Oracle®
PowerBASIC
PowerSoft®
Symantec®
Software Publishing Corp.®
Watcom®
WordPerfect®
Wordstar
Other software (from other vendors)

[kfzhu1229]

https://winworldpc.com/
Good for obselete and/or beta OS

[Callahan]

I wasn't sure where to post this exactly ... so I decided to do so here, since it deals with some older ThinkPad items.
The site is probably known to many members already but I just found it today.

Service manuals, schematics, documentation, programs, electronics, hobby and more

http://www.eserviceinfo.com/index.php
...

[RealBlackStuff]

If you need a BIOS Simulator for older Thinkpads, go here: https://iknow.lenovo.com.cn/detail/dc_017413.html
It's in Chinese, and is slow to load, but once it is up, there's a good selection of 42 BIOSes.
A2x/A30/G40/R30/R5x/R6x/T2x/T30/T4x/T6x/X2x/X3x/X4x/X6x/Z6x/E30/X201s

Download/rightclick the underlined xxx.swf files and you can save them on your PC/laptop.
In a browser (where they go by default) they require Adobe Flashplayer.
To avoid using the browser, you can also modify the .swf filetype (rightclick file, click on Open with) to default to e.g. IrfanView.

More such older, downloadable Simulators (until xx30 Series) here: https://download.lenovo.com/lts/BIOS_Si ... lator.html
New(er) non-downloadable BIOS simulators (from xx40 onward) here: https://download.lenovo.com/bsco/index.html

[RealBlackStuff]

The other day when I booted my T440p laptop and opened the (Waterfox) browser, I got a notification that I should UNinstall Adobe Flashplayer, as it will go EOL on 31 December 2020.
See also this older article: https://www.zdnet.com/article/adobe-wan ... -the-year/

I only use it for playing my downloaded IBM/Lenovo BIOS simulator files, which are all .SWF
When looking for an alternative, I was advised to get this standalone Flashplayer Debugger version, which is NOT an Add-on/Extension and will not need updates.

You can also go to Adobe itself and make sure you click on Download the Flash Player projector content debugger

I followed the uninstall advice and got he above program instead, which I copied into my BIOS Simulator directory.
After that I changed the .SWF file association to default "Open with" that program.
Works like a charm.