I recently repurposed a 2010 era Gateway computer with no WiFi. I got Debian installed on it and got it online through hardwire connection. It is running Debain 13 which is the latest release in server mode.

It replaced a 2011 MacBook pro running Ubuntu to host my website at https://www.dharwadkar.com. It is running blazing fast.

Curious to hear your thoughts

You can make a wifi bridge with a PC, even a Raspberry Pi, running IP masquerading and connecting as a wifi client. I use a Qotom mini PC with 5 NICs for this purpose and connect a whole wired network at my desk.

Back in the old days we needed to make an Ethernet Crossover Cable to get this to work.

Modern ethernet supports Auto MDI-X, which manages that automagically for you.

> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethernet_crossover_cable

Had that similar T series thinkpad 20 years ago too

I would say since it has mpci it’s easy enough to patch the bios and run a newer WiFi chip inside so you’re not locked into this but this is a great workout for older pcs.

Alternatively, many usb WiFi dongles do have windows xp support but yeah with the new standards def something else. It’s a cool workaround!