📚 The King of DOS
In 1995, I joined a computer class in Nawala where DOS commands were taught. Armed with a 500‑page MS‑DOS book and a 5¼‑inch boot disk, I quickly became the “king of DOS commands.” Friends admired my ability to navigate and control any DOS machine with ease.
🖥️ The AST 486 DX4 and Windows Floppies
My AST brand 486 DX4 PC came with Windows 3.1 floppies and a manual. Unable to wait for help, I taught myself overnight how to install Windows. Months later, I discovered the missing VGA driver floppy — unlocking true color for the first time.
🎮 Mortal Kombat Walks
My friend Surendra had Mortal Kombat Trilogy, but we only had two or three 1.44 MB floppies. Using ARJ, we split the game and walked back and forth 500 meters, copying chunks until the game was complete. After days of trial and error, I discovered an S3 graphics parameter that finally made it run.
🦠 Fighting Viruses with Floppies
By 1999, at Open Systems Technologies, engineers relied on me to create updated InoculateIT bootable scanning disks. Back then, almost every PC had a virus, and floppies were the frontline defense. I became the go‑to guy for lifesaving disks.
🏬 Unity Plaza Adventures
In the late 90s, Unity Plaza had only a few computer shops. Tulip, owned by a friend of my mother, was a treasure trove of CDs from Singapore. After school, I’d visit, learn from the techs, and copy software and screensavers onto floppies to take home. Those afternoons shaped my skills and curiosity.
🌟 Legacy of the Floppy
Floppy disks were more than storage. They were rituals, adventures, and stepping stones. From DOS mastery to Mortal Kombat walks, from antivirus battles to Unity Plaza discoveries, floppies carried me through the 90s. They weren’t just disks — they were gateways to knowledge, fun, and a career built on curiosity and resilience.
Floppies weren’t just disks. They were gateways to dreams, adventures, and lifelong learning.