Bring your old computer back from the dead
The very same computer you’re trying to write in keeps getting you distracted: browsing, music and social media get in the way of writing.
ReanimatorOS turns any old, slow computer, into a distraction-free storytelling device. It transforms it
into the productivity machine you want as a writer.
Plus, it’s free.
It creates the right, single-focused environment so you can finish your essays, short stories, or your long
awaited book.
FAQ
Will I get ads? Is this really, really free?
Yes, it’s really, really free. There aren’t any ads on reanimatorOS. It’s a passion project we created because we wanted to use it, and it didn’t exist. It’s a free and Open Source Operating System with the aim of getting more people to write. Plus, it’s a green project, as it encourages computer recycling.
How do I install it?
You download ReanimatorOS, place it on a USB stick, put it on your old computer, and install it there. It will wipe out your hard drive, as well as your old OS (Ex:Windows), and turn your computer into a distraction-free creative tool.
How do I get an old computer to try this?
There are many ways to get free (or almost free) computers. You may want to start in Facebook Marketplace, using the search tool to check for any existing offers, and could also try posting your need there.
Although we’re not affiliated with any sites, there are specialized organizations that offer free (or very cheap) computers.
You may want to try these ones:
https://www.pcsforpeople.org/
https://www.freecycle.org/
https://interconnection.org/
Has this anything to do with H. P. Lovecraft's Herbert West–Reanimator?
Not with the movie adaptation, but with the original novella. ReanimatorOS launched in 2022, exactly 100 years after H. P. Lovecraft wrote the serialized novella Herbert West–Reanimator, where the protagonist proposed that the human body was an organic machine that could be restarted. So it’s thematically connected with the horror master, and with bringing an unusable machine back to life. As an easter egg, ReanimatorOS was coded in Providence, Rhode Island, H. P. Lovecraft’s hometown.
Does it actually work? Will I get more writing done?
That ultimately depends on you. Studies have shown it takes 25 minutes on average to refocus on the original task after a single interruption. Think of ReanimatorOS as a piggy bank: it works because you know yourself too well, so you design the right environment to restrain yourself from spending (money, or in this case, time and attention). ReanimatorOS doesn’t have any extra features. No internet, no desktop, not even printing. You just sit down and write on your distraction free, creative machine.
After installing ReanimatorOS, can I bring my old computer back?
No. ReanimatorOS is not a software, it’s an Operating System. That means that your computer data will be wiped out, without return. So if you wish to save any of your old files, you should do a backup because once ReanimatorOS is installed, there’s no way to get your old data back.
How do I transfer the files from the computer with ReanimatorOS to another PC?
Through a USB stick or an external drive (that has a USB port). As ReAnimatorOS turns your old computer into a writing machine, it won’t have an internet connection anymore, neither through WiFi
nor cable, as ReanimatorOS doesn’t support it. So the best way to transfer your files is through the very same USB port you originally installed ReAnimatorOS with, by using a USB memory.
How do I know if I should download the 32-bit or 64-bit version of ReanimatorOS?
It’s a matter of just a few clicks, but some versions of Windows have different paths. You can check them here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/32-bit-and-64-bit-windows-frequently-asked-questions-c6ca9541-dce-4d48-0415-94a3faa2e13d
Disclaimer: As of this day, ReAnimatorOS does not work on any Apple devices or any ARM processors
(Ex: RaspberryPi).