[Cialug] inexpensive file/print/terminal server

[Kendall Bailey]

A friend has an old/slow laptop (256 MB though) which runs Linux, but
modern browsers are slow.  I set up a 1 GHz pIII running debian,
headless in her basement and it runs (ran) as a terminal/file/print
server.  But now it seems to be dying.  It runs fine for minutes or
hours after a power cycle but then just stops responding.  I put a
monitor on it, which just goes blank on failure.  No response to
keyboard or network.  Power light, HD and fans stay on though.  Any
clue how to diagnose it?

I run the same kind of setup, with a fairly old Athlon 1GHz.  Both the
Athlon and pIII I picked up on ebay for about $100 each.  Searching
for just the right basic hardware is not easy though.  Anyone have
advice for finding a 1GHz or faster machine with 128MB or more at
reasonable price?  No need for CD-RW or graphics card or even sound. 
I put a new 80 GB drive in the pIII, so I don't even need a HD this
time.  Just USB, ethernet, and preferrably a CD drive to install from.

So is ebay the best place to look, or is there something more local
that does not impose a MS tax, and might have good used hardware?  Or
have you all found that new hardware is worth the cost?  If so, where
to get bare-bones systems?  I've never built one from parts but if
someone in the group would like to provide ongoing advice on what to
buy, I'd be willing to try...

Thanks,
Kendall