Ask HN: Does anyone have scans of these missing PC Plus issues (1991–1993)?

83•billpg•1w ago

I'm looking for copies of these issues of PC Plus magazine please.

1991-Nov, 1992-Jan, 1992-Mar, 1992-Apr, 1992-Jun, 1992-Jul, 1992-Oct, 1993-Jan.

This was a popular PC magazine in the UK, and one of its highlights was Wilf’s Programmer Workshop, a regular column full of programming puzzles, challenges and reader submissions.

At one point, he ran a contest around quines (programs that output their own source). I sent in a tongue‑in‑cheek entry, a batch file that used PKZIP to “compile” code into PKZIP.OBJ (instead of .ZIP) and then ZIP2EXE to “link” it into an EXE. The result was an executable that unzipped itself back into a source file. He was amused enough to mention it near the end of his column, though he noted it didn’t quite qualify for the contest since I hadn’t written PKZIP myself.

I found scans of his section on archive.org, including the issue where he announces the contest, but I couldn't find my particular contribution. I've narrowed it down to the eight issues listed above that are in the right time-frame.

If you have any of these issues (paper or PDF), could you please check Wilf’s section near the back and see if my submission is mentioned?

Thanks!

Comments

toomuchtodo•1w ago

Might inquire in r/DHExchange as well.

billpg•1w ago

PS. Link to the scans: https://archive.org/details/wpw-1991-1992-1993/WPW-1991-01/

Daneel_•1h ago

Unfortunately those don't contain the specific issues the OP mentioned.

js2•1h ago

You're replying to OP. :)

The link is in reference to "I found scans of his section on archive.org, including the issue where he announces the contest, but I couldn't find my particular contribution".

eterm•1h ago

I've always wondered why HN doesn't have an OP indicator. A blue name ( similar to the green name for new accounts ) or an asterisk, just something subtle, would do.

Perhaps they don't want to mark out the OP as "special" to the resulting conversation, but it would help make the situation here clearer.

rrr_oh_man•38m ago

Tampermonkey to the rescue!

maxbond•24m ago

A good compromise would be only marking their top-level comments. And/or doing this only for Show/Ask/Tell threads.

I'm sending this thread to the admins as a feature request.

jfil•3d ago

I looked around for you - the best I could find is a listing for the magazines at the British Library at https://www.bl.uk/. It appears that they have a copy of all the issues and they are available by request for physical viewing.

trollbridge•2h ago

This can be a pain, but we’ve done the same thing at the Library of Congress. In theory, they have access to every digital book published, too.

dandelionv1bes•2h ago

If you’re in the UK this is quite an easy solution. The library is right by two large train stations and you can sign up same day for a card.

foofoo12•1h ago

11h55 from Port Ellen.

toomuchtodo•46m ago

Not in the UK, would someone be interested in working with the library to get them scanned for the Internet Archive? What would the cost and logistics look like?

reedf1•22m ago

I'm busy the next few days but I could clear an afternoon to check this out. I live nearby.

n4r9•3h ago

You've probably already looked but it may be possible to purchase physical vintage copies if all else fails, e.g.: https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?item=145752856587&rt=nc&_t...

krypdoh•3h ago

There's at least one of the issues on eBay.

jen20•3h ago

PC Plus in the days of Paul Stephens (RIP) and Dave Pearman was hands down the best computing managazine around. I believe I have every issue from -1994-2000 with the exception of Feb 97 (long story) but these ones predate me sadly.

afavour•2h ago

Haven't heard that name in years! Thanks for a trip down memory lane. I was always more of a PC Format reader than PC Plus but would buy any of these magazines I could get my hands on and devour them. A simpler time...

stavros•1h ago

> he noted it didn’t quite qualify for the contest since I hadn’t written PKZIP myself.

Why? Had the other entries written GCC/LD themselves?

roflchoppa•1h ago

oh wow! back in August of 2005, I was on a trip to the UK and found a magazine that was talking about Counter-Strike hacks, and I think it was published by PC Plus,

I could be wrong but man I want to find that magazine now.

roflchoppa•1h ago

ahhhh nah i don't think it was PC Plus, but man I wish I could locate the magazine. :(

radial_symmetry•25m ago

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Ask HN: Does anyone have scans of these missing PC Plus issues (1991–1993)?

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