January 2, 2026
Grandpa laptop vs the paste police
I wrote a batch script to keep my 2011 ThinkPad alive for 24/7 streaming
Fans cheer the 2011 ThinkPad hack; critics yell 'just clean it'
TLDR: A simple script resets a video source every 30 minutes to keep a 2011 ThinkPad streaming nonstop. Comments split between praising the clever hack, joking about a “safe temp” setting, and urging old-school fixes like cleaning fans and redoing thermal paste—proof that DIY keeps vintage gear alive.
A 2011 ThinkPad refuses to die, thanks to a scrappy batch script that keeps a 24/7 stream alive by resetting the VLC video source inside OBS (a popular streaming app) every 30 minutes. It aims to squash audio stutter and stop the aging CPU from spiking on long streams. Power user techenthuziast waved receipts with a live demo on WaveLounge, claiming the auto-reset made their stream last longer on a budget setup.
Big laugh: SLWW giggled at the script’s “safe temp value”—yes, someone coded “don’t boil the ThinkPad.” rzzzt questioned heat: do things still cook with only OBS, or are VLC and Streamlink adding stress? Then hardware purists barged in: userbinator urged the classic fix—clean the fans and redo thermal paste. So the thread split into two camps: software duct tape vs. screwdriver therapy. Either way, the hustle is real, the nostalgia is strong, and everyone’s rooting for the clacky survivor—even if half of them want to pop it open and exorcise the dust bunnies.
Key Points
- •A batch script is introduced to keep a 2011 ThinkPad running stable for 24/7 streaming.
- •The code targets audio stutter linked to VLC Video Source during video streaming.
- •It also aims to mitigate CPU throttling that occurs after a few minutes on low-end/old devices.
- •The solution is intended for use on legacy or low-performance hardware to improve stream stability.
- •Users are instructed to review the readme.txt before initial setup.