OLD
COMPUTER CENTRAL: USES FOR YOUR OLD PC Ideas On What To Do With A Used Computer
How To Repurpose, Donate Or Recycle An Old PC
Welcome to Old
Computer
Central. Thank you for visiting. This site provides
ideas, tips and information for
people who want to do something
constructive with their old computers.
Scroll down to see information on the following
topics: How To Upgrade An Old Computer
Selling An Old Computer
Uses For Your Old Computer
Recycling An Old PC
Donate A Computer To Charity
Vintage Computers
How To Salvage Computer Parts
From Your Old PC
How To Dispose Of An Old Computer
Each year literally millions of perfectly
good computers are
buried in landfills. The PCs are too slow to do what
their
owners need. However these computers are still highly
capable. Chances are your old computer is useful to
someone...
maybe even
yourself. Below you will find ideas on how to make the most of
your old PC or Apple MacIntosh.
THE CYCLE OF
TECHNOLOGY
Personal computers offer us the most
exciting and affordable
high technology in history. PC technology is
dynamic. PCs
give us ever-expanding possibilities in communication, accounting and
multi-media.
As a
rule of thumb, computers
double in
speed and halve in price every 18
months. We can buy super powerful new computers for
relatively
little
money. However, the consequence of technological progress
is a mountain of older PCs. This is why clean, barely used
computers are worth
practically nothing after just a couple of years. Face
it... it's
hard to
sell or even give away an old computer.
CAN
YOU
UPGRADE YOUR OLD COMPUTER?
Before you buy a new PC, ask yourself: "Would I be happy with
my current PC if it performed better?" Here
are some practical and inexpensive
ways to upgrade an old computer:
> Adding RAM memory
can be an affordable quick fix for a slow
computer. First, click here
to easily find the specific kind of memory needed by your particular
computer. You can then purchase the memory over the
internet. To find the best internet price on your specific memory
modules, enter the memory manufacturer's name and model into Froogle. You can also
immediately buy computer memory from local stores like CompUSA, Circuit City or OfficeMax.
One you have the memory modules in hand, you'll find
that it's easy to install computer
memory. Anyone who is even slightly handy can do it.
Click here to learn how to install memory in a computer.
> Upgrading to a bigger,
faster hard drive is another
relatively
inexpensive fix, especially if your current drive is running slowly
because it's more than 70%
full.
When you purchase a second hard drive have the option of leaving your current hard drive
in the computer. The new drive can be installed as the
main C: (master) drive with the operating system and application
files. Your original drive can be designated D: (slave) for
storing files. Click
here for more on installing and using two hard drives on your
computer.
Like adding memory, installing
a new hard drive isn't difficult. Click
here to learn how to install a new hard drive on your computer.
> If you use a CD-ROM drive
a lot, consider replacing a slower drive with a new one. New
CD-ROM drives are inexpensive and can be literally dozens of times faster than older
models. It's also easy to install a CD-ROM drive. Click
here to learn how to install a new CD ROM drive on your computer.
> Finally, replacing an older video card can really help
speed up
your old PC. This too is easy. Click here to learn how to
install a new video card on your computer.
All of these fixes are simple to do with the upgrade
manufacturer's
documentation and a little help from the internet. The inside of a computer is surprisingly
basic. Computer components are simply "plugged in" with
quick disconnect cable and sockets. There is very little risk of
damaging your machine during an upgrade. Besides, if
for
some reason you do screw up your computer you can simply toss it (which
is
what you were going to do anyway.) Go ahead. Take the cover
off your computer. Try your hand at a few simply
upgrades. It's easier than you might think. You just might
enjoy it! Be sure to unplug your computer before opening the
case, read all safety warnings and guard against static electricity
(which can damage sensitive components.)
Of course upgrading isn't for everyone. If your needs
require you to buy a new machine you'll want to
develop a plan for your old computer.
EVALUATE
YOUR OLD PC
After buying a new computer, immediately
evaluate your old
PC. There is only a short
window of time that your old computer will still be
useful. Chances
are it still runs modern software. It still has potential value
to you
or others. A few years from now it may be hopelessly antiquated.
Don't put an old computer in the closet hoping to find a use for
it
someday (you never will.) Now
is the time to decide the fate of
your old computer. You can sell it, repurpose it, give it
away or recycle it. It's a pain to have an unused computer
sitting around.
SELLING AN OLD
PC
Look
at your old computer in terms of its
current value, not what you paid for it or any sentimental attachment
you may have.
To find you computer's
current value simply go to eBay and run a search
for you model. If your computer is still
worth a little cash, sell it now. Chance are next year
your old
machine will cost more to ship than you could get from selling it.
"WORTHLESS"
OLD COMPUTERS
Your eBay search will likely reveal that your old PC is, for all
practical purposes, worthless. Your entire machine is
probably
worth less than a cheap new hard drive. If the value of your old
computer is less than $50-100 you may
be better off repurposing or recycling it. Determine if
the PC
can still be of use to you
(perhaps in ways you haven't considered) or
if it can be of use to others.
Again, decide now what you are going to do. In a couple of
years your old PC will be genuinely obsolete. Then your only
choice will be to throw it out.
OLD COMPUTER REPURPOSING
IS YOUR
OLD COMPUTER STILL USEFUL TO YOU?
Most people use computers for internet surfing, email, instant
messaging and word processing. Most
old computers are capable of
these functions, even if they are a little slow and can't run
the
latest software. Your old computer may be
useful to you in ways you haven't
thought. Here are a few ideas:
JukeBox
PC: Make your
old computer part of your home entertainment system. Rip your
favorite
CD songs into the MP3 format. Download a free copy of Windows
Media
Player and create your own computer jukebox.
Digital Video Recorder PC:
Install a TV tuner card and use
your hard drive to record TV shows. The TV tuner card's software
should enable you to record television programming.
Photo PC: Dedicate your
old PC to storing, retouching and
printing pictures from your digital camera.
Kitchen
PC: Place your
old PC or Apple Mac in the kitchen. Load cooking programs and set
up email so
that
it can be retrieved from this convenient location. Use a flat
screen
monitor to save counter space. Hide the computer box in a cabinet.
Living Room
PC: Buy a
wireless keyboard and mouse for your old PC. Hide the computer
case in
a bookshelf or behind the couch. Hook it up to a flat screen
monitor that
can
easily be hidden. When you want to do email or surf the web,
simply
bring the screen out of hiding and pull out the wireless keyboard and
mouse. Living Room Option #2:
Instead of the flat screen monitor,
buy a scan converter. It changes your computer's VGA monitor
signal to a regular TV signal. You can use your large TV as a
computer monitor. This works best on larger screens. Text
does not appear on TV as well as it does on a computer monitor
(computer monitors have twice the resolution of a standard TV.)
I've had good luck with scan converters from AVerMedia.
You can also buy an updated video card for your desktop PC that
features a TV output signal. However, video cards may not produce
as good of TV images as a scan converters.
Visitor
PC: Travelers
like to check their email and get information from the web. Set
up
your old PC in the guest room when you expect company. Your
guests
will appreciate it!
Office,
Den, Garage, Basement Or Bedroom Computer: How many times
have you
wanted to use the computer only to find someone else is already using
it? Place your old PC on a small computer desk in an
out-of-the-way location. It will always be available, no matter
what is happening on your main PC. Save your work to a disk (or
email it to yourself) to transfer it to your main PC.
Create A
Home Network:
Wireless networks are cheap and easy to create. Network your new
computer, old computer(s), printer and internet connection. This
allows you to easily share files, print and game between machines.
Turn Your Old Computer Into A File
Server: If you already have a
network, an old PC can be used to store and distribute files. A
reference CD can be left in the CD ROM drive for everyone's access!
Turn Your Old Computer Into An
Internet Firewall.
Game
Console PC: Dedicate your
computer to games. The games will have to match the technological
capabilities of the hardware. You can download dozens of freeware
games off the internet. While the games may not be the very
latest, they'll still be fun. A game PC will be a hit with kids!
Sound Recording Studio:
Use a MIDI interfaces and audio
recording/editing software to record/mix singing and instruments.
Web Surfing PC: Dedicate
your old PC to web browsing. This
way you keep all those cookies and temporary internet files on your old
machine (so they won't slow down your new one.) This also puts
your old machine at risk for viruses and adware and keeps these
problems off your new PC.
Email Only PC: You old
computer can be set up like as a mail
station. Heavy email users can place an old PC a high traffic
location so you can easily check your email several times each day.
Voice Mail PC: Use a
modem and voice mail program to create a
"super voice mail system" for your home or business.
Web Cam PC: Buy a cheap
web camera and use your old PC or Mac to
beam
live pictures on the internet. You can use it as a security
camera (to see your house while at work).
Mobile Computer: Use a
12-to-120 volt inverter to power your old
PC in your car, van, boat or RV.
Vacation Home Computer:
Move your old computer to your vacation
home to conveniently check email or browse the web.
Weather Station PC: Buy
PC based weather programs and
sensors. Keep the PC on at all times to track weather
conditions. Offer data to local TV newsrooms.
Using Your Old PC To Work From Home:
Can your old PC be structured as a
"work only" home workstation? It may be able to dial in to your
company's computer or run software you don't want on your main home PC.
Take Your Old Computer To The Office:
Would you benefit from having a
computer (or second computer) at work? Check with the boss first
and don't get on your IS department's bad side. However if the
company feels your bringing your old PC to work is a sign of your
dedication and increases your productivity it could be a professional
plus.
Experimental PC: You can
use your old machine to
experiment. It can be a great learning tool for YOU.
Download various software from the internet. Teach yourself to
reformat a hard drive and reinstall your operating system. Remove
Windows and try Linux. Open up the case (read the safety warnings
before doing so.) Pull out the memory and reinstall it.
Pull out the drives and reinstall them. Do things to your old PC
you're too scared to try on your new computer.
OLD COMPUTER RECYCLING
If you don't want to repurpose an old PC for yourself, recycle
it by giving it to other people who can use it.
GIVING
A
COMPUTER TO FRIENDS OR FAMILY
Is there a relative, friend or
neighbor who might benefit from
having your old PC? Do you have an elderly relative who would
enjoy receiving emails? Give
them your old PC and set them up
with a free dial-up internet service like NetZero or Juno.
Do you know of a child
who would appreciate a second hand
computer on which to do their homework or play games?
DONATE
YOUR
OLD COMPUTER TO SCHOOLS School districts can be
surprisingly picky about
accepting donations of old computers. Don't blame them...
they
need machines that can run certain
software. Schools tend to be short on computer experts to keep
their PCs running. Schools also have mandated curriculums that can leave
teachers with little time or incentive to teach on computers.
Before show up at school with your old PC, call your local
district to ask about their computer
donation guidelines. Don't be surprised
if they only want personal computers that are less then 2 years old,
complete with monitor, mouse, keyboard, manuals and software. You will need to make it easy for them to
accept you donation. Schools are in the business of
educating students, not recycling computers. An alternative to
donating your PC to the school
district is to
approach an individual teacher.
Perhaps the computer science
teacher would like a PC to disassemble in a lab or the librarian could
use it.
You can post a notice in the teacher's lounge.
Perhaps you could give your computer directly to a teacher for their personal
use at home or in their classroom.
If all else fails, our local schools take working recent model
computers. Contact me via
email by clicking here and I may be able to find a home
for you old computer.
HOW
TO DONATE YOUR OLD COMPUTER TO CHARITY
Call around to see if there are any local charities or religious
groups that could use your old computer. Check with the
technology editor at the local
newspaper to see if he/she knows of any
local groups that refurbish old computers for charity. Goodwill
Industries will sometimes accept computers. However,
Goodwill
generally has strict guidelines as to what kinds of gear they will
accept. Goodwill turns away all computers that do not meet their
minimum specifications.
Like schools and Goodwill, most charity groups will specify minimum system
requirements for donated computer. They have specific
software that they need to run.
Be aware that you may be
asked to ship your computer at your
own expense or even pay a small "disposal fee."
If it takes a little time and money to properly donate your old
computer, spend it. Think of it as part of the expense of buying
a new computer or as part of your gift to charity.
There are nationwide
organizations if you can't find a local
computer recycling program. These computer donation programs use
databases to match people who need a computer with those interested in
donating. Here are links to national organizations that allow you
to donate your old computer to charity: The National Cristina
Foundation Share The Technology The Internet
Nonprofit Center
VINTAGE,
HISTORIC AND ANTIQUE COMPUTERS
Certain personal computers are considered vintage. These
computers have historic significance are important because of the new
technology they introduced.
Some museums
feature exhibits of old computer
technology. If your computer
is from the 1970s or 1980s, there may be someone who wants it because
of its historic significance.
Consider donating your vintage machine to a computer museum.
If your old computer was the first to introduce a new technology
or is rare, you may want to save and
carefully preserve it.
While no one is getting rich selling vintage computers, as decades go
by
your computer may become important.
In a few years you may find someone who wants it for sentimental
reasons... because
"it was their first computer."
For more more on
vintage computers (and making donations to computer museums) check out
the following links: Old Computers.com Obsolete Computer Museum
.com Brian's Collection Of
Old Computers Virtual
Computer Museum Google
Directory On Computer History
HELP
OTHERS: START A "MINI" RECYCLING PROGRAM
Here's a way to help others and make good use of the tremendous
resources available in old computers. You can organize a computer recycling event
within your organization. First, assemble a group of
volunteer "technicians." Ask for
volunteers with good basic computer knowledge. These people could
spend a Saturday evaluating and doing minor repairs to donated
computers.
Then ask members of your group
(school, workplace, religious
organization, civic group, sports team, etc.) to bring in their old
computers (be sure to specify your minimum system
requirements.)
Also specify if you need the accompanying monitor, keyboard, mouse,
speakers, software, manuals and printer.
Once you have the computers, set up a work day for the volunteer
"technicians." Wipe the hard drives clean, reinstall the
operating system and load with software. Make sure all systems
are working properly and useful. You can then donate the
computers to the charity or resell them as a fundraiser.
PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY
HOW TO CLEAN INFORMATION OFF A
HARD DRIVE
Before giving
your computer to anyone spend a
little time deleting your old files.
I recommend that destroy all data
on your hard drive with a
free hard drive erase
utility, then reinstall your operating system and
program files. This will help insure that your personal data will
remain private after you give up control of the PC.
It is always an option to remove and physically destroy the hard
drive to protect your data. However, an old computer without a
hard drive is of little value. In practical terms, destroying the
hard drive is destroying the useful value machine. It will
cost more to buy a new hard drive than the machine is worth.
Here are some links that show you how to destroy data on your
hard drive and protect your privacy: Hard
Drive Cleaning Software: Freeware And Shareware Destroy
Before Donating Wipe
Out Data From Your Hard Drive
SALVAGING COMPUTER PARTS
HOW
TO SAVE VALUABLE PARTS FROM AN OLD COMPUTER
If
you will be throwing away your old computer, you may benefit from
saving some of its parts. Salvaging
parts from your old computer is surprisingly
easy. Many times the parts will be more
useful to you than the computer as a whole (parts from your old PC can
be used to enhance your new computer.) Here's a list of
what
parts
should be saved from your old desktop computer:
> First create a disk that
contains all of your drivers
(printer, monitor, sound card, video card, etc.) and software.
You will need the drivers when you reinstall parts of your old computer
on your new computer.
> Unplug the power cord
from the computer
case and save it. Also save the similar power cord used on your
old computer
monitor. These are standard power cord that can be used on many
other electronic devices.
> Keep the keyboard
and mouse if they fit your
new computer.
> Remove the computer's cover. Save: Hard drive. Floppy disk drive. Memory modules. IDE cables (the "ribbon"
connectors between the motherboard and the
drives.) All cards in expansion slots
(internal modem, sound card, video card,
network card, etc.) Memory reserve battery (usually
a small flat battery found on the
motherboard.) Processor cooling fan.
For a keepsake, pull out the processor
chip.
Once you have removed all of the above items throw away the old
computer case, motherboard and power supply. These items
generally worthless because they are specific to your old computer
system. This equipment is considered hazardous material.
Check with your local trash hauler on how to properly dispose of this
old computer equipment.
Immediately you can reformat
and reinstall the hard drive on
your new computer (to create a dual hard drive computer, see
information above.)
If the
RAM memory modules are compatible
you can install them on your new
machine. Chances are your new computer will have a different
memory socket. In that case, see if anyone you know with a
similarly aged computer would like some additional memory (it may fit
someone else's machine.)
You can install any expansion
cards (modem, sound, network, etc.)
on your new machine as well.
Note that it's much harder to
salvage parts from laptop
computers. Laptop computers feature hardware that is less
standardized than that in desktop PCs. You may still wish to save
your old laptop's drives, memory and battery.
HOW TO DISPOSE OF AN OLD COMPUTER
CORPORATE
COMPUTER RECYCLING PROGRAMS
Some computer manufacturers offer nationwide programs to help the
environment by recycling used computers. They accept any brand of old computer.
Here are links to the PC
recycling programs at Dell and HP: Dell
Computer Recycling Program Hewlett-Packard
Computer Recycling Program
DISPOSING
OF YOUR OLD PC
When it's time to trash your old PC, please know that computers are classified as hazardous
material.
Call your trash hauler to see if they'll pick up your used computer
curbside or if you need to take it to a special disposal
location. Click
here to see the types of hazardous materials found inside computers.
As noted above, before disposing an old computer erase the
hard drive to
protect your privacy. You can reformat your old hard drive and
install it as a second storage drive on you new computer. You
can also physically destroy a dump-bound hard drive so nobody can
retrieve your
personal files from it.
A FINAL THOUGHT
We are very fortunate to live in a
time when remarkable
technology is abundant and cheap. The march of computer
technology is
natural and desirable. However, technological progress doesn't
excuse us from being good stewards of "last year's" computer. It takes effort (and maybe
even a little money) to repurpose,
reuse or properly dispose of an old PC. This effort is
worthwhile. Old PCs present an opportunity to help others and
keep a useful machine out of the landfill. It takes as long to dispose
of a belonging as it does
to acquire it. For
instance, selling a house takes at least as long as shopping for a new
one. Selling an old car takes at least as long as buying a new
one. The same is true of computers. Take the time repurpose your
old PC or share it with
others. It's just
the right thing to do.
CONTACT Click
here if you would like to contact the webmaster of this site.
USES FOR OLD COMPUTERS - LINKS These links have been suggested by readers
of Old Computer Central
Com2Computer.com:
Illinois company willing to take old computers at no charge.
SmoothWall.org: Use old PCs as
dedicated internet firewalls.
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