# Tell Me What to Do With an Old Computer **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 20, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200 "2009-03-20T19:14:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hobscrk777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a6a055/32.png) [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/1 "2009-03-20T19:14:52Z")
I’ve got a desktop computer that’s probably 6-8 years old. It’s a Compaq, currently has a 40GB hard drive, 512 MB of RAM, and an old graphics card (probably an nVidia 4000 series). I don’t use it anymore because I got a laptop about two years ago to replace this desktop. I turn the desktop on every 4 months or so just to go picking through its cluttered hard drive for old keepsakes, so I know it still works. I recently decided to sit down and pull everything I could possibly want to save and put it on an external hard drive I use for backups. It seems like a waste to have this computer sitting idle. I have the original windows XP restoration disc, so I could reformat the hard drive and do a clean install of XP. Are there are any useful purposes for this old computer? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/2 "2009-03-20T19:17:42Z")
Donate it to a school. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/3 "2009-03-20T19:34:12Z")
Donate it to a thrift store, or list it for cheap or free on Craigslist, or put it up on Freecycle. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/4 "2009-03-20T19:58:53Z")
Keep it in case your main computer goes pop. Make it a firewall using Smoothwall or something similar. Put Linux on it? Do you have the exact model no? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2009, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/5 "2009-03-22T04:48:37Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Donate it to a school. No offense, but we don’t want them. I politely turn down offers of old PCs. If they served our needs, I wouldn’t replace them. 🙂 Upgrade the memory, it’s cheap, reinstall Windows and see if you don’t like it better. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2009, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/6 "2009-03-22T05:56:49Z")
Wipe it and take it to the Salvation Army thrift store. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2009, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/7 "2009-03-22T09:10:46Z")
A handy [resource](http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/donate.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2009, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/8 "2009-03-22T09:51:29Z")
It’s actually better than the one I’m using now.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/9 "2009-03-22T15:13:45Z")
Take it to the Salvation Army. They actually take computer equipment and sell it unlike many places. The alternative is if you have a local place that takes old computers and reassembles them for people to buy cheap. there are not to many of these places around. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/10 "2009-03-22T15:36:46Z")
My old 500 MHz PC is taken apart and I’m storing it. I might have to get some data from the hard drive one day, so I’m just sort-of keeping it around. I have my first laptop, bought in the late-'90s. At the time the fastest processor was 266 MHz. Mine is 233 MHz. I used to take it with me when I traveled, even though it was seriously out of date, just so I could check my email. When my webmail went to 128-bits I couldn’t access it without the latest version of IE. I couldn’t d/l IE because the version I needed required Win98 at a minimum and I was on Win95. So I loaded Win95 and I can check email with it. But since I have a PowerBook G4 the old laptop is useless. I’m keeping it around in case I get the urge to play Blood or Redneck Rampage, which will not even run on the 500 MHz computer because the clock is too fast. After I got the PowerBook G4 I decided I’d get one of those egg-shaped iMacs because they’re so '90s-cool. I got an iMac Indigo G3 PowerPC 450 MHz and I upgraded from OS 9 to OS 10.3.9 and installed an AirPort card. It’s in the guest room-_cum_-office in case I have any overnight visitors who want to go online. I telecommute two days a week, and it’s completely adequate for connecting to my office computer to do my work. It’s not fast, but it has a wireless connection and is fast enough for what it’s used for. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/11 "2009-03-22T15:46:43Z")
Oh, I forgot… _What shall we do with an old computer? What shall we do with an old computer? What shall we do with an old computer? Ear-lye in the morning!_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/12 "2009-03-22T17:41:08Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > _snip_ > After I got the PowerBook G4 I decided I’d get one of those egg-shaped iMacs because they’re so '90s-cool. I got an iMac Indigo G3 PowerPC 450 MHz and I upgraded from OS 9 to OS 10.3.9 and installed an AirPort card. _snip_ . Heh. I’ve got one of those too. 🙂 Only I’ve put OS 10.2.something on mine. Someone gave it to me for the youngest grandaughter, but she got my old laptop instead. It works fine, but since we’ve got 3 PCs in the house that are marginally faster, it doesn’t get used much. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/13 "2009-03-22T18:03:06Z")
Forget the school (as mentioned, they don’t want them) and forget the thrift store idea (the people there are insane and will put a ridiculous price on it and nobody would every buy it.) What I did was ask around with friends and co-workers. Found a single mom with two young teenage kids who could not afford to buy them a computer. Gave it to them. You would have thought they won the lottery - the kids were thrilled! Two years later I ran into the mom and she thanked me again - it helped the kids with their homework and mom actually started to use it, got her skills up, and got a better job! ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/14 "2009-03-23T13:26:03Z")
Fill the bugger with hard drives (or plug in some external ones), plug it into your router and use it as a server/NAS. If the hardware supports it, set it to Wake On Lan so you can turn it on from your laptop. Install VNC on it so you can control it remotely, too. Load the drive with MP3s, hook it to the stereo and use it as a jukebox. No need for a monitor unless you’d like it to display visualisations. Control it either through VNC or install a music app with a web interface. Install some emulators and fill the drive with ROMs. Add a gamepad and you’ve got a box for some old school gaming. If you want to make more of the project out of it, use it as the basis for a MAME cabinet. Play around with other operating systems. Put it in a spare room for guests to check email on. I currently have an old 800Mhz box sitting in a spare room, acting as both a server and download box. In my bedroom, there’s an old Dell with GBPVR installed which I use to watch and record telly as well as play any media on my network. ---
**Author:** ![hobscrk777](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a6a055/32.png) [@hobscrk777](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobscrk777)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/15 "2009-03-23T17:46:35Z")
> [@Kal](#): > > Fill the bugger with hard drives (or plug in some external ones), plug it into your router and use it as a server/NAS. If the hardware supports it, set it to Wake On Lan so you can turn it on from your laptop. Install VNC on it so you can control it remotely, too. > > Load the drive with MP3s, hook it to the stereo and use it as a jukebox. No need for a monitor unless you’d like it to display visualisations. Control it either through VNC or install a music app with a web interface. I am intrigued by your ideas and would like to subscribe to your newsletter. Can you recommend some introductory reading material about how to go about doing this [setting it up as a server/NAS]? I’m embarrassed to admit that this is beyond my knowledge of computers and software. ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/16 "2009-03-23T17:56:54Z")
If you keep it as a guest computer, you could also set it up to run SETI@home (or one of the many similar programs) while it’s not being used. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/17 "2009-03-23T18:10:43Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > No offense, but we don’t want them. I politely turn down offers of old PCs. If they served our needs, I wouldn’t replace them. 🙂 I can see why a school or a church might not want them. But small, private pre-schools might. Our old pre-school got all of their computers and a lot of their toys through hand-me-downs. Reminds me of when I started working in '93. My office-mate spent hours upon hours trying to find some school or church that wanted his old CPM machines. In his mind, they were still great machines that probably cost him a lot of money. In everyone else’s mind they were an evolutionary dead-end. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-with-an-old-computer/490200/18 "2009-03-23T18:47:04Z")
> [@hobscrk777](#): > > Can you recommend some introductory reading material about how to go about doing this [setting it up as a server/NAS]? I’m embarrassed to admit that this is beyond my knowledge of computers and software. Here are instructions for the easiest way to go about it - [link](http://www.cnet.com/1990-7390_1-6379545-3.html?tag=dh;dh_m) and another [link to the transcript of the video on that page.](http://www.cnet.com/1991-7390_1-6379545-5.html?tag=dh;dh_m) You could also check out FreeNAS or something like Ubuntu Server Edition, but seeing as you have an XP box hanging around then you may as well just go the simple route. Lifehacker has a good guide to getting Wake on Lan set up - [here](http://lifehacker.com/348197/access-your-computer-anytime-and-save-energy-with-wake+on+lan) - which mentions Magic Packet Sender (a very handy app that sends the wake up signal) and also mentions using VNC to remotely control the box. Note that WOL is one of those things that your hardware will either support or not. Couple of my boxes do, another won’t. Apart from that, just have a wee Google for something like turn your old computer into a server. There’ll be a ton of hits.