# What should I do with my old desktop? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 11, 2025, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411 "2025-03-11T00:32:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/1 "2025-03-11T00:32:10Z")
A month ago, I retired after 35 years in IT. My company gave me a year old Windows laptop and a 5 year old desktop. I’ll keep the laptop as is and use it for contracting work with my old company. The desktop is nothing special. IIRC, it’s Windows 10, 16 GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive, and a DVD. It doesn’t meet the processor requirements to upgrade to Windows 11. What should I use it for? As a former system administrator, I’m fairly well versed in Linux so installing a new OS is not out of the question, I’m just not sure where I’d go from there. Any suggestions for an old desktop? I could easily add more disk space if your idea would need it. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/2 "2025-03-11T00:40:42Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > Any suggestions for an old desktop? If you don’t ‘need’ a second computer, you could use it as a backup device for your laptop. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/3 "2025-03-11T00:42:45Z")
What I learned upon retirement was that I had vanishingly little use for computers whatsoever except as internet terminals. You may find you have no use for most of your current stuff too. Much less wanting to deploy more stuff. The price is sure right but if you don’t really have a use for it, 100% of your effort is wasted. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/4 "2025-03-11T00:48:24Z")
Media server? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/5 "2025-03-11T00:51:11Z")
If it will be on the internet, install the LTSC version of Win10 which will still get security updates for a bit. If you cannot, don’t have it on the internet. What is it you want to do with it? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/6 "2025-03-11T00:58:44Z")
Of course you don’t have to do anything with it. One option is just to dispose of it. If you decide you need a second computer, they’re cheap enough. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/7 "2025-03-11T01:17:58Z")
[![](https://images.interestingengineering.com/img/iea/zDOZmNNEwk/reuse-old-stuff-coffee-pc.jpg) ](https://images.interestingengineering.com/img/iea/zDOZmNNEwk/reuse-old-stuff-coffee-pc.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/8 "2025-03-11T01:26:57Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > What should I use it for? As a former system administrator, I’m fairly well versed in Linux so installing a new OS is not out of the question, I’m just not sure where I’d go from there. > > Any suggestions for an old desktop? I could easily add more disk space if your idea would need it. Buy a bunch of old CRTs, load Ubuntu, coat the walls with a thin layer of watery brown paint to simulate leaks, and set up some dim green LEDs for illumination: [![](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f3/3f/5e/f33f5e782197ad94fe21b120d357c9ca.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f3/3f/5e/f33f5e782197ad94fe21b120d357c9ca.jpg) Stranger ---
**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 11, 2025, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/9 "2025-03-11T01:29:10Z")
Is there anywhere you could donate it to? My first job was at a computer refurbishing nonprofit, scavenging parts from donated machines and installing donated Windows licenses on them. The built machines were then given to families and students in need for free or at very low charge (like $10 for a working desktop). It helped households who wouldn’t otherwise have access to tech (immigrants, refugees, the elderly, etc.) and provided job training to boot. I think there are still programs like that in the SF Bay Area and Seattle area. Not sure where you are. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/10 "2025-03-11T01:44:11Z")
And you can get one that runs a modern OS with security updates and will allow you to encrypt the contents. > [@Reply](#): > > My first job was at a computer refurbishing nonprofit, scavenging parts from donated machines and installing donated Windows licenses on them. The built machines were then given to families and students in need for free or at very low charge (like $10 for a working desktop). Is that wise if you are given a computer that is no longer given OS security updates? I know we all want to have technology that can be used forever, but that isn’t the case. Giving immigrants a computer that can record passwords through keyloggers and then hand them off to nefarious people probably isn’t the welcome we want. ---
**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 11, 2025, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/11 "2025-03-11T01:53:31Z")
Well, it depends on the outfit that does the refurbishing. Maybe they’ll install a Linux on there, or take out the HDD and RAM and use it on another machine or such. But worst case, it’s not that different from the regular home users who still use Windows 10 or something even older. At least the org I worked for would take care to wipe the drive, install anti-virus, an up to date browser, OpenOffice, etc. It’s better than someone else’s junk machine they’d get at a garage sale or off Craigslist or whatever. A 5 year old desktop isn’t worth much to anyone who regularly works with computers, but for a household that doesn’t have one at all, it could make a lot of things easier, even if they have phones already. (Homework, taxes, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/12 "2025-03-11T01:57:39Z")
If you are continuing to run OSs after they are getting support, you are contributing to cybersecurity problems. Please don’t do that. Those folks that want one for taxes could be giving all their data to Russia or China. ---
**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 11, 2025, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/13 "2025-03-11T02:01:53Z")
I’m not sure who you’re directing that at? Just to be clear, the idea was just for the OP to consider donating it if they no longer have a need for it. But we / I can’t control what a refurbisher does with it, much less what the final recipient does. I don’t work for one anymore and I don’t think they’re going to check the Dope for our warning… ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/14 "2025-03-11T02:06:55Z")
You seemed to be promoting the idea to donate antiquated hardware that can’t run modern OSs. When something becomes antiquated and insecure, we shouldn’t feel good about giving it away so others can now use an insecure device. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/15 "2025-03-11T02:07:48Z")
If it can’t run Win11, that would imply it’s older than an 8th gen processor (I’m assuming Intel for a work PC) which was released in 2020. It’s not worthless but it could easily be worthless to you or at least not worth using a space in your home for. There’s a bajillion Youtube videos out there about turning an old work station into a gaming PC that rely on getting the PC for maybe $50-$75 so that’s about where I would expect the market to be for that. You could keep it for general internet puttering, make a media server (assuming you have need of one), use it as a hobbyist machine to mess around with the insides (or OS) or sell/donate it. ---
**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 11, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/16 "2025-03-11T02:19:44Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > You seemed to be promoting the idea to donate antiquated hardware that can’t run modern OSs …yes? Because it can still be parted out and used in other machines…? And/or run other operating systems that still do receive updates? Or maybe the refurbisher has a special Windows 10 license arrangement with Microsoft via the LTSC program? I don’t know, it depends on the specific refurbisher. One would hope they’d exercise some common sense and basic computer hygiene. Or what is your suggestion? I hope you don’t mean that obsolete hardware should be immediately recycled or e-wasted… that’s so wasteful ☹ OP, sorry for the tangent. Not suggesting that you give it to some random guy on the street, but to a proper org that can make appropriate use of some parts of it and ewaste what they can’t. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/17 "2025-03-11T02:41:18Z")
If you’re retired you definitely need a [Plex server](https://www.plex.tv/media-server-downloads/?cat=computer&plat=windows#plex-media-server). You’ll need a lot more hard drive space but something like [4TB will keep you busy long enough](https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/memory-storage/solid-state-drives/870-evo-sata-2-5-ssd-4tb-mz-77e4t0b-am/). ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/18 "2025-03-11T03:15:16Z")
I use old desktops as servers to do all of the things necessary around the house. I currently have a single i7 sixth generation based computer running Linux as a media server, backup destination, NAS, and web server. I just upgraded to the 6th gen a few months ago. Before that it was a 4th gen. If you use cloud backups, and have no need for a home media server or NAS, then just get rid of it. ---
**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 11, 2025, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/19 "2025-03-11T03:56:56Z")
If you do make it a home server, you can also put pihole on it for some limited ad blocking across your home network: [https://pi-hole.net/](https://pi-hole.net/) Doesn’t work as well as uBlock Origin (RIP) but might be better than nothing. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2025, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411/20 "2025-03-11T10:59:41Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Is there anywhere you could donate it to? While I enjoy the humerous suggestions in this thread, this is what I do. All my computers (laptop/pc/mac) get Linux installed and donated. My country has a massive income differential between those who can afford a new PC and those who have never touched a keyboard. As a software engineer, this seems the right thing to do. Of course, these newly educated young whippersnappers might come for my job… But at least I will have achieved something. In your country: donate it to a homeless shelter or women’s shelter. Access to the internet is priceless for those unfortunate people, and shelters have other costs to consider before buying computers. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-i-do-with-my-old-desktop/1015411.md?page=2)