What can you do with an old pc?

Ready to retire your old PC? Have you considered other options? Here are some creative ways to get extra use and pleasure from those old bits and bytes.

Common reasons PC's are dumped:

• Stopped working.
• Got too slow!
• Not enough memory or hard drive space.
• User wanted new/faster features/software.
• User wanted latest technology.

Some users consider selling or giving the old PC, but most end up dumping it! But wait, you may be missing a golden opportunity to get another life-cycle out of that passe processor. Look into these opportunities before you push that PC off the porch...

If your old PC still works, but instead of racing like a Porsche, it sputters like a scooter, then an easy overhaul can extend the PC's life. Here is a HubPage that steps you through the overhaul process.

............... Speed up your slow PC, 10 things you can do ...............

After you've pepped up your old PC, then consider some of the other options for a second life.

Your old PC may not be fast enough for your needs. All of us experienced keyboard jockeys want and deserve the latest, greatest toys and tools we can afford.

There is somebody you know who would love a little old PC to do the basics - Email, a little basic surfing, type a letter or grocery list, look at pictures of the grand-kids... a grand parent, a youngster, a neighbor, a senior center ...

Take your old clunker and put it in reverse. Take of all the extra software and junk you've added over the years. Make sure it can do the basics of Email, browsing, and basic word processing. Give it away. Help them get started. Make somebody smile.

You can backup to many forms of media. Many of the big boys backup to backup servers which are just PC's with lots of capacity. You old PC can be pretty readily transformed into a home or small office backup server. Since the backup server is just a file catcher, it can be slow. The costs are low and the technology required is minimal. Here is what's involved:

Cleanup the old PC. Uninstall most software except the operating system. Delete files to make the maximum space available.

Create a simple network, or add the backup server PC to your existing network.

Install backup software. (I recommend some free backup choices here.)

A file server holds files for you. Simple concept! Instead of adding more hard drive space to your laptop or desktop, consider turning you old PC into a central storage box for your home network.

The concept and process is the same as for the backup server, except you'll use the old PC's hard drives as additional drives to store files, pictures, tunes, etc for everybody to access. That old, slow PC probably has enough horsepower to sit there and catch files for you!

Want to know more about software and hardware? Turn your old junker into a training and test bed. Tryout new software without fear of screwing up your good system. Open the cover and figure out what's going on. Practice adding memory or a new drive. Been wanting to play with Linux? Want to explore the wild side of the Internet but afraid of stepping on land mines?

Turn your old PC into a personal computing laboratory and have fun till you blow it up!

When that old clunker won't boot up anymore, it may be time to throw it away. But wait!

• Does somebody else want parts? Your hard drive or memory might fill a need for a local computer club, school, or friend.
• When you are left with trash, you might want to take out any hard drives and smash them with a hammer. That's the ultimate file cleansing tool.
• Now recycle it!

Be Green! Find a local recycle center. Checkout Earth 911.

carpesomediem tells us how to dispose of a personal hard drive.

Ryankett tells us where to recycle computers for free.

Where  do your recycle batteries? Millsea tells us where.

Can you recycle electronics, while making money? lelanew thinks so!

Francer has some ideas on how to recycle at home with the three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle.