What do you do with your "replaced" computer?
Feb 3, 2020 10:21:40 #
Question: What do you do if your computer actually doesn't have a "hard drive", but one of the onboard "digital hard drives"?
Feb 3, 2020 10:27:36 #
Some of mine are serving that role. I also have another one that is used for VOIP. Then, there's the cluster.
--Bob
--Bob
yssirk123 wrote:
How about use it as a server (music, video).
Feb 3, 2020 10:29:17 #
I keep the old computer around just in case i need to connect to the internet when something goes wrong with the new one. There have been times when i have had a need to repair one computer while viewing the instructions on the other. Sometimes when you order a part or if you have some one else repair your stuff it takes more time than you expected. So you can keep up your normal pace because you have the old computer as a backup. Also there have been times when something was lost from my main computer but still resides on the old one. And then there are things like maybe you want to watch the superbowl and address a bill or two at the same time. I have two macbook pros and one we use for watching news, movies, or YouTube, and i "do my thing" while my wife watches a movie or TV show. I'm sure you can think of many things where another computer would come in handy. I only recycle when the old gets SO old its basically non fuctional.
Feb 3, 2020 10:44:41 #
I have one old laptop running Windows 98 because I have an old scanner that only runs on old operating system.
All others get cleaned and overwritten, then donated to charity.
All others get cleaned and overwritten, then donated to charity.
Feb 3, 2020 10:48:53 #
MWojton wrote:
I have this dilemma as well. I am afraid to get rid of it because of all the sensitive information that can be left on it. How do you remove the hard drive? And after doing that, is all of the personal information removed?
Look at your computer. Take out any screws you see (probably phillips head screws). Then try to open the case. The hard drive on an old desktop computer will probably look like the attached photos. There will be one or two bundles of wires attached. You can pull them off or cut them.
If you can't find any screws, open the case with a hammer or axe (best done outdoors). Since you're throwing out the computer, any damage will be unimportant.
When you find the hard drive take the axe to it or a very large hammer. That will destroy any information left on it. If you don't have an axe, a large brick or rock could do the job, preferably something over 20 lb. Do this on a solid surface.
If you don't have any luck with the above steps, find a neighbor with a kid over the age of 10. They will most likely be able to find the hard drive and smash it up. If the disk is smashed well, it will be unreadable and your data will be safe.
Feb 3, 2020 11:44:28 #
Feb 3, 2020 12:02:05 #
Feb 3, 2020 14:00:16 #
elliott937 wrote:
Since we all here are photographers, I thought thi... (show quote)
Most people still use Microwave oven, couple of seconds and a few spark is all it takes to render unwanted hard drive a waste. that goes for SSD also. No drill no hammer just good old kISS, lol.
Feb 3, 2020 14:11:26 #
howIseeit wrote:
Most people still use Microwave oven, couple of seconds and a few spark is all it takes to render unwanted hard drive a waste. that goes for SSD also. No drill no hammer just good old kISS, lol.
Those "sparks" are not good for the magnetron or the rectifier diode in the HV supply. Not something I would do.
Feb 3, 2020 14:23:42 #
nadelewitz
Loc: Ithaca NY
I work at a Recycle/Reuse business that has a computer repair/refurbishing operation. We take donations of unwanted computers.
It is unfortunate to see the "old" computers that people throw away that are highly functional and usable, some as new as only a couple of years old.
I myself have rescued several from the scrap heap and made good use of them myself, for grandchildren, etc.
It is unfortunate to see the "old" computers that people throw away that are highly functional and usable, some as new as only a couple of years old.
I myself have rescued several from the scrap heap and made good use of them myself, for grandchildren, etc.
Feb 3, 2020 15:19:41 #
I remove the hard drives, take them to a friend who has a gas cutting rig and turn them into melted blobs behind a shield. Recycle the case.
Feb 3, 2020 15:30:33 #
elliott937 wrote:
Since we all here are photographers, I thought thi... (show quote)
Kept one as an emergency spare then gave it to someone who needed a word processor. (I also set it up with Pre-school and kindergarten learning programs for the two little kids.) Passed a couple on to the kids and wife. Recycled one or two. And the latest - in process of doing it now - setting up as dedicated scanner control to scan boxes and boxes of photos, slides, negatives etc from my family and my own old pre-digital stuff. I will feed things into the scanner, set things and start it going while I am on this one or my laptop. Take a break to preview and feed in more. Eventually I will have all our stuff in digital.
Feb 3, 2020 16:05:46 #
I pull the hard drive(s). Daisy chain them into the new computer so all the files are available just in case. Pull the RAM if it is still technologically useful. Usually not unless I have just upgraded it recently. Same with the graphics card. Pull any other parts I can use later - not many. Put the carcass in the back office and after about 4 years it goes to the dump usually.
Feb 3, 2020 16:07:26 #
If you have a large music library & it's loaded in iTunes with playlists, take it out to the garage or barn for listening there.
Feb 3, 2020 18:51:07 #
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