Where do old computers go?

Question

This is in regard to the "humane" disposal of an old desktop computer... I'm thinking of upgrading, but don't know what to do with the remains. I realize that I could just send it out with the garbage, but it's pretty functional yet mildly obsolete and think that trashing it would be a terrible waste.

Answer 1

A) Keep it as a spare.
B) Scrap it for parts
C) Donate* it to a school or homework center.
D) Run a distributed application** on it.

* There is always someone without a computer who would appreciate one, no matter how old or slow. The considerate way to donate a machine is to use the restore CD's to wipe the disk and put it back like it was when you got it. That way none of your personal information goes with it. Oh, and give them the CD's, too.

** There are lots of worthy projects that need all the computer cycles they can get.
If you can spare a corner for the machine to run in, a little power and a network connection, that computer can make a real contribution. See http://distributedcomputing.info

Answer 2

hi there


1. give it to someone that know about CPU and can use the parts.

2. If it's a whole good working CPU give it to a child or a friend that might use it .



3. all CPU goes to recycle dumps.


or if it's good sell it for cheap and keep money in your pocket.


If you are not going to use the tower house and you are going to throw it in the garbage make sure to break the tower house with a hammer inside cause all your information is record inside The chips many people make this mistake and that's where identify theft is taken from. even cell phones any chips is worth money for crooky crooks.


be will be safe god bless

Answer 3

properly fist component is first. xp is virtually the superb working equipment that Microsoft has made. ninety 5 and 2000 have been the main trojan horse loose and vista is the 2d worst next to ME. homestead windows 7 grants to be extra suitable than vista even yet it particularly is made on an analogous platform so i don't have self belief them. base line you are able to improve to vista or maybe to 7(in case you have the superb specifications) yet i does not advise it. XP is an extremely solid OS. the only subject I truthfully have had with it particularly is a splash boot up subject a pair of situations and a few unresponosive courses. my vista workstation (my HP G60) is a brilliant workstation however the OS is poor. Vsta has this sort of excellent style of issues that i purely hate it! nonresponse courses are a prevalent prevalence and each time i close homestead windows explorer it turns into unresponsive so i purely have been given Google chrome as my internet browser(very solid internet browser) (don't get internet explorer 8). back, you may get vista or maybe the beta of homestead windows 7(in case you have the specifications) yet i might particularly no longer advise it. Tip: the meant superb laptop OS is Linux or Solaris(or Google chrome OS whilst it comes out) or maybe Mac OS X(yet i do no longer think of you may get that for laptop)

Answer 4

Save it. There will be times your new computer is down. Always good to have a backup even tho it does not run as fast as new one. Thats what I did, GLAD I DID IT. If you do decide to get rid of old computer. Take hard drives out. Melt them if you must, just make sure they are destroyed.

Answer 5

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a side with resources that help you locate places that take computer donations.

Answer 6

Put it on Craig's list or ebay. Someone out there will buy them.

http://dban.sourceforge.net/ download and use this program whatever you do. It will wipe the drive so no one can get anything personal off your drive.

Answer 7

Another One Bytes the Dust
http://www.smartmoney.com/dealoftheday/index.cfm?story=20060724
By Kelli B. Grant |Kelli B. Grant Archive |Published: July 24, 2006
SmartMoney TV Watch the latest Deal of the Day video

DISPOSING OF AN OLD laptop is a little like dumping an old friend. After all, your computer may very well hold some of your most important secrets — including financial information, passwords, account data and so on. So when it's time for you and your computer to part ways, it's important you do so in the right manner.

Unlike a human-to-human friendship, one way to say goodbye to your old friend is to take a sledgehammer to it. But you can probably do better than that. Many charities will gladly take your old computer, which not only will give you the warm fuzzies for doing good (both for the charity, and also for the environment) — bit it could also give you a nice little tax break to boot.

Here's how to get it done right:

Reuse or Recycle?
Thanks to the fast pace of technology, many old computers simply aren't worth enough to consider donating.

Laptops and Desktops
Re-use if...
Recycle if...
Pentium I CPU or newer
486 CPU or older

All components — tower, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc. — are included Some components are missing (say, you have a monitor but no tower)

In working condition, or easily repairable
Extensive repairs needed


If you aren't sure whether your computer still has some life in it, check with the manufacturer (see chart below), advises Kate Krebs, executive director of the National Recycling Coalition. IBM has a general return program, and will sort out for itself whether your item is fit to donate or should be sent to the scrap heap. Dell, on the other hand, offers extensive guidelines to help you figure out what to do with your hardware.

Cleaning the Hard Drive
No matter where you computer is headed — to the recycling bin or to a charity — it's important to remove your personal information before it leaves your hands. And a simple "delete" isn't enough. Someone with computer knowledge can easily restore your files and check out everything you didn't want seen.

"Reformatting the hard drive won't do it," says Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a consumer advocate. "Use a more in-depth program that over-writes it several times with zeros and ones." For a no-cost solution, check out Eraser 5.7, a free download with high ratings from CNET, an electronic review site.

Pick the Right Charity
Not every charity wants your computer. But don't worry — there are plenty that specialize in computer donations, including:

Computers for Youth provides computers for low-income children, aiming to improve the home learning environment.
Gifts in Kind International passes donated equipment on to local charities around the world.
Goodwill Industries International takes computer donations at most locations. Most systems are refurbished and sold for profit, while some are recycled.
National Cristina Foundation distributes computers to people with disabilities.

Of course, in order to get the tax deduction, you'll also want to make sure that the charity you choose is registered as a 501(c)(3) with the IRS. (For more tips on how to select the right one, see Make the Most of Your Charitable Donation.) No matter how much your dinosaur of a desktop is worth, you'll need a receipt from the charity acknowledging your gift, as well as its estimated dollar value. If it's valued at $500 or more, you'll also need to fill out Form 8283 come tax time.

Keep in mind, your computer may not be worth all that much. Most charities will help you appraise the computer's worth. To get your own estimate, input your computer specifics in this worksheet from eDeal.
http://servlets.edeal.com/servlets/PcEval

You May Pay to Recycle
Oftentimes, you'll pay a small fee to recycle your hardware, but it's a more environmentally friendly option than kicking your computer to the curb — literally.

The ideal time to recycle your computer is when you're purchasing new equipment, says Krebs. Paired with a purchase, many manufacturers offer incentives such as free shipping and processing, or a discount for your next purchase.

Here's a rundown of the major computer manufacturers' programs:

Computer Manufacturer Re-Use/Recycle Programs
Company Program
Apple Recycle your Apple hardware for $30. If you're purchasing new equipment, recycling is free. For more details, click here.
Dell Opt to either recycle or donate your hardware (even non-Dell products). Choose recycle, and you'll pay $10 to $20, depending on the weight of the hardware. If you're purchasing new equipment, recycling is free. Choose to donate, and someone from the National Cristina Foundation, a charity that provides computers to people with disabilities, will contact you to arrange a pickup. You'll receive a receipt for tax deduction, and a 10% discount coupon from Dell for your next purchase of software or accessories. For more details, click here.
Hewlett-Packard Recycle any of your hardware (even non-HP products) for a small fee, and receive a coupon good toward your next purchase. For example, recycle a PC with monitor ($46 charge), and you'll receive a $50 coupon for your next purchase of $60 or more. Visit the HP Recycling Center for more details and to sign up.
IBM Send in any of your hardware (even non-IBM products) to be sorted for $29.99. Hardware capable of re-use will be donated to Gifts in Kind International, a charity that contributes to local charities. In exchange, you'll receive a receipt for tax deduction. Unusable hardware will be recycled. For more program details, or to sign up, click here.

Answer 8

take out the parts like ethernet adapter,modem,cd player,and floppy drive assusimg its a older computer. then you can keep them if you need it or sell them to a computer shop. they would love that.

Answer 9

Check ebay to see if similar computers are being sold, and if so, sell yours.

Answer 10

You could always sell it? People buy the craziest things these days....