what to do with old laptop computers ?

rfuerst911sc · 10-09-2018, 10:58 AM

So the wife and I have two old laptop computers we haven't used in YEARS . One is a Dell Lattitude the other a Gateway ............ yeah remember Gateway ? Anyway I think the hard drive in the Gateway is dead as it won't power up . The Dell does power up but is slow as dirt and unusable . In a perfect world I could get one running for cheap and maybe use it in the garage but I'm no computer tech

So what do you do with old computers ? Target practice ? Donate ? Recycle ? And if you donate or recycle do you pull the hard drives to protect personal info ? Is there any value to sell for parts ? The Dell is old enough that it has an external wifi card

Seahawk · 10-09-2018, 11:04 AM

We shoot them: screens up first, with sticky targets, then the body with additional target stickers.

Much joy.

We are all about STEM.

legion · 10-09-2018, 11:18 AM

I'd recycle the Gateway.

The Dell you might be able to revive with something like Ubuntu or Mint. I've found that Linux runs as fast on old hardware as Windows on new hardware. I routinely get another 5-10 years of use out of old laptops by switching them to Linux.

chapstic2001 · 10-09-2018, 11:28 AM

I do what legion does. Install Unbuntu and use them as OpenVPN servers or some other lightweight service. Then I give them to family members so I can VPN into their network and fix other computer problems. Nice part is they have batteries so they have a built in UPS if there is a power blip.

JackDidley · JackDidley's Garage

+1for linux. Free OS and there are many to choose from. Look at Distrowatch.com and pick. Ive tried several and found one I really like.

MBAtarga · 10-09-2018, 04:36 PM

Better yet, yank the hard drives and pull the platters out. They are pretty neat looking! I think you'll also find some heavy duty magnets!

LWJ · 10-09-2018, 04:42 PM

Run mega squirt on a hotrod.

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

I use one of my old Windows 7 laptops for data logging on my 911.

mattdavis11 · 10-09-2018, 04:50 PM

I remember Acer acquired gateway, and Dell still makes the lattitude. What year laptop(s) are you talking about?

I'm still using a Dell vostro 1520, XP. Your internet can't keep up anyway.

id10t · 10-09-2018, 04:57 PM

Garage machine for streaming music and reading PDF files of manuals, media center PC, storage server, digital photo frame/display, virtual fish tank, etc BUT ... power use gets to be an issue.

Got rid of my ancient computing devices and replaced with a Pi (provided by a pelican no less!) and have pretty much what I had before, only better since mass RAID storage is now part of my desktop machine, was able to turn off most of a kilowatt of stuff (486 router/gateway, 2 file servers) that needed to be kept going 24/7 to be of use.

If they have 1gb or more RAM they can be useful devices for the "other side" of the digital divide. Install Mint w/ MATE desktop and be done, or a little more hardcore for setup would be Debian and XFCE or one of the other light weight window managers

Arizona_928 · 10-09-2018, 05:14 PM

Scrap gold...

sugarwood · sugarwood's Garage

Toss in garbage.
Do not waste another second letting garbage eat away your precious time left on this earth.

mattdavis11 · 10-09-2018, 06:16 PM

You be surprised what a stripped down machine can do. I remember running a 386, 256mb ram to stream video in the 1990's. No hard drive, 3.5 disk to boot.

They could not keep the satellite from broadcasting in to my back yard.

SpyderMike · 10-09-2018, 06:21 PM

turn into the equivalent of Chromebooks wit this free software - www.neverware.com . I have done this with a couple of old laptops and it works fine.

rfuerst911sc · 10-11-2018, 03:24 AM

So I went down to the basement , found both laptops and took them upstairs . Started with the Gateway and suprisingly it started up and seemed to work . It has Windows XP and I kept getting Windows update warnings and error messages stating expired operating system . Then tried the Dell and basically the same results and it has XP also . The Dell I downloaded Ubuntu on a whim and it seemed like the download took but I couldn't get it to open . The Dell is old enough that it doesn't have any USB ports ! So I am not going to waste any more time on that one .

The Gateway has a great clear screen but only a Celeron processor , I may try to strip/uninstall a bunch of stuff and see if she speeds up . I need to find a 15 year old kid that knows computers to help me

. If I can get a reliable operating system on it so I can search the net and run Durametric software for the Porsche it would be great . If not target practice it is

onewhippedpuppy · 10-11-2018, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

We shoot them: screens up first, with sticky targets, then the body with additional target stickers.

Much joy.

We are all about STEM.

Yes! No worries about someone stealing private data when it’s in a thousand pieces. TVs are also fun, though the old ones with glass screens were way better.

legion · 10-11-2018, 05:03 AM

You can boot Ubuntu from a CD rom or USB drive and then install it that way.

rfuerst911sc · 10-11-2018, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpyderMike

turn into the equivalent of Chromebooks wit this free software - www.neverware.com . I have done this with a couple of old laptops and it works fine.

I may try this on the Gateway just for the heck of it . Assuming I can get it downloaded and installed correctly I would then uninstall the Windows XP correct ?

rfuerst911sc · 10-11-2018, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattdavis11

I remember Acer acquired gateway, and Dell still makes the lattitude. What year laptop(s) are you talking about?

I'm still using a Dell vostro 1520, XP. Your internet can't keep up anyway.

Early 90's on the Dell and mid to late 90's on the Gateway . Bought the Dell used the Gateway was new .