We recently “inherited” 2 old computers within a week of each other.
“Inherit” probably isn’t the best word to use here. Mother-in-law recently decluttered Father-in-law’s desk (he passed almost 3 years ago) and was going to just throw away his computer into the trash. John grabbed it and brought it home for me to “clean out” and decide what to do with it.
Now “cleaning” an old computer when you know what you have on it is so much easier – you just transfer everything to the new computer, digitally wipe it clean, and get rid of it. I started going through files and quickly realized my time could be spent doing more enjoyable things (like decluttering my own computer!) This computer hadn’t been accessed in the previous almost 3 years. How much of it would I really want to download?? They didn’t have any photos saved.
My job became much easier with the decision to 1) remove the hard; 2) have John destroy (literally) the hard drive (I think he used a drill and hammer); 3) have John take the destroyed hard drive and rest of the computer to hazardous waste.
I know we could have sold some of the parts BUT it really isn’t worth the effort. How much would we really get from a 3 year old computer???
After my Dad passed, Mom was decluttering some stuff. She also wanted to throw out an old computer. What’s with people just wanting to throw out computers???? This one was about 10 years old and hadn’t been used since she got a laptop about 5 years ago. I didn’t even bother to turn it on – just removed and destroyed the hard drive and send the stuff on its way.
Now back to thinking about clearing out my own computer!
Decluttering the Stuff 
My husband runs a shred on all our old computers, then removes the hard drive and takes the rest to the electronic recycling depot…he’s become very proficient at it. I won’t let him touch my first computer – an old all-in-one with a 20 MB hard drive that used 3.5″ floppies. We figure if the end of the world comes, we can boot that old thing up, use the DOS commands and start WordPerfect 5.1 😀
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OMG our first one had a 20 mb and 5 1/4 floppies. Cost us a ridiculous $2500 in 1985.
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Mine was a grad gift from my parents in 1988…cost $2000! Crazy!
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Wow!! It was raining computers! lol
Good for you for not wasting time on them!
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How long has it taken for us to realize our time is valuable???
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Only 5 or so decades, right?? We’re late bloomers, that’s all!
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haha love it, late bloomers!
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😀
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This is typically what I do with old computers. Similar to old cars when they are no longer worth the bother.
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LOL so true!!
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We came to similar conclusions – in the past – the older ones with hard drive under the hammer, noticed that it is possible to trade in newer ones against specific new machines or wipe and sell these days. I back photos on an external hard drive every month or so if I remember & try and clear out bookmarks and general clutter every week to keep it in check.
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once I get my computer decluttered, I think the monthly “update” is what I’ll be doing too.
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