old computer question

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 3:27 pm

Here is a tech question from someone who knows little more about computers than how to turn them on. And who better to ask than a bunch of tuba players right?

Anyway, I got a new Dell computer for christmas and upgraded to high speed internet with a cable modem and wireless router to create a little family network. YeeHaa!! It is fun being able to download pix and vids that I could never do before with my old dial-up connection.

So anyway, now what do I do with my 6 year old gateway?

Number one, I copied all the files that I need and want to keep onto my new computer.

Next I want to erase the old hard drive and reconfigure it to its original format. How do I do this? I still have the old recon disks from gateway and microsoft. I assume I use them somehow right?

Thirdly, are there places that recycle old computers or what else can I do with it, other than using it as a big paper weight?

ken k

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 4:35 pm

Ken, your 6 year old Gateway is probably worth not very much if anything. Call your local waste disposal agency (whoever runs the dump) and ask them for references to keep the thing out of the landfill. (Old PCs have lots of lead in them and they have a vested interest in seeing that you dispose of the thing responsibly).

There are a few public service agencies that take older systems and send them off to third-world countries--a little googling may turn up something in your area. Forget about Goodwill and the Salvation Army, though--your system is probably too old to interest them.

As far as cleaning off the hard disk:

http://www.roadkil.net/diskwipe.html

After you've scrubbed your hard disk, boot from the Windows Restore (or Install) CD. The rest should be pretty obvious.

Or you can just keep the computer around for the toddlers to play games on.

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:25 pm

Chuck, thanks for the info.

yeah I pretty much figured it was worthless, but I didn't want to put it in a land fill either. I like the idea of sending it to a 3rd world country if I can find someone to take it.

unfortunately the toddlers are long out of toodlerhood and infact I just bought them a new computer too. This Christmas was the year of the new computers! Although there is my 3 year old nephew.....

I will not be able to download the roadkil program onto that computer since I no longer have a dial up service to connect to the internet.

Hmmm I will have to think about that. I just discontinued my aol service yesterday. Is there an inexpensive commercial program available that will do the same thing?

Could I download it onto my new computer and transfer it via floppy disk to the old one?

Or do i not want to get it anywhere near my new computer. I don't want to erase anything on my new one.

ken k

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:32 pm

ken k wrote:Hmmm I will have to think about that. I just discontinued my aol service yesterday. Is there an inexpensive commercial program available that will do the same thing?

Could I download it onto my new computer and transfer it via floppy disk to the old one?

There's almost certainly a similar program made by McAfee, but why throw money after a problem? Just download the Roadkill ZIP file onto your new computer and extract the program to a nice formatted floppy disk. Your old machine should certainly be able to run it from floppy.

After you're done, delete the original from your new system.

Failing that, take the hard drive out of the old system and beat the cr*p out of it with a hammer (Very cathartic--you get to have revenge for all of those system crashes).

Or keep it around in case there's a chance you didn't get ALL of the files you thought you needed. (Heck, I've got hard disks with old systems going back more than 20 years).

Chuck Jackson · Post by **Chuck Jackson** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:24 pm

If your machine is a Windows 98 one, I will pay the shipping to get it. I have one program I actually need a 98 machine for.

chuckjackson1@cox.net

Chuck

Carroll · Post by **Carroll** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:59 am

You might also check schools (mine will take ANY working computer... all the way back to LISA - pre Mac) or churches. Some (like mine) have small computer labs set up for kids to write papers, play games, etc. I'll bet there is someone around who could get use out of it.

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 4:13 am

I could use it. I collect old computers. Let me know how much you want for it.

Dean · Post by **Dean** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 9:12 am

There is also the possibility that you could upgrade it.

A new motherboard and processor are the "meat" of a computer's performance (unless you play games, where the video card is very important as well). You can buy a new mobo and processor for around $100, or less, that will make the comp feel like "new."

Of course, this isnt really viable if you want to replace too much of the system. For example, if the hard drive is way too small to really be useful... Or you would want a new DVD burner, etc. Memory upgrades are cheap, so they are negligible.

As long as the case is an ATX factor (for the motherboard mounts), you can upgrade easily. That is, IF you need another system in the house.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:20 pm

Dean wrote:There is also the possibility that you could upgrade it.

I thought of that too, Dean, but consider what the norm was for 6 years ago and that he's already got a bright shiny new toy to play with. Shelling out bucks to have another computer that has no immediate use just doesn't make sense. Given the age, he'd probably have to buy memory, hard disk and DVD drive and maybe an AGP card in addition to the mobo and CPU.

On the classic computer list, systems of this vintage are frequently offered free for pickup--they're not considered to be "classics" and usually are tossed in as part of a deal to get some older, more valuable or unusual gear. They're not even considered to be valuable as a source of parts.

LoyalTubist · Post by **LoyalTubist** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 1:51 pm

Dean wrote:There is also the possibility that you could upgrade it.

Shh, shh... I was going to buy it from this person then resell it back.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 3:25 pm

http://www.cristina.org/

Dave Roberts · Post by **Dave Roberts** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 9:19 am

Joe Baker · Post by **Joe Baker** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:58 am

Dave Roberts wrote:test

I give it a C+

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 11:45 am

This is only a test. Had this been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed where to tune in your area for pertinent information.