What to do with old computers, monitors, etc.

I

ike

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Hey all,

I have a few old computers, CRT monitors and other assorted paraphernalia to dispose of. The computers are old and probably are not much good (and have no hard drives) so they will be going to recycling (unless someone has a better use for them) but the monitors are decent and have lots of life left in them.

Rather than send perfectly good CRT monitors to recycling, does anyone know of a place that might be able to use them?

Thanks for your help!
 
If you can put up with ppl, put it up on Craigslist for free. The monitors should get snapped up. The PCs will depend on what generation and if they can be rebuilt to usable state. Wh'cha got?
 
Heres a tip: If you ever had any private files that you don't want people to know about or see, (I'm talking about even if you reformatted it), take out the hard drive. Its really easy to recover deleted files even if you reformatted the computer 3 times before that.

I have seen some weird things while helping people with file recovery - many that will ruin marriages...
 
He specifically mentioned he has no hard drives in them...

Computer and electronic recycling is BIG business....most ppl dont know just how much gold, silver, copper, platinum etc is in computer electronics. Problem is, hard for YOU to get that stuff out.

Nobody wants CRT's...price of LCD's has plummeted where for less than $100 you can get 17" monitors that wont hurt your eyes after an hour of staring at them.
 
There are charities that collect E-waste. The charity gets money by the pound, can't remember what the company is that works with charities on this, but if your just looking to dump it, this is probably the best as you are giving to good cause.
 
Offer up on freecycle. Let me know if you need help.
 
Line them up in a row and shoot them, like Elvis.
ElvisGun_7724.jpg
 
Thanks for the info, folks! I am leaning toward a charity such as Salvation Army or Re-Store for this stuff. All the hard drives have been/will be removed and physically destroyed after I get the data off them.

Here's a partial list... some of them should prolly be in a museum... LOL!!!

Computers - An antique xt (8088 processor) with 10MB hdd, 286, 486, P4 (I think!)

Monitors - antique 10" amber and 10" paper white (circa 1980), 15" HP CRT, 17" Sony CRT, 19" Dell Flat screen CRT

Printers - an old 9 pin dot matrix (circa 1985) and several inkjets.

A few keyboards (not usb), external CD burner, some early hands free controls that plug into a serial port (one is like a glove that fits on your hand), old compaq slide-in base unit for compaq laptops.

... all going to recycling at some charity probably this week (unless someone here wants some of it.)
 
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Red_Liner740 said:
He specifically mentioned he has no hard drives in them...

Computer and electronic recycling is BIG business....most ppl dont know just how much gold, silver, copper, platinum etc is in computer electronics. Problem is, hard for YOU to get that stuff out.

Nobody wants CRT's...price of LCD's has plummeted where for less than $100 you can get 17" monitors that wont hurt your eyes after an hour of staring at them.
Click to expand...

Haha, true. Too early in the morning for me to comprehend anything xD
 
ike said:
Computers - An antique xt (8088 processor) with 10MB hdd, 286, 486, P4 (I think!)

Monitors - antique 10" amber and 10" paper white, 15" HP CRT, 17" Sony CRT, 19" Dell Flat screen CRT

A few keyboards (not usb), external CD drive, some early hands free controls that plug into a serial port (one is like a glove that fits on your hand), old compaq slide-in base unit for compaq laptops.

Let me know if you want any of this stuff... going to Salvation army or recycling probably this week.
Click to expand...

There are two guys on the Freecycle network who actively rebuild computers like these. Some people are less fortunate, they can't afford the shiny new ones. They pick up at your place. Let me know if you are willing to donate these and I'll pass your information on to one of them.
 
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Thanks to AK - I am in touch with a fellow who rebuilds old computers for the less fortunate.

Thanks for all the replies, friends at GTAM! Merry Christmas to all!
 
You will likely not be able to even give CRTs away. Many businesses pay people to take them.
 
The biggest problem with the old stuff is the slow speed and incompatability with new programs. They're OK for gramma to save her old recipes, write snail mail and practice typing but nothing on line.

I remember spell check on my 8088. Click and go make a coffee, drink it, bake a cake, still checking....lol
 
PLau said:
Heres a tip: If you ever had any private files that you don't want people to know about or see, (I'm talking about even if you reformatted it), take out the hard drive. Its really easy to recover deleted files even if you reformatted the computer 3 times before that.

I have seen some weird things while helping people with file recovery - many that will ruin marriages...
Click to expand...

Thats a great point although chances are slim that anyone will go routing for zero'd out files its still possible. Removing the hard disk is the safest way to go for sure but there is also a number of programs that will scrub deleted files. Summits hard disk scrubber , CCLEANER and Heidi Eraser. There are others as well. Thats what i use before getting rid of any old computers.
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