How should i dispose of my PC?

[mr-glass]

We've all seen how Patrick gets rid of tech he hates. Personally, I prefer tossing frustrating PCs off the roof, or sometimes a good ole baseball bat. Still, I'm now faced with a rare problem, what to do with tech I like.

My PC has died after 4 years of good use. It was worked well and beyond its prime, and deserves a good sendoff. Normally my tech either dies early and get dealt with severely, or enjoys a fine retirement as a media server or spare PC. This time it is well and truly bricked. I have considered a traditional burial or perhaps a funeral pyre, but have had to ditch those plans due to environment concerns.

So, how do you say goodbye to tech you love?

[spark-rain-fire]

We've all seen how Patrick gets rid of tech he hates. Personally, I prefer tossing frustrating PCs off the roof, or sometimes a good ole baseball bat. Still, I'm now faced with a rare problem, what to do with tech I like.

My PC has died after 4 years of good use. It was worked well and beyond its prime, and deserves a good sendoff. Normally my tech either dies early and get dealt with severely, or enjoys a fine retirement as a media server or spare PC. This time it is well and truly bricked. I have considered a traditional burial or perhaps a funeral pyre, but have had to ditch those plans due to environment concerns.

So, how do you say goodbye to tech you love?


just like you would a pet, properly.

If it's a pc, take the hard drive out and zero format it (keep it if you'd like) then take the remainder to your local recycle facility. If they won't accept old electronics, wait until they have an 'electronics day' or something. It will come back as a component for someone else to love.

-dann

[burkhartmj]

just like you would a pet, properly.

If it's a pc, take the hard drive out and zero format it (keep it if you'd like) then take the remainder to your local recycle facility. If they won't accept old electronics, wait until they have an 'electronics day' or something. It will come back as a component for someone else to love.

-dann

Sounds pretty good to me, something else to consider doing is cannibalize it and get anything useful assuming something in there can be reused.

[computoman]

You know diskdrives have stepper motors that can be used for robots or what ever. the hard drive has powerful magnets that can be used on the fridge if for nothing else. the wires and other componets can be used for other projects. I have pulled the voltage regulators off of cdrom drives for electronics projexts. I could go on. Just because it can not be used for a computer, does not mean it is worthless. Put your geek to work!!!

Long live McGyver!!

[mr-glass]

Well, the case, power supply, cd, and hard drives are all going to be part of the new PC. At this point im talking gfx, ram, cpu, and mobo.

I like the idea of cannibalizing it, but I dont think I'll be able to do that with these parts. As for recycling, I'm looking for something more inventive.

Perhaps an effigy?

[burkhartmj]

Well, the case, power supply, cd, and hard drives are all going to be part of the new PC. At this point im talking gfx, ram, cpu, and mobo.

I like the idea of cannibalizing it, but I dont think I'll be able to do that with these parts. As for recycling, I'm looking for something more inventive.

Perhaps an effigy?

An effigy would be.......interesting lol

But may I suggest craigslist (http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites.html) or Freecycle (http://www.freecycle.org/)?

[ArmpitOfDeath]

Put it on a raft, set it on fire and send it on it's way?

[burkhartmj]

Put it on a raft, set it on fire and send it on it's way?

mmmm a warrior's sendoff. Sadly, I think that's illegal in most if not all states. Then again that might just be human bodies :p

[tokenuser]

What are your desoldering skills like?

http://www.eco-artware.com/catalog/MB9-motherboard-clipboard.php

[mr-glass]

What are your desoldering skills like?

http://www.eco-artware.com/catalog/MB9-motherboard-clipboard.php

Ah, now thats a good idea! thanks!

[nextgenxbox]

Does the RAM still work? If so, can I have it? :) I'll pay the few bucks it'll cost to ship it.

[mr-glass]

sry, ram goes to my uncles PC.

I dont have enough time to desolder all those components by hand. There must be a way to do it without all that. Alternatively, can anyone think of a diff prject to do with the mobo? I love the idea of repurposing it.

[harrisd]

The following are very useful www.disposemypc.co.uk

[masherscf]

A great question that could be addressed to your local solid waste municipality.

[davisan]

A good heat gun will liberate most motherboards of their parts real quick. A cheaper idea, would be to down to the dollar store and get a foil oven container,and a cookie cooling stand (a whole two dollars). Then get some wood or charcoal briquettes heat those parts loose. YOU DO NOT want to do it in your barbecue pit for safety reasons. Goodwll computer centers love donations of old computers.

[tokenuser]

Goodwll computer centers love donations of old computers.Many have stopped accepting computers beyond a certain processor type because they aren't an item people want. Ditto on non LCD monitors regardless of size.

This is an old topic being recycled by a bot, but still a useful subject.

Just remember - a non working computer is worthless to most people, don't donate it as a way to get rid of non working garbage ... Call your local council about tech recycling.

If it is a functional computer, consider donating it. If there is a "make lab" type deal in your area, they take junkers and repurpose them.

Just don't send them to a landfil. That does no one any good.

[davisan]

The "computer" Goodwil center's are specifically for computer re-purposing. The "Make:" supported center in our town wants $60 a month to even walk in the door.

[tokenuser]

The "computer" Goddwil center's are specifically for computer re-purposing. The "Make:" supported center in our town wants $60 a month to even walk in the door.Even the Goodwill centers have cut down on accepting crap. There are some that tie electronics, chop them up, boil them down to component metals ... but they aren't that common and require an economy of scale to make it worthwhile. For most, the cost of high-tech recycling is more than the financial benefit of doing it. All I am saying is call first.

I am not a member of our local make lab (they work out of the basement of the building I take banjo lessons in), but they accept donations of all kinds of gear for salvage. You don't need to be a member to donate.

[davisan]

Most Goodwill stores do not take any computers, but they do have a special store that does. In fact, they will teach you how to build a computer. Once you have built so many, you will get a free one last I heard,Never been there though. Never get a chance to go over there. It is about 50-60 miles away, but spitting distance from where I used to live. I do go by the nearest Goodwill store to find things to hack. Glad to hear your "Make:" center does take donations, I would prefer to give my stuff to an entity that is not commercially profit oriented or to less fortunate college or high school geeks who would sell their sole to have that stuff. Teachers will tell you who they are or distribute it for you.

Pretended to play both the 4 and 5 string banjos back in college. Have not touched one since. Recently I was tempted to make a cookie tin banjo. Other things are more important, One of my younger brothers is much more musically inclined than me. He can play Hendrix type stuff to almost anything on anything. He is awesome.