Linux For Old Computers

[NativeAngels]

Hello I like to fix old computers and laptops from parts that have been given away with linux and would like to hear from other people who also do this. Its amazing how much pefectly useable hardware ends up on the recycling dump. How do you all go about harvesting parts from pc towers or parts that you get given. What do you keep and what do you pass on ?

[nujinini]

I tried to do this before but it was kinda tedious on my part since the parts I got happen to be incompatible. I didn't have the patience

I'd rather get an old 2nd or 3rd hand computer which are sold very cheap. I did not buy too however since I heard that power consumptions on old PCs are really high.

But then again, if you enjoy doing it, I support you and may you enjoy the hunt


Cheers!

[chadfluegge]

The parts that I harvest tend to vary depending on what I discover after going through the machine. Sometimes the motherboards are bad, and only the cpu, RAM, hds, psus and optical drives are salvageable. Other times, the entire computer is still usable. Unless I know for certain that a part is unusable, I tend to keep whatever pats I can. I don't know how many people I have been able to help repair their old computers, because I still have some older hardware that was able to replace their broken parts.

Currently, my home server is a hodge-podge of several different older PIII's that I bought on the cheap. Actually, I had 3 PIII's that I had laying around, one of the motherboards was bad, so I stripped the one case and assembled my wife's P4 machine inside of that one. Some of the remaining pieces were than thrown together for my server and put into one of the other cases. All other remaining parts are now sitting my drawer, while the case is sitting on my floor waiting for me to get my butt in gear and build my second wooden computer case.

Recycling and repurposing old computers is great fun! All the best!

[Rubberman]

Salvageable:

1. Power Supplies
2. Disc Drives (floppy, hd, cd/dvd)
3. Add-in Boards (video cards, I/O cards, etc)
4. Memory Sticks
5. Cables, Fans, Card Cages
6. Anything not soldered in mostly
7. Motherboards (unless someone let the smoke out)

Sometimes Salvable:

1. CPUs
2. CPU Cooling Devices (you'll need to detach from CPU with care and get new heat-sink paste/tape)

Not Salvageable:

1. Most Connectors (probably soldered in)
2. Board-level components
3. Anything that looks like it has been overheated

Just my take on it. Back in the dark ages of personal computing (1980's) I did a stint as a repair technician - factory trained by IBM, HP, AT&T, Apple, and Zenith. Still have the certificates somewhere...

[Phred]

I flirt with it from time to time. I live in Portland Oregon - ground zero of the "Silicon Forest" surrounded by high tech comanies and awash in surplus and off-lease PCs. Plus, my "day job" is running a small business doing contract support for a major PC manufacturer's servers and business-grade desktops. I've been dealing with PCs since the late '80s. I'll fix up a good not-too-old offlease PC for friends or family. I've tried doing the same with selling whole working PCs to the general public locally via craigslist and leftover pieces/parts via ebay. I make some pocket change here and there but it never really works out. Three reasons:

1. Even buying off-lease PCs at essentially the per-pound scrap metal value, there's not enough margin in what I can sell it for when I consider the value of the time it takes to de even a minimal checkout and load an OS. The few times I've done it I'll bet that all told I didn't EVEN make minimum wage.

2. Sell someone a PC, and you're their support line for all of eternity for free with an infinite warranty on whatever you sold. I don't care how much you stress that it ain't that way at the time of sale , they still expect it. It ain't worth the hassle.

3. I'd be happy to give away a PC if people would pay me to support it. My business customers will do it. My standard rate is $92/hr, and I will occasionally give a box away just to get my foot in the door with a new client. The general public won't pay that. Hell, most won't pay even half that.

Not to get on a rant here, but it's point #3 that really burns my ass sometimes. With a typical consumer, if their car breaks down, they'll go to a mechanic and pay $90/hr. If they need electrical or plumbing work, they'll hire a plumber or electrician and pay the same rate. But if their computer goes down then, well, it's a different story.

I will help out people on line in forums like this and a few others I frequent. I'll ask questions and I'll answer them. What goes around, comes around. But I'll be damned if i'll ever deal with the 'general public' again.

Bottom line is, I'll fix up the occasional high-end surplus pc for friends or family. Anything less, I just give it to the local goodwill or other charity (there are 2 or 3 in town), and let them deal with the general public. it just isn't worth it to do anything else.