What to do with a really old computer
 

I work from a home office and unfortunately have had to maintain several platforms due to the software requirements of my major client.

Not long ago I found out that I no longer have to maintain the oldest one, which is a duel boot system with Windows 95 and Windows NT. It has no USB ports, 128MB RAM (in 4 32 MB cards), 100 GB hard drive, a CD ROM, and a 133 Mhz Pentium, no ethernet card - it can access the internet, but only through dial up.

I do have data on the hard drive that needs to be erased, but I'm wondering if what I've described of has any value (I'd give it away gladly - not looking to sell it) to anyone or if it is even usable.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Of course, I have a friend in his 60s that only just got rid (under two years ago) of his IBM 8086 with 256K RAM and no hard drive. He used Lotus 123 for spreadsheets and saved everything to 5 3/4 inch floppies. Didn't want to have to learn Excel.

Ralphie's dad had old computers with hard drives that needed erasing. So we did an old fashioned method of getting rid of info on hard drives. We removed them and took a sledgehammer to them. Lots of fun for the whole family.

I've done that before. I'm planning on doing that if I can't find something useful to do with the computer.

It's a great way to relieve stress.

Tape the event if you do resort to such measures. Put it to some ass-kicking music, and you got yourself a video!

I have given all of my old computers and other epuipment to my friend Charlie who refurbishes them and set up newly sober people with a computer and some learning tools.

There's a Goodwill near us with a special electronics store featuring old computers, fax machines, etc. I suppose if you worry a lot about people digging up your data it wouldn't be ideal, but still.

That's what I was thinking. There are places that you can donate your old computers. I bet someone could get a lot of use out of it.