What to do with old xp computers

[smary]

Several of my students have replaced their old XP and we are wondering if they are usable to someone!!! They are going to take the hard drives out and wonder if its worth passing on the towers and monitors etc

[geared]

A charity or something might take them, I think there's one in Sheffield that re purposes old equipment or something??

 

Chances are they're not far off being tip material tho, computers don't usually last a great many years - stuff breaks, and they can only run limited software anyway.

[speleo1]

put up for sale on forum always somebody to buy them,

if not these take them below

 

http://www.aspire-sheffield.co.uk/

[jfish1936]

How much secure data have they on these computers?

In a similar situation, I wiped the HDD with an appropriate program, and then installed a Linux distro from a magazine cover disc. The result was a computer with office programs and internet access, which was usable; cost -- a few hours of my spare time.

A pensioner neighbour was grateful for it. As far as I can see, she has not accessed my bank accounts, sent obscene emails in my name, or attempted to blackmail me over material discovered on my drive.

[davyboy]

as far as i can see, she has not accessed my bank accounts, sent obscene emails in my name, or attempted to blackmail me over material discovered on my drive.

 

................ Yet:d

 

---------- Post added 25-07-2014 at 14:16 ----------

 

What's happened to my smiley?

[esme]

You need a space between the smiley and the 'Yet'

[anywebsite]

If they're students, maybe they should learn how to securely wipe a hard drive.

[davyboy]

You need a space between the smiley and the 'Yet'

.............Thanks

[the_bloke]

I don't know why you are all wittering on about the hard drives, when the first post says the students are removing them.

 

In essence you have a low spec (guessing Dual Core, 2 Gb RAM type of spec) which would be perfectly suitable for a Linux based machine if you put a new drive in it, as long as it wasn't a heavy distro.

[anywebsite]

Well, it wouldn't need a new drive if it was wiped, it'd still work. They could even keep them as a second computer & put Linux on, they'd still be usable then unless they're really old. If you wipe the drives properly then there's no problem with selling them or passing them on to somebody else, a normal format isn't enough though, they need to be fully overwritten. Some old computers are probably just scrap though, or maybe even retro museum pieces, really depends on the computer.