BOOT CAMP 497 (23/10/07) – Ten uses for an old PC, part 2
If
you have decided against, selling, giving away or otherwise disposing of your
old computer – see part 1 -- then here are a few more ideas for putting it to good
use.
Salvaging
the more valuable or useful parts is one possibility, especially if it is past
its prime, faulty or unreliable, and what’s left, can be taken to your local
recycling centre. Most of the components in a 4 or 5 year-old PC will be virtually
obsolete but you might get a few pounds for the motherboard, CPU and cooling
fan assembly if you put it on ebay, particularly if it was once a top-of the
line combination. There is always a steady demand from people repairing faulty
machines, though be honest about the condition, particularly if you cannot
guarantee the parts are in full working order.
There’s
not much you can do with old memory modules if they won’t fit your current
machine, which is highly unlikely since the technology changes so frequently,
but once again they should have some second hand value, just don’t expect to
get anything like their original cost.
If
you have a lot of data on floppy discs then it’s worth hanging on the floppy
drive if your current PC isn’t fitted with one. Most computers will have space
for one inside the case and if the cables are not already fitted they are
readily available from PC parts suppliers for a few pounds.
One
component you definitely should remove and keep is the hard drive. If it is a
standard ATA/IDE type – and most are -- with a capacity 20Gb or more then it
can be easily put back into service as a second ‘slave’ drive in your present
PC. Better still, you could use it as an external USB hard drive, which can be
used for backup and transferring large files.
All
you need is an external hard drive case or enclosure kit. They cost from around
£10 - £15 from online suppliers, like aria.co.uk and ebuyer.co.uk. Once you
have removed the drive from your old PC (see this week’s Top Tip), simply fit the
two plugs for the data lead and power supply, pop the drive inside the case and
it is ready to use.
These
kits normally come with a mains power adaptor and a USB cable. Just plug it
into your PC and it will be recognised as an external drive by Windows XP and
Vista (you may need to install a driver on Windows 98 machines, these are
included with the kit). You can then copy any files that you need on to the
hard drive in your new PC, after which you can format the old drive and use it
for data storage.
If you can’t bear to dismantle your old PC, and
it is still in good working order but no longer able to keep up with recent
Windows applications you can continue to use it, have some fun and learn a few
new tricks, by reformatting the drive and installing Linux.
Linux is a free ‘Open Source’ operating system
that has been popular with enthusiasts for years, but until fairly recently it
required a degree of knowledge in order to use it. Within the last five years,
though, newer versions or ‘distributions’ of Linux have come along that look,
work and are as easy to use as Windows. With a Linux PC you can surf the web
send and receive emails, play games, print documents and do pretty well all of
the things you do with Windows. Most distributions come bundled with a good
assortment of programs and a fully featured office suite that includes a
powerful Word-compatible word processor, Excel compatible spreadsheet,
presentation and database software.
As an added bonus Linux flies along, even on
ancient Windows 98 PCs. It is virtually immune to viruses and its stability and
reliability are legendary. There are hundreds of distributions to chose from,
the best known and most Windows-like being Linspire, Mandriva, Ubuntu and
Fedora, there are almost too many in fact, but you will find an easy to follow
guide to installing Linux in Boot
Camp 446, and look out for a new Boot Camp series on the simplest route to
Linux yet, starting in a couple of weeks.
The last suggestion this week is to keep your
old PC ready and waiting as an emergency backup. If your main PC suffers a
catastrophic failure you can be back working again in just a few minutes. This
requires a little preparation and planning, the most important consideration
being that you routinely backup up your work preferably to CD, DVD or an
external drive. Your emergency PC should also be configured for Internet
access, and have the programs you rely upon installed. If the PC is in storage
then it’s important to take it out and check that it is still working every few
weeks.
An extra refinement would be to fit a removable
drive carrier; these cost around £10 from online sellers. If your work PC keels
over just remove the hard drive, slip it into the caddy and load it into the
emergency PC and you’ll be able to retrieve important data and continue
working.
Next Week – Ten uses for an
old PC, part 3
JARGON FILTER
ATA/IDE
Advanced
Technology Attachment/Integrated Drive Electronics; the circuitry -- built into
the disc drive – that acts as an interface between the drive and the PC
motherboard
MOTHERBOARD
The main printed circuit
board inside a PC, with sockets for the processor chip, memory modules,
expansion cards and connections for printer, mouse, keyboard and other
peripherals
OPEN
SOURCE
Software
with minimal licensing and broad, often free distribution, which users are
encouraged to help develop
TOP TIP
Removing a hard drive
from a desktop PC only takes a few minutes and the only tool you will need is a
small to medium sized Philips screwdriver with a longish shaft. Disconnect the
mains cable then take off the lid or side panels. Remove the power connector
then the data cable. Try not to twist or strain the data cable plug as this may
bend the fine connecting pins. Next, remove the retaining screws; there are
usually two each side, then slide the drive out from its ‘bay’ taking care not
to touch the connectors or exposed components.
Don't forget, there's a
full archive of previous Boot Camp Top Tips at www.pctoptips.co.uk
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© R. Maybury 2007, 2609
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