In Many Parts Of The World, Having A Personal Computer Has Become One Of The Necessities Of Life In Society. 

Thus, you may have thrown away several personal computers over the years and replaced them with newer and more powerful models.

With the increasing development of technology, most of us have gone to portable computers such as laptops and tablets, and we are faced with a large case in the dimensions of the Hulk on the table, which has no special use.

Many of us buy a new technology device, keep the old one, from headphones and keyboard to iPods and TVs, and don’t throw it away.

Since technology has become an inseparable part of our lives, the number of gadgets around us is increasing yearly, and the sad thing is that sometimes many of these gadgets have no use. These devices can potentially become harmful materials, and it might be better to reuse or at least recycle them.

The best time to start recycling or reusing devices was 20 years ago, just like planting trees. But the next best time is now, and if you don’t know what to do with your old home computers, stay with Gadget News to examine ten of their uses.

Network Attached Storage (NAS)

These days we are constantly moving between our different computer devices. We may be browsing the Internet on a laptop now and, a few minutes later, scrolling on our mobile phones on the sofa. This movement between different devices depends on our use and access to specific content not available on a laptop or phone, and we will eventually get tired and bored by alternately using different devices. But by turning old home computers into storage memory accessible through a Wi-Fi network, this problem can be solved once and for all.

To summarize, a NAS device is used to access various files. As long as your devices are connected to a common wireless network, there is no limit to the number of devices connected to this memory. NAS is a personal and home Dropbox where you can share the files you and your family need. There are many NAS devices on the market that you can buy, but if you have a new computer sitting around the house, we suggest using it as NAS storage.

The first step to building a NAS device is to choose the operating system. If your old computer has a Windows operating system, you can launch it by downloading third-party programs such as Resilio Sync. You can also install the TrueNAS operating system for this purpose. This operating system has deeper learning than third-party Windows programs, and it may not be as easy to work with as Windows, but you will have a smoother and faster experience using files.

Dig and dig

If we look at it from a negative point of view, old home computers only take up space and collect dust. In this way, not only will it always be a device in front of your eyes that has no use, but cleaning the dirt on it will become an additional task in cleaning the house. But if we change our perspective positively, this computer is considered an opportunity. If you are interested in searching through computers with different operating systems or want to know how a computer is made, the same old computer can help you now. Your lack of interest in your old computer could be your ticket to discovering your inner talents and hidden passions.

If you’ll trash your old computer anyway, don’t be afraid to do things wrong. Go ahead and install operating systems like Linux, Haiku, or other open-source operating systems available on the Internet and see what different features different operating systems offer. Suppose you are interested in computer parts and want to know how other parts of the casework; you can easily open the case and remove its features. Of course, before doing this, please turn off the computer and remove its two plugs from the power outlet. Destroying old home computers won’t be a big deal, but killing your body can have painful consequences, So proceed with caution.

Donate processing power

Home computers, even the old ones, perform much faster than humans, especially for multitasking. But they also have their limitations, and for example, you can’t model galaxies using your home computer or find out how to store protein in your body, At least not just using your home computer. This is where distributed processing comes into play.

The main idea of ​​this work is based on breaking and dividing a large task into smaller and lighter duties. These smaller tasks are then delegated to a large number of computers. For example, while rendering a video, the rendering process is divided into several parts and performed by several computers simultaneously. Sometimes it is also possible to do the whole process with a computer, but purchasing such a computer can be costly.

Scientists have gone beyond simple computer tasks; by dividing huge and complex tasks into thousands or millions of smaller parts and using computers worldwide, they dramatically reduce processing time.

Your old home computers can stop being shut down and become useful and efficient by joining projects like MindModeling@Home, which works to understand how the human brain works. The MilkyWay@Home project is also busy preparing a 3D model of our galaxy, and you can help organize this model with your old computer. If you’re into solving puzzles and codes, you can add your computer to the project to unlock three old Enigma codes that were extracted from the North Atlantic in 1942 and remain unsolved. There are various distributed processing projects worldwide; you can find other projects with a search.

Become a game server.

A personal game server can be a golden rule if you are interested in playing group and multiplayer games with your friends and do not want to compete with other players online. A private server for online multiplayer games will allow you to control the players and the game space, and you can invite your friends to join.

One of the most common ways to build a game server is to rent a server, which you provide in exchange for a monthly subscription fee. In this case, you will not have access to any settings, and as soon as an update is provided for the game, you must download and install it to continue playing. But if old home computers make the game server, the only cost will be the electricity that turns on that computer.

Creating a server for playing online using your main computer is also possible. Still, you should know that that computer uses previously used resources to process the game. This way, if you turn your new computer into a server, you will be more comfortable, and the game will be smoother. The program required to create a server depends on the fun or games you want to run. For example, Minecraft has special software to create a server, but Steam is compatible with most games. If you don’t know what program to use for your game server, Steam can be a good place to start.

Home arcade machine

One of the main reasons people throw away their home computers is their old age and lack of technological progress. They are no longer suitable for everyday tasks and have many shortcomings. But your old computer’s weakness can become its strength if we accept what it is: a technological time machine from years ago.

Your old computer may be unable to perform heavy and modern processing, but it can be great for doing old tasks and playing games from childhood. Although unnecessary, if you like old Sega games, you can turn them into a home arcade by installing a new operating system and only installing programs to run the old games. In this way, the processing hardware of the device will not be used to run other useless programs in the background.

Now it’s time to install your games. We suggest you go for games from the PlayStation 1 era and older. Old games can be downloaded on the Internet, and you can easily install a ROM or converter (Emulator) to run them on your old computer.

Personal media server

Not long ago, every home had a special case for storing VHS or DVD movies. At that time, the more discs were, the greater the family’s interest in film, and it was proven that they were “movie lovers.” Gradually, with the advent of Blu-ray, physical media slowly entered the phase of denial of destruction, and finally, with digital downloads, physical movies joined memories.

Today, most media files have become digital in the cloud or on our hard drives. To watch these files on TV, you will need a flash disk with a high capacity, and after spending a few tens of minutes, you can watch several episodes of a series on TV this way. But old home computers can serve as your old DVD library and replace the old DVD player on your desk.

Perhaps the easiest way to watch your movies and series on TV is to run an HDMI cable from your computer to your TV. This way, the TV will become a giant monitor with access to all your media files. But if you hate pulling cables, you can upload your favorite files online with a service like Plex and then watch them with a Chromecast.

A computer for guests or family

In the 90s, when personal computers were gaining ground, almost every family had a home computer. This computer was placed in the central point of the house (such as the hall) or the basement. Families concerned about technology had a separate room for their computers and even used another phone line to connect to the Internet. But these days, every family member has at least one computer, from mobile phones and tablets to personal computers such as laptops. The advancement of technology has made us much more comfortable while working with our computers, but that family aspect of the computer has largely disappeared.

You can revive some of that old computer vibe by rebooting old home computers. Put the computer in the center of the house so anyone who wants to go online can use it. When holding a party, this computer can bring you more convenience because you won’t need to lend your personal computers to guests to get online.

Even if your family computer is not used much, at least the younger members of your family will notice how the behavior of home computers has changed and see the history of computers more concretely.

Making a top-secret spy camera

This application may not be the best use of old home computers, but it works well. You can use the clutter of your old computer and turn it into a spy camera. Suppose your laptop has a webcam (integrated with the monitor or placed separately). In that case, you can easily turn your computer into an ad hoc security camera to monitor your home environment.

All you have to do is plug in your computer, turn it on, and connect to the Internet. Then you will need a program to access your webcam online. There are many programs for this; some paid and some free. If you want to install a spy camera, then your program should be sensitive to the movements created in the environment.

One of the programs that detect movement and can notify you is Yawcam, available for free. The app can stream video online, take snapshots of the scene, and even record time-lapse videos. Now put the camera in the right place. Due to the aged appearance of the computer, no one will even think about using its webcam as a spy and may do anything in front of the camera. If you want to use your webcam for other things, many apps can help you.

Video calling device

Making video calls with old home computers may not be as big and beautiful as we saw in “Back to the Future Part II.” Still, the ability to make video calls with an old computer will combine modern technology with a nostalgic feeling. Maybe this experience is not stylish and contemporary, but it will be beneficial, and you can easily talk with your friends.

If you frequently use programs like Zoom, Google Meets, Skype, Microsoft Teams, etc., you probably won’t get anything else done during a video call. Having an active video conversation and watching everyone in the conversation will occupy at least half of your screen, and you will not have access to the rest of your computer. An old computer can be dedicated entirely to video calling, leaving you free to use your main computer simultaneously.

If you can place your computer in the center of the house, such as the hall or kitchen, the range of things you can do simultaneously with the video call will increase. You will feel more comfortable and free by freeing up your hands and reducing the active steps to participate in a video call.

Removal of functional parts

Finally, if your old home computer isn’t working well enough for you to take advantage of its computing nature, you can open its case and remove the still intact parts. These parts may be used in your other gadgets and computers one day.

The computer parts that can be easily reused are cases, fans, DVD or CD players, power supplies, and hard drives. Reusing a hard drive is very simple; you can attach it to your new computer for more storage space. You can also buy a frame and turn it into an external hard drive for larger scales and applications.

The first step to remove the hard drive is to make sure the computer is turned off and disconnect the two plugs from the power outlet. How to separate the hard drive from the case will depend on the hard drive model, and we suggest that if you are not familiar with computer technical issues, do not do this yourself. Then buy a USB adapter for your hard drive to connect it to other computers like an external hard drive. The soul of your old computer may be gone, but its components can still help you with your daily tasks.