I have a Sony all in one PC to dispose of. I would, ideally like it to go to a charity to use, rather than sell. I know I can go to Freecycle, but in my experience the peeps that come for free items can well afford to buy new. any suggestions please?
As well as selling items, some charities only see value in dealing with recyclers, but there are other destinations. Do you have a local community centre running computers courses for the disadvantaged etc.
Not a suggestion as to who to donate it to, but do make sure you've overwritten everything on the HD before you do, not just superficially deleted it.
Is 'Boot and Nuke' still the preferred software option for this process?
Historically I've always removed Hard Drives and properly trashed them using any weapon of choice but I can see that the OP will have ruled out this option.
One alternative is to sell it and donate the money. Most charities must have the IT equipment they need, and it would be a nightmare to administer a rag-bag of different donated PCs.
Or find a donee you think is in need of a PC, but as you say that's much harder. Hence, my first suggestion.
Besides that, most people would also want an internet connection, and if they can't afford a PC can they afford an internet connection?
Other than for SSDs, yes.
Why not SSDs?
Install linux and a huge disk and build yourself a home NAS and media server.
DBAN will do the job, but it'll also wipe the OS. No problem if you are going to put a Linux distro such as Mint on it, but it might be a nuisance if you wanted Windows (even an old, unsupported version like XP, and very soon Vista).
Most of the reason to ditch a working PC is that it no longer runs even an old version of windows properly.
Mind you the most expensive thing in a PC is probably the case, then the processor, then te ram then the motherboard and then the disk..
so keep the case, and renew everything else...
Computing with information without an internet connection ...
Endless OS
SSD? - on a 12+ year old desktop?? I think I'm safe using DBAN ;)
PS I wish the article you linked to was easier to read, I got lost part way through due To unnecessary Use Of capitals - Still, it is a USofA company :)
I had no idea what kind of PC it was. I was merely answering the question as asked.
Well, I wasn't going to spend too much time Googling things for you. At least, not without getting paid.
Overwriting multiple times is pointless
NT
That's really neat!
I know. It was meant as a light hearted comment.
OK - but I wasn't the one who asked about SSD issues and merely commented on the difficulty caused by the number of unnecessary capital letters in the linked article. It wasn't a dig at you..
Is the first of April a bad day for you?
Hmm - that used to be the Government requirement in the UK unless HDD was removed and otherwise destroyed. Why do you suggest it is pointless now?
Because he's an idiot?
It's likely paranoid for domestic users, but why not? It doesn't cost much and it's easy to do.
Sorry. Wife poorly (nothing serious). Not in the best of moods.
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