It's crazy the good stuff people throw away! Computer finds!

[Dos3.1]

What great computer things have you gotten for free from the trash/recycling?

Here's my most recent find, was about to go into the trash/electronics recycling: a black IBM 17 inch CRT monitor (in great shape!), and a near-complete desktop (generic case, but with an ASUS MB that appears working, and ALL drives!). I use the monitor for a ThinkPad with a broken screen. The desktop I'll use for parts, or might rebuild. Looks like the power supply is shot, but will have to test it.

Other finds of the past include several IBM Model M keyboards that an office was getting rid of, in good to great shape! (Yes, I love most all old IBM stuff, not only TPs!)

[Dos3.1]

P.S.

I often watch these guys on YouTube that get a steady flow of vintage computer gear for free, or dirt cheap. I know they frequent secondhand stores, but I also know at least one of them has a buddy who works at an electronics recycling station. That would be a great contact to have if you're into vintage gear!

[Brad]

I agree there is much very usable computer related equipment that can be recycled.

I see some nice stuff whenever I bring anything to be recycled.

I know many who are still using much older stuff than people are throwing away or giving away.

I haven't found or saw laptops being given away but plenty of desktops.

One friend I call cheap a$$ Charlie replaced his troublesome computer with a $10 garage sale special. It still works. He thought he may have paid too much and found another couple or three waiting at curbside for the local garbage man to pickup. They worked too.

I tell anyone who asks to get the cheapest computer they can as any modern computer will run 99% of today's software.

My .01c.

Brad

[A31]

I've salvaged a lot in my time, but both of my ThinkPads (the A31 and the R40) came from the same guy and he was going to chuck them away. Dad gave them to me. Granted, both of them died after I got them (the R40 several days afterwards - my fault, and the A31 several months - board failure) but I got some enjoyment out of them.

Similarly, Dad rescued a little ASUS machine with a Pentium E5300, 4GB RAM and a 160GB HDD from being chucked out. Apparently something was up with the motherboard but I've not had any problems. I use it as a 'backup' PC in case anything ever happens to my custom desktop.

[jayton4]

I've salvaged a lot in my time, but both of my ThinkPads (the A31 and the R40) came from the same guy and he was going to chuck them away. Dad gave them to me. Granted, both of them died after I got them (the R40 several days afterwards - my fault, and the A31 several months - board failure) but I got some enjoyment out of them.

Similarly, Dad rescued a little ASUS machine with a Pentium E5300, 4GB RAM and a 160GB HDD from being chucked out. Apparently something was up with the motherboard but I've not had any problems. I use it as a 'backup' PC in case anything ever happens to my custom desktop.

The first time I read that, I thought you were saying that your dad and his friend both died shortly afterwards, and that it was your fault. Definitely a suspenseful read the first time through. Glad to hear that they are o.k. and that it was the machines that died.

[sir_synthsalot]

I wouldn't blame anyone for getting rid a CRT monitor these day. Big, heavy, uses a lot of power, and hurts your eyes. I have a perfect condition 17 inch one that I sometimes regret not taking to the recycling station because it just takes up room.

A lot of hardware is not old enough to be collectible, but not new enough to be usable today. Throwing away a good Pentium E5300 is a little crazy but I wouldn't blame anyone for getting rid of a working Pentium 4 box or Thinkpad R40. Someone somewhere might want it or use it, but not most people.

[A31]

The first time I read that, I thought you were saying that your dad and his friend both died shortly afterwards, and that it was your fault. Definitely a suspenseful read the first time through. Glad to hear that they are o.k. and that it was the machines that died.

Haha, I've just read it through again and see exactly what you mean! Didn't 'word' it terribly well, sorry.

Yes, Dad is certainly still alive (and I think the man who gave him the ThinkPads is too), but sadly both of the ThinkPads died long ago (about 4 years ago).

The reason I blame myself for the R40's death is becuase I tripped over the power cord whilst it was plugged in, knocked it out, and then the system would no longer boot (read about it here http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.ph ... 59#p547730). The A31 just died of some kind of motherboard failure about 3-4 months after I got it and it also refused to boot. I remember coming home from a holiday and discovering it wouldn't boot. Both of them were written off, but both still worked even though they were on their (very!) last legs. That Pentium E5300 machine was also written off but appears to function perfectly (but I've not booted it up or used it for any length of time in a little while).

[fefrie]

I have an addiciton to 19"LCD 4:3 monitors at the electronics recycling.

I started with one that I bought for $20 from the goodwill, and the screen wasn't that great.

I was recycling other electronics when I saw another 19" 4:3 lcd and I took it home and the picture was even better when I took it home.

I sold the first one off for $15 and realized that 4:3 monitors are being recycles for no good reason other than the shape of the screen.

I've taken maybe 3 or 4 4:3 monitors out and after picking the best, resell the others for $10-15.

It's an addiction, and I have to be sly about it because they recyclers are always trying make sure that people don't take stuff out.

I'm not sure why, I'm saving the environment.

[fefrie]

Subject: It's crazy the good stuff people throw away! Computer finds!

I have to be sly about it because they recyclers are always trying make sure that people don't take stuff out.

Please do explain. I have been in this depressing, powerless situation, where I see heaps and gobs of electronics which certainly must work, but the collection people say "it goes in, only. you cannot take any of it".

Where my goodwill is the donation in the back has two bays. One is regular donations, and the other is electronics recycling.

THere are also two entrances. If you go in one entrance, you have to cross the regular where they see you before you go to the other side.

If you go on the other side, they won't see you.

One time I went in the first entrance, and found a sweet 5 disc carousell dvd player. Wanted one for a very long time. However, it was a sunday, so the second entrance was closed and the guy saw me and wondered why he didn't see me walk back out. I was trapped and had to walk back and give back the dvd player.

So sad.

[pianowizard]

I have an addiciton to 19"LCD 4:3 monitors at the electronics recycling.

They don't exist! I am sure they are 5:4, with 1280x1024 resolution.

I prefer 17" 1280x1024 (to save space) and 20" 1600x1200 (for the additional real estate). For 19", 1680x1050 is my favorite res; unfortunately, it's fairly rare.

[fefrie]

I have an addiciton to 19"LCD 4:3 monitors at the electronics recycling.

They don't exist! I am sure they are 5:4, with 1280x1024 resolution.

I prefer 17" 1280x1024 (to save space) and 20" 1600x1200 (for the additional real estate). For 19", 1680x1050 is my favorite res; unfortunately, it's fairly rare.

Yup, you're right, and they're awsome. I've got the most crystal clear 5:4 out there.

Samsung 935b I think.

Fished it out of the recycling and sold the one it replaced.

[Dos3.1]

...(edited) The reason I blame myself for the R40's death is ....The A31 just died of some kind of motherboard failure about 3-4 months after I got it and it also refused to boot....Both of them were written off, but both still worked even though they were on their (very!) last legs. That Pentium E5300 machine was also written off but appears to function perfectly (but I've not booted it up or used it for any length of time in a little while).

I feel a little sad when an old, but beloved computer bites it (or, is that bytes it?).

I wouldn't blame anyone for getting rid a CRT monitor these day. Big, heavy, uses a lot of power, and hurts your eyes. I have a perfect condition 17 inch one that I sometimes regret not taking to the recycling station because it just takes up room.

A lot of hardware is not old enough to be collectible, but not new enough to be usable today. Throwing away a good Pentium E5300 is a little crazy but I wouldn't blame anyone for getting rid of a working Pentium 4 box or Thinkpad R40. Someone somewhere might want it or use it, but not most people.

I've never been "most people" If you are close by I might be able to help you with that CRT.

It depends on your needs, as to what machine you can use. I do agree with you that most people would not use a Pentium 4 or Thinkpad R40. But, I can think of many uses for such machines, like simple Web browsing, word processing, playing music/DVDs or as a server. I was using a custom P4 system for SD video editing up until recently (need to get it fixed, and the salvaged box I recently got looks like it's got the same ASUS MB that I need).

I've come across, or been given PCs by people who didn't know how to maintain them, so they ran very slowly after some time, so as to not be useable. Often, as I have witnessed, all that is required is to run CCleaner - it's amazing what a difference that alone can make in performance! I've brought a few systems back from the near dead with that. And/or they use the "wrong" OS for the system specs. I put a more suitable OS on such machines (usually a form of Linux) and they become fast enough to be useful most of the time.

Also, there is the nostalgia factor

I LOVE the old IBM CRT monitor I got! It's a beauty of design, like most IBM things, still works great and I have the space, so that's not an issue. It doesn't hurt my eyes. I don't use it a lot for power consumption to be an issue. It's not my main screen by any means, but a backup, or for systems that only have VGA output. It's not my only CRT monitor, either, LOL!

[Temetka]

As things move along I am far less likely to save hardware. For me to save a laptop it has to a business class machine. Anything else gets stripped for parts and tossed. Desktops also get stripped. A workstation might be saved if it's a Xeon, otherwise it too goes to the great shredder in the sky. I won't save a machine with anything less than a Core2Duo in it. I don't want to give machines to friends or family that are old and have to run Linux to feel quick. Secondly, I don't want to have to support that system either. So if it doesn't have a C2D, 4GB RAM it's outta here. Harsh yes, but makes my life so simple.

What I will save is vintage or retro gear, but I rarely come across that these days. I'd still love to get my hands on a Powerbook 2400c, but I highly doubt that. Maybe an X60T. That would be about it for me. I am no longer interested in old Sparc Stations, or Sun Microsystems gear or even old Macintosh towers. I would make an example for a PowerMac 8500. But I have a special place in my heart for that machine. Compact, highly upgradeable, looks great and nostalgia. My old 8500 was my first OS X machine, and really my first Mac. I learned everything from System 7 to OS X on that machine. I had other Mac's but the 8500 was my favorite bar none.

Finally, what's the point in holding on to old gear? I'd rather see someone with a Costco or Walmart special than a Pentium D or Pentium 4 machine. It'll be under warranty and I don't have to deal with it.

I still do love reading user stories of finds, tales of old gear still being used and whatnot. I just don't participate anymore, I watch from the sidelines occasionally throwing out a "nice one" or "d'oh!" depending on the user tale. But for those of you who still do this I wish you happy hunting.

[kony]

Some people do not throw away old laptops in good condition
http://youtu.be/Np2BR0bBbXs

[pianowizard]

I always try to sell unwanted computers and computer parts on Craigslist, and have so far managed to sell >95% of them. It's probably no longer possible to sell Pentium II and older computers, but a fully functional Pentium III computer can still fetch up to $20, Pentium 4 for up to $50, and Pentium D desktops or Pentium M laptops up to $100. Just last weekend, I sold a near-mint Latitude D810 with very nice specs (2.13GHz Pentium M, WUXGA, 2GB RAM, super slim charger) for $80.

On the other hand, it's impossible to get even $1 for a CRT monitor.

[sir_synthsalot]

I always try to sell unwanted computers and computer parts on Craigslist, and have so far managed to sell >95% of them. It's probably no longer possible to sell Pentium II and older computers, but a fully functional Pentium III computer can still fetch up to $20, Pentium 4 for up to $50, and Pentium D desktops or Pentium M laptops up to $100. Just last weekend, I sold a near-mint Latitude D810 with very nice specs (2.13GHz Pentium M, WUXGA, 2GB RAM, super slim charger) for $80.

On the other hand, it's impossible to get even $1 for a CRT monitor.

Interesting. Will try to sell some of my surplus hardware.

[Medessec]

Many, if not all, of the vintage Thinkpads I have are garbage finds, even my 701C can count. I got it in a gold salvage ebay auction... weirdly enough.

Other Thinkpads I find in the garbage are ones that usually belong there... R31s, G40s, and XGA-screened T42 15" laptops with Intel graphics.

I've also stumbled across numerous 1280x1024 displays. I even found a 1440x900 HP display with an attached USB-powered speaker and USB hub, in very good condition. It really was a good case of "why would someone throw that away?"

[pianowizard]

Interesting. Will try to sell some of my surplus hardware.

There are always folks looking for sub-$30 laptops, and sub-$10 desktops. People usually buy them for their little kids, or as a second machine.

This morning, I advertised my Barnes and Noble Nook HD+ tablet for $99. A guy responded within several minutes, and came and picked it up about 3 hours later. So much more convenient than selling on eBay.

I've also stumbled across numerous 1280x1024 displays. I even found a 1440x900 HP display with an attached USB-powered speaker and USB hub, in very good condition. It really was a good case of "why would someone throw that away?"

I've salvaged two fully functional LCD monitors in my department's recycle bin: a 17" 1280x1024 NEC monitor, and a 15" 1024x768 monitor (forget what brand). Both were in perfect working condition, and still are, almost two years after I found them. I also found a Dell Latitude D800 in the same bin, with a fantastic WUXGA screen. I used its LCD panel to upgrade/repair a D810 (which had a cracked WXGA screen), and many other parts to refurbish an Inspiron 8600, which is sort of a clone of the D800.

[pointyhat]

Sun E450 server found in a skip. Stacked with CPUs and RAM. Asked if I could take it and was told yeah. Got it home, whacked a couple of disks in it and installed Solaris. All fine. Sold it on ebay for £650 a week later.

A friend of mine found a PowerMac G5 on the street in London a few months ago, again without a disk. Not supported by recent OSX versions but it worked fine and is now a FreeBSD router.

[Temetka]

Some people do not throw away old laptops in good condition
http://youtu.be/Np2BR0bBbXs

That computer was still useful. It pained me to watch him drill the LCD. I closed the video about 40 seconds into it. I have no problem with e-cycling older hardware and reclaiming the materials. But wanton destruction of perfectly useable gear is wasteful and stupid.

[pianowizard]

That computer was still useful. It pained me to watch him drill the LCD.

I agree. Countless people are constantly looking to buy cheap, used laptops, like the Thinkpad in this video. It should have been either given away or sold to a good home. In general, I am against wasting anything, e.g. food, clothes, etc.

[Medessec]

I've seen that same video on YouTube... but fortunately I haven't seen any other videos of someone taking a really lovely Thinkpad and trashing it- maybe that's what I should do. Sell some cruddy Intel-only XGA-screend T42 on the Forum Marketplace, and if no one buys it in a certain amount of time, I make a video on YouTube of me destroying it.

I did make a video of my friend tossing a Thinkpad 310ED I had a long time ago, off the roof of my parent's house: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XXP790gqCM

But that laptop had it coming.

[kony]

Don't just destroy it like these videos show. If you have an old Thinkpad (or another laptop), try to make some endurance tests, beginning with some light stuff and gradually putting more and more strain on it until it finally breaks. Record everything with a video camera. This way you will make an actually useful video how much a thinkpad can take. I tried to look for some videos like that on youtube to know whether I need to be careful or not in some situations with my laptop, but I couldn't find them. They are all either: a) official by lenovo (which makes them doubtful), b) with people too scared to damage anything, therefore not doing any meaningful tests, and c) dudes like the one I posted, just destroying it randomly.

[Medessec]

and if no one buys it in a certain amount of time, I make a video on YouTube of me destroying it.

This I was joking about- just so I'm clear. I'd never destroy a Thinkpad unless it's for the sake of education, or reasonable entertainment. Or if I'm just plain angry at the Thinkpad, which was the case with that 310ED.

Stress-testing a Thinkpad to death seems like a more reasonable and interesting way to test a Thinkpad's durability. But it is a pretty sad and lengthy way of killing a Thinkpad...

[pointyhat]

and if no one buys it in a certain amount of time, I make a video on YouTube of me destroying it.

This I was joking about- just so I'm clear. I'd never destroy a Thinkpad unless it's for the sake of education, or reasonable entertainment. Or if I'm just plain angry at the Thinkpad, which was the case with that 310ED.

Stress-testing a Thinkpad to death seems like a more reasonable and interesting way to test a Thinkpad's durability. But it is a pretty sad and lengthy way of killing a Thinkpad...

I stress tested my T61. I got angry with Visual Studio and threw the thing across the room whilst open. Was absolutely fine much to my surprise! Battery fell out but no damage at all apart from a slightly flattened corner where it landed.

[pianowizard]

Stress-testing a Thinkpad to death seems like a more reasonable and interesting way to test a Thinkpad's durability.

I think it's pointless to stress-test an old laptop, since the years of use would have taken a toll on the laptop's structural integrity.

[A31]

Countless people are constantly looking to buy cheap, used laptops, like the Thinkpad in this video. It should have been either given away or sold to a good home. In general, I am against wasting anything, e.g. food, clothes, etc.

I am in agreement. I try not to waste anything. Always be grateful for what you have. What you have, others may not have, and what you no longer want, somebody may want.

Just sold a few bits and pieces of eBay. We've sold two (very tired) mattresses on eBay for £23 for the pair (which we were staggered by!), I've just sold my old Fuji S4000 camera for £48 and I'm going to put my old Xbox 360 steering wheel on eBay soon. I could have thrown all of those away, but wanted to see if anybody else wanted them first.

[kony]

Stress-testing a Thinkpad to death seems like a more reasonable and interesting way to test a Thinkpad's durability.

I think it's pointless to stress-test an old laptop, since the years of use would have taken a toll on the laptop's structural integrity.

It's not fifty years old harware, laptops are like 15 years old tops, they didn't detoriate that quickly unless they were of crap quality to begin with.

[Medessec]

Countless people are constantly looking to buy cheap, used laptops, like the Thinkpad in this video. It should have been either given away or sold to a good home. In general, I am against wasting anything, e.g. food, clothes, etc.

I am in agreement. I try not to waste anything. Always be grateful for what you have. What you have, others may not have, and what you no longer want, somebody may want.

I completely agree as well- however, sometimes, it's just difficult to make something go to a good place when you know you don't need it anymore. And if you think I'm wrong, if you go to a toy drive, your laptop gets put up as a stupid raffle prize, and if you take it to GoodWill, it gets thrown on the shelf in their stupid secondhand superstore and sold for $15, to someone who has no idea how to use it.

If I can't sell something, and if it still has some use, like a Thinkpad, I'll do my best to see if someone else can make good use of it. I gave a G40 to my friend's little brother, a R30 to my grandparent's friend, and an old 90s Toshiba laptop to my neighbors, all for free. Because I couldn't find any other home for it, and I know they'll still make some proper use of it. It's what I would've wanted.

If everyone else was like that, I think we'd be alright. I see most of us on here are like that too- and that's an awesome feeling.

Some people see Thinkpads and other stuff a bit differently... it's like food, or other perishables(single-use items). They get it for free, or $15, which to them, is nothing. So they can drill through the screen, take a saw to the plastics and body, and hammer it around and destroy it, because it's a good minute or two of fun, just like paying for a round of laser tag.

Some laptops are okay to destroy. I'd extend this to any HP DV-series owner, and the only Thinkpads at the moment that fall under this are any Acer-made Thinkpads(R-series, G-series, i-series), Dell Latitude, Acer Aspire, etc.

[pianowizard]

Some laptops are okay to destroy. I'd extend this to any HP DV-series owner, and the only Thinkpads at the moment that fall under this are any Acer-made Thinkpads(R-series, G-series, i-series)

However, if you ever come across an i Series 1124, please do not destroy it! It is almost certainly the rarest Thinkpad of all time. It may be the only laptop that I wish I had not sold.