Lucky you. You received a new, updated personal computer for Christmas. Now, what are you going to do with your old one? How about giving it away to someone who could make good use of it?

By Joe Ebner

One of the best things anyone can do with their old outdated computer is to donate it to someone who otherwise cannot afford one. It doesn’t have to be the fastest machine in the world for another to get started with the joys of personal computing and online access.

First, Look To Family

This is easy for most people as almost everyone has a family member who would be more than happy to receive a donated computer. These days, a computer can change a person’s life and, school children need computers today as much or more as books. Giving your old machine to a family member can also allow you the opportunity to spend time with the recipient showing them how to get started with basic operations.

Rich Guy For A Day

If you don’t have a family member who needs it you can be a rich guy for a day by donating your used PC to church group, school, civic organization, senior center, or disadvantaged youth center. These organizations barely have enough funds to keep afloat, much less have enough money to buy the latest in computing power. If you don’t know how to proceed, check with your pastor or school principal for help in finding a worthy target.

No Hassle Give-Away

Don’t want to bother with the hassle of locating someone who could use your old PC yourself? There are several non-profit organizations that accept donations of computer equipment, refurbish them and pass them along to someone who could use it. Check the FreeBytes site for a start. Although they are an organization based in Atlanta Georgia, their site has links to similar organizations around the country.

Before You Donate

Although giving your computer away is an easy way to be rid of it, there are a few things you should do before you actually hand it over.

• To avoid the recipient getting their hands on personal information or any other files that may be on the computer’s hard disk, it may be best to re-format the drive. This procedure completely erases any and all data present on the disk - including all programs and the computer’s operating system. (We have all read or heard the stories of individuals buying what they thought were new computers only to find personal files and information from a previous owner already on the disk.) Formatting the drive is a fairly easy job. You already have the tools to do it.

• Read and follow the copyright and user information for any software you may want to install on the computer after you clean off the hard disk. Some of the legal requirements for use of software is fuzzy and very sketchy at best. You don’t want to get yourself or the new owner of your old computer into any legal battles. Be sure to include any manuals documentation that goes with the software. Throw in the original disks too.