[July 25, 2011] The ultimate reboot: recycling computer hardware Tweet BERLIN, Jul 24, 2011 (dpa - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- When your computer outlives its usefulness, do you sell it, donate it or take it to the dump? Those are the standard options. But a new do-it-yourself movement is offering something else, an afterlife. Today's hardware is often outdated after just a few years, meaning it's time to get more modern equipment. But instead of just getting rid of your old machines, try to find another use for them. In some parts of the world, like Europe, there are programmes designed to encourage technical reincarnation. Recycling of electronics and electronic components is "essential" for the environment, according to EU waste guidelines. And, when it comes to reusing electronics, the sky is the limit. Here are some suggestions: Put some housing on your hard drive: This one is very easy to implement. Even if it's just a 20-gigabyte (GB) drive, an old hard drive is ideal as an external drive for data backups. All you need is a housing with a USB connection, available for just a few euros in most stores. You'll need a 3.5-inch version for PC hard drives or a 2.5-inch version for laptop hard drives. Be careful when setting up the connections. Older drives use the IDE plug while newer ones use a SATA plug. Even if your notebook or PC lacks a USB 3.0 port, it's still worthwhile to buy a housing that supports the newer, faster USB standard. Turn a computer into a network drive: Old PCs or unused laptops or netbooks can be turned into a home network drive. First, take out everything that's unnecessary and uses up power. That means graphics, sound and video cards. For software, Manuel Schreiber of the German computer magazine Chip recommends using an old Windows license with the freeware FileZilla server. When installing, pick the option "Install as a service started with Windows," so that the programme starts with Windows. Users who want to access the mini-server need the free FTP client FileZilla. Turn your PC into a media centre: If you don't have a digital video recorder or a network-capable receiver, turn your PC into your living room's home movie centre for accessing movies, pictures, music or internet radio. If your computer doesn't have the appropriate TV connections, like HDMI, Schreiber recommends buying a cheap graphics card with the proper ports. The software you'll need to set up the media centre is usually free, like the open source MediaPortal, which can work with a variety of remote controls. It also comes with a variety of skins and plug-ins. Some of those expansions include emulators, little programmes that simulate the consoles of old computers, like the Amiga, and then pull up the appropriate games. Thus, your media centre also becomes a gaming console. Routers into repeaters: An old wi-fi router still has a long life ahead of it. For example, it can be repurposed as a repeater, or signal amplifier, to expand the reach of a house's wi-fi network. That expanded signal can then, for example, reach into upper storeys or the garden. This works best using the wireless distribution system (WDS) with a router made by the same manufacturer. Routers that don't support WDS can often be turned into repeaters using the free Linux software DD-WRT. Laptop as second monitor: If you need a second monitor and have an old laptop handy, turn that mobile computer into a second screen for your PC. Since laptops have no video input, you'll need special software like Maxivista. This installs a virtual graphics card onto your PC and tricks Windows into thinking that an additional monitor has been connected to the computer, says developer Gunnar Bartels. This forces the operating system to expand the desktop over both graphics cards. The virtual graphics card then sends its part of the desktop to the notebook via LAN or wi-fi, where the second desktop half is then displayed. Processors as fridge magnets: Computer power can be turned into holding power. Thus, a well-affixed magnet can turn an old processor and other chips into refrigerator magnets. This simple and decorative idea was the result of a hardware hacking contest by German computer magazine c't. Cooling elements of processors or graphics cards can also make great business card or letter holders. To see more of dpa, go to http://www.dpa.de/English.82.0.html Copyright (c) 2011, dpa, Berlin Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]