What to do with old computer?

MrSafeGaz

mjr600 wrote: »

People own cars and know what the wheels and engine are, where to put the shopping and how to fill up the windscreen washer, generally how the thing works. It's the same with the oven, the dishwasher and the TV.

It almost sounds as if you are comparing these things to setting up a hardware firewall et al..

Not even close in terms of complexity. I think those who are technically able, myself included, sometimes assume a little too much in terms of how 'simple' something is to do regarding computers. It takes a lot more time, effort and experience to become confident with the more indepth subjects around computers than it does operating an oven

Blacksheep1979

bookduck wrote: »

It is virus/hacking/hijacking proof

The day someone finds something that is that (whilst conencted to a network) is the day lots of my friends become very upset and lose their jobs. Nothing is hack proof.

As to the op, make sure you wipe the hd with something like dban (don't just format it) and stick it on freecycle. With the price of computers from the likes of Dell these days you aren't going to see anything for it.

scheming_gypsy

I've always found that too.. i think they should change the name from 'computer'. People will sit on the floor for hours fiddling with a video or DVD recorder trying to get it to work but as soon as the word 'computer' is mentioned they get a scared expression as though doing anything with it is like disarming a nail bomb.

chuckles1066

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Far too many techy people on here these days. How many average users would know what a firewall, NAS or know what Linux is..

The OP asked for suggestions and was offered some, isn't that what tends to happen on a grown up debating forum?

And, with a certain generosity of spirit, this IS a grown up debating forum......:rolleyes:

scheming_gypsy

ok, so what about a sense of assistance? I try and be helpful when i reply but 'firewall', 'nas' and 'linux' probably doesn't mean a lot to people when they ask a question. Just a few more words to explain what it is, what it does and what they'd need to do would go a long way.

chuckles1066

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

ok, so what about a sense of assistance? I try and be helpful when i reply but 'firewall', 'nas' and 'linux' probably doesn't mean a lot to people when they ask a question. Just a few more words to explain what it is, what it does and what they'd need to do would go a long way.

Well forums tend to be a bit of a drip-feed job don't they?

I wouldn't want to suggest a hardware firewall and then spend ten minutes typing instructions into a post that the OP might not be even remotely interested in.

If he/she had come back with "a hardware firewall sounds good, what do I do?" then the next bit of info gets drip-fed into the thread.

It's a case of striking a balance where the supply of info is concerned.

IMHO anyway :T

DaveAshton

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Just a few more words to explain what it is, what it does and what they'd need to do would go a long way.

Hence the reason this thread: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=8018 exists

SE

weegie.geek

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

Just a few more words to explain what it is, what it does and what they'd need to do would go a long way.

Yes and no.

If we were to spoon feed people they'd never learn anything by themselves.

I see a lot of nonsense advice on here, so perhaps people would rather point someone in the right direction than offer advice on something they're not 100% sure about.

I for one would rather give too little information than patronise someone.

BritBrat

Most people could find all the answers by using Google.

But they ask here because someone may already know the answer and it saves inventing the wheel a second time and may be quicker.

Someone posted a while back about accessing MS Money saved data, as I had already searched for that to help a freind out twice I knew exactly what the problem was and it was fixed first time.

He had been trying to fix it himself for two years untill he asked here.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=574221

Blacksheep1979

BritBrat wrote: »

Most people could find all the answers by using Google.

But they ask here because someone may already know the answer and it saves inventing the wheel a second time and may be quicker.

and using the search function would save inventing it the 3, 4...50th time