There must be at least one old computer in your house. It is one of those things that take up space in our houses. We are usually not sure what to do with our old computers. There are different reasons why we change our computers or trade them in for new ones. It could be because they are old, or we need a more advanced specification. It could also simply be because they have gone bad or no longer function properly.
If you are one of the plenty of people who are not sure what to do with their old computers, continue reading this. You will be amazed by how much you can still do with it. These are five great ways to bring your computer back to life.
It might mean some upgrades, a new larger storage drive or more RAM. The PC, however, needs to at least have access to the internet and a functional USB port to install software.
1. Try a lighter OS
This might mean trying something other than the usual Windows or Mac OS. You could try installing other Linux-based operating systems like Ubuntu, Mint, Manjaro and elementary OS. The interfaces are similar to that of Windows, and they come with their own packages. Most of these work well on PCs with 4GB RAM. Check the specifications of the OS before you get them to be sure it will work with the computer. If you are a gamer, you might want to try the StreamOS. It is built exclusively to run games purchased and downloaded from a stream.
2. Create a security camera
This will be useful for an old computer that has an integrated webcam. Most computers have cameras attached to them somewhere. Download a copy of iSpy from a windows OS, then set the PC up and let it run. This will give you remote access on the webcam to see everything that is happening. You can use this to monitor nannies, your house, your street, your kitchen or just as a security street camera. If you have multiple old computers, you can pretty much set up your own security system.
3. Set up a hotspot
Limited WAN can be very unpleasant. You can turn your old computer into a hotspot for internet connection sharing through Wi-Fi. This old PC will still need to have the ability to connect to a Wi-Fi connection. You just need to run Ethernet to the laptop and then get a Connectify Hotspot Pro to create a secondary internet network using the same Wi-Fi. There are YouTube videos with a clearer guide on this.
4. Set up an old gaming system
In case you have missed the good old days when you played Warcraft. This is a great way to bring back the feeling with an old PC. These computers can likely handle older games. By installing a Windows 10 OS, you can dedicate the PC into a gaming system. You can access these old games in steam or on GOG.com.
5. Get creative and make a tablet
You can turn the computer into a DIY tablet. This will take some great skills and patience. It will probably not give you a quality touch screen experience but, with help from a website like Instructables, you will do great. It will give you all the instructions on how to get this done. There are also tips on how you can turn any screen into a touch screen. This is probably going to take a lot of time, money and effort, but if you are adventurous and want to get busy with your hands, it sounds like fun. Good luck!