Eric-Tech - Serving your computer needs at reasonable prices in the Salem Oregon area

What do I do with my old computer?

There are many answers to this question.

The first depends on how
old your computer is?

If it is a computer between 2004 and 2009 I can gladly accept donated parts or whole systems. If a computer was made prior to 2004, it's unlikely I can reuse it, however, there may be parts of it that are reusable in other computers.

If you want to donate it I can gladly accept whole or parts of a computer,
or I may be able to trade services or credit.

How old is too old?

Are you replacing the whole unit
or just a part of it?

I can recycle your previously loved components.

Don't worry! - Any hard drives that come in are fully erased so that no one gets any personal data!

If you are ready to donate your computer parts or unit, please come see me today!

--Eric

Here are some general tips on what I can use for accepting donated whole computers or components: (and when in doubt, I can confirm which style they are)
COMPUTERS / COMPONENTS ACCEPTED WHETHER IN WORKING CONDITION OR NOT, in compliance with Oregon e-cycling laws.

The following are to help you understand items that can be recycled by YOU into a replacement or substitute computer

Laptop Computers: anything after 2004

Desktop Computers: (whole units) after 2004
Dell, Compaq, Gateway, HP, etc. I recycle all brands

Motherboards: in good running order, with no blown capacitors, after 2004

Monitors:
CRT: YES after 2004 (there are labels on the back of almost every monitor that tell when it was made) without visible marks on the screen.
LCD: YES as long as no visible scratches, cracks or shadows on the screen.

Memory modules: Desktop and Laptop: DDR and DDR2, all that was made after 2004, in sizes of 512 megs and larger.

Sound cards / modems: PCI sound, and PCI 56k modems.
(If they are older cards, and are very large or long, are ISA style cards they cannot be used in current systems)

Video cards: PCI, AGP and PCI-Express

Keyboards / Mouse: PS/2 and USB. (PS/2 has small round connector about the size of a pencil eraser.) Due to health issues, keyboards can only be accepted if relatively clean (use a sani-wipe or two).

Speakers: not blown or crackly.

Printers: Made after 2004.

Scanners: parallel port scanners won't work with Windows XP (they're unsupported) or Vista.
They sometimes work with serial adapters, but most people now use USB scanners.

Hard drives: 60 gig or higher

CD+RW drives: yes, though DVD RW preferred

DVD / DVD+RW drives: yes, but some older units may also have compatibility issues due to age, what they can recognize. Check the date manufactured on the top of the unit

CD-ROM (readers) drives: no (due to read compatibility issues) These are not burners, so they are not able to read burned CD-R's, and are thus unusable in today's computers.

DVD +/- RW drives: yes, DVD ROM (reader only) No. Same reason as above.

Power supplies: 300 watts or better. Check to see if the pin connection is 20 pin or 24 pin. 24 is best for today's compatbility.

If you are ready to donate your computer parts or unit, please give me a call at the number at the top of the screen!

--Eric

Eric-Tech - serving your Salem area computer needs!
call me for a scheduled appointment, or email me at