Ideas on what you can do from an old laptop

All equipment tends to break down or become obsolete. Many are in a hurry to get rid of devices that have become unusable. Meanwhile, they can be given a second life.

Is your laptop dead? Don't rush to throw away the device. After all, in skillful hands and with the proper imagination, it is possible to revive equipment.

Back in action

Not all breakdowns mean that it’s time to buy a new laptop and send the old one to “retire” to your parents or grandparents. Therefore, the first thing you can do is clean the equipment.

The Windows operating system is famous for its “love” of forcibly installing unnecessary programs or updating itself to a newer version without deleting old files. It is quite expected that after this, the equipment begins to function incorrectly.

In this case, you need to use special programs that will delete unnecessary, old files, defragment and clean the registry, and free up space on your hard drive. In some cases, switching to “lighter” operating systems, such as Linux, can help.

Reference. It is worth keeping in mind that alternative operating programs do not work with all applications or games.

In addition, it is necessary to carry out an inspection - remove the cover of the device and carefully clean it. If necessary, replace old components with more modern ones.

If after these manipulations the device continues to freeze or slow down, then it should be used for another purpose.

Making a TV

If you no longer plan to use the equipment for its intended purpose, make a TV out of it. You will need to use the services of a provider that provides several access points. You will also need an external tuner and Internet access.

Digital photo frame

A creative, but not very elegant way to revive a laptop. After all, to do this, the product will have to be fixed on the wall. Imagine an open laptop hanging on the wall. Here, as they say, no comments. Therefore, this is an option “for everyone”, since it is not convenient or ergonomic.

Arcade machine

If a modern laptop cannot perform basic functions, it can be used to play older games that were intended for consoles.

Additional Wi-Fi hotspot

Most residential premises have places where there is no Wi-Fi, for example, a veranda or loggia. Using a laptop you can significantly expand your coverage area. This is quite easy to do on any operating system. All you need to do is download and install a special application - Switch Virtual Router.

Making a media center

It is worth keeping in mind that you can only make a media center from modern laptops.Moreover, the result is not only a functional, but also a stylish device, because a thin laptop does not take up much space, so it can be hidden behind the TV. For convenience, you can attach your laptop to the sliding rail of the device. Then all that remains is to sit on the sofa and enjoy all the functions that the laptop or system unit offers.

Original projector

Do you prefer to watch your favorite films on the big screen? Then take an old laptop, a sheet of cardboard or Whatman paper, black tape, a cardboard box:

• a sheet of cardboard or whatman paper must be fixed on the wall, and a hole of the required size must be cut in the box;
• place the laptop screen in the hole, secure it with tape or black electrical tape;
• place an improvised projector at a convenient distance and you can start watching your favorite films.

Reference. The disadvantage of such a projector is the low quality of the broadcast image.

Desktop computer

If the appearance of the device leaves much to be desired, but the internal parts function normally, you can make a desktop computer or a “quiet” server. You just need to connect the device to your computer monitor.

Tablet

Do you think it’s impossible to turn an old laptop into a modern device? Completely in vain! There are several ways to achieve your plan. The simplest one is to purchase a touch display, for example, Zmartframe, instead of a laptop screen. Using a soldering iron and through simple manipulations, it must be connected to the internal parts of the device. But it is worth keeping in mind that such work requires certain skills and knowledge of the design features of the device. Therefore, only professionals can cope with it.

Webcam

Most laptop models have a standard video camera. Therefore, the product can be used to monitor indoors and outdoors. A special program will help with this - ISpy, which must be downloaded and installed on the device.

External monitor

If the internal structural elements are completely out of order, but the screen is still okay, then the display can be used as a main or additional monitor. You just need to carefully separate the housing from the LCD display.

Making a Power Bank from a Battery

All laptops are equipped with portable batteries. Often, if used incorrectly, the battery begins to discharge quickly. As a rule, it consists of several elements, so you can disassemble it into its component parts and make your own compact mobile charger.

"Silent" server or external data storage

To make a server yourself, you will need not only to install several special programs, but also to provide a dedicated IP address. This option is not suitable for everyone, because it requires not only the presence of certain skills, but also an investment of funds - a dedicated IP address must be paid monthly. But, as an option, reviving the laptop is not a bad idea. Especially if the server traffic is not high. Otherwise, you can quickly clog the Internet channel.

Kitchen recipe book

Such a “barn” book can take up a lot of space. This must be taken into account if you cannot boast of a spacious kitchen. If you connect digital television to the device and use a wireless mouse to control it, you will get a stylish, original recipe book. Well, you can watch YouTube.

We disassemble for spare parts

Not a bad solution to the problem. For example, you can take out a hard drive and use it as external data storage. With the operating system, the situation is more complicated, because each of them has its own form factor and other individual characteristics.

I would like to sum it up with the most obvious option - selling the device, even if it is completely out of order. As you can see, the world is full of “Kulibins”, for whom resuscitation and modding of laptops is not just a hobby, but akin to an original sport or way of life. The main thing is to remember to format the HDD before putting your laptop up for sale.