So your computer is dying on you every now and then? Shutting off or restarting without any prior notice? You are losing valuable data? Well, all these indicate that your computer is getting old. You have probably abused it way too much. Loaded in a number of programs and filled it up with downloaded files and now there is hardly any hard drive space for the computer to function! This happens to most of us sometime or the other. What seemed like a huge memory at one point of time 120 GB for example, now hardly matters anymore! Ah if only I could delete all those MP3 files! But alas! That's not possible. So when your computer outnumbers its days, when your requirement exceeds what your computer can offer you, what do you do? Do you just throw it away?

Getting a good deal out of your old computer may get tricky! With technology advancing at a rapid speed, no body wants to be stuck with an old computer and not reap the benefits of the developments. Most recent software are incompatible with older operating systems and it becomes necessary to get a new computer. When we say a good deal for your computer, remember it does not always mean money! A good deal can also refer to putting your computer to good use although it may apparently appear to be useless and you are almost ready to sell it off as junk. Well selling off your computer as junk or advertising it for sale can be some of the traditional ways of dealing with an old computer. However here are approaches that you may consider.

Give it to the kids. Your kids must already be in need of computers. Give your old computer to the kids. They can play their educational CDs, play some games, write their homework and reports and store songs. They will also have a good thing to show off to their friends in the next sleepover!

Give it to the less fortunate. Many people can't afford a new computer. Get in touch with your local communities and donate your computer to those who may need it. They can learn computing skills, understand the basics of a computer and can then graduate to a better machine. There is no more satisfaction than giving back to the society. You can consider giving to the old-age homes as well. Introducing computer to the elderly people has proven to be a great trick in encouraging them to stay involved more.

Use it as storage. You can consider using your old computer as storage. Store receipts, old files, documents, spreadsheets in your old computer. You can also use it as a back up of your important documents and folders. As long as you do not want to run multiple programs on your old computer, it should work fine as storage. If you take your old computer out of the internet networking then it is safe from the hackers as well.