5 easy ways to reuse an old PC

 

Image by Federica Galli on Unsplash

Have an old PC at lying at home? Has your new PC replaced it? Not quite sure what to do with it? Here are some ways of reusing or reviving your aged PC. (Psst... read till the end, I have posted a clue about my exciting project!)

#1 Use it as a media center

Gather all of your media collection and make your old PC as its new home. But make sure you have sufficient storage!
To make things simple, better and attractive - install Kodi. Kodi is a must have media player software that automatically recognizes your media collection - be it photos, videos or movies in almost any format. It has a very elegant and beautify user interface that helps you navigate around using your keyboard, gamepad or your smartphone. You can also download metadata such as posters, reviews, summary of movies and TV shows you own, giving you that Netflix type feeling. You can also view your photos and videos in a slideshow with different effects! Moreover, you can also use addons to add more features and skins to change the appearance of Kodi.
A highly useful feature of Kodi is the ability to stream your media to another device. Just download Kodi on your smart TV, tweak a few settings and view your media on your TV that is streamed from your old PC! How awesome is that!

#2 Install Linux

You know how much I love Linux. There's a reason why. Windows 10 slows down your old PC and makes it sluggish. If you're still stuck with Windows 7, you may know that it isn't supported anymore and will not receive security updates. That's where Linux comes in!
If you don't know that Linux is, click here. Linux is kind on older computers and makes them faster and efficient. You'll get a smooth experience and apps will open much quicker. You can use your "revived" Linux PC for general or specific use. Trust me, Linux basically gives your old PC a second life.
Installation is fairly easy thanks to tons of tutorials and guides online. But you might want to ask someone to help you out if you're not confident.
Just to remind you, there isn't any single Linux operating system. Linux is just a kernel that is a part of an OS. There are many Linux based OSs out there, including many for basic users who are used to Windows and MacOS. I would recommend Zorin OS or Linux Mint (gives you a Windows XP or 7 feeling).

#3 Get your hands dirty and play with the hardware

If you're a PC enthusiast like me, you can use your old PC to improve your knowledge and practical skills by observing the insides of your PC. You can also upgrade hardware components to improve performance. Add more RAM sticks, an SSD for fast storage and install a decent GPU to turn your PC into a video editing, gaming or simply, a more powerful PC!
Check online resources to get familiar with your PC and make to sure select the right components. Read guides and watch videos about how to open up your PC safely. Be careful and don't mess up! Ask someone for help if you need it.

#4 Make it a remote desktop client

A remote desktop connection allows you to remotely access another computer on a network and displays the screen of that computer on your PC while taking in inputs from your mouse, keyboard and other peripherals.
Using this technology you can access, for example, your desktop (host) in your bedroom on your old laptop (client) while you're sitting in the living room. Cool right? You can make your old laptop as a permanent remote desktop client. It will enable you to access your everyday computer from anywhere in the house! Popular software include TeamViewer and AnyDesk. If you want to watch movies, play videos or games, you might want to use Parsec.
But remember, you will need a solid internet connection. A 5Ghz WiFi or wired Ethernet connection is recommended for remote desktop connection to work smoothly. So make sure you have a good internet connection. Check connection requirements for the remote desktop software you are planning to use.

#5 Turn it into a retro game console

You may not not know this. Your old PC maybe be powerful enough to play games, especially old console games. Ever wanted to play that old game from your childhood again? It's now possible, thanks to emulation.
An emulator is a software that behaves like another system and runs software intended to run on those systems on your PC. There are many emulators out there that help to run any old console games or ROMS (copy of a game).
Lakka, Retropie, Batocera and Ludo are some popular and easy to use all-in-one emulators. They can be installed as an OS or run directly from a USB without any need to install! There are many large communities and guides online you can make use of.
As for the games, you need to have ROMS. Now, you can't run a PSP game directly on your PC because it's not possible. You need to dump or make a soft-copy of the game and play it using a emulator. But this is a very complicated procedure for many consoles that I do not recommend. Some game discs of consoles like the PS2 can easily be dumped if you have a disc drive in your PC and a software to dump them. Linux already has this feature preinstalled. Check online for guides and resources.
Important: You will find many games online to download for free. Beware of unsafe sites. DOWNLOAD THE GAMES YOU ACTUALLY OWN DUE TO LEGAL REASONS (WHICH STILL LIES IN A GREY AREA) AND DO NOT RESORT TO PIRACY.

So how will you be using your PC?
Hope you liked the article! Feel free to comment below!

Also I am currently working on a project that turns your old PC into the _l_i__te   h_m_   t__at_e   system!
Like my blog? Follow @redromnontheblogger on Instagram for updates!