While a laptop may be old, that does not mean it is useless. You have many options to repurpose an old laptop and some of these do not even require spending a single penny. Bring that PC back to the track with these ways to repurpose an old laptop.
An old laptop still has many amazing uses. In fact, you can turn it into something even more impressive when you are a DIY genius. For now, the focus is on what an average Joe can do. After you’ve read these tips, you can use resources on sites like Fancy Appliance to make the most out of your repurposed laptop.
Fix Your Laptop
If your laptop isn’t damaged beyond repair, you can try to make it work once more. You’ll first need to assess if it is still repairable or if the benefits will outweigh the expenses should you buy parts. Fix or replace old, faulty parts.
Image by Monoar Rahman Rony
There are simple fixes you can try. You may have already transferred the files into another PC. Therefore, you can try reformatting the system to make it run more smoothly.
Also, you can install a lighter operating system like some versions of Linux. There are several simpler versions of the operating system that are fast and easy to use.
Turn Your Laptop Into A Wi-fi Hotspot
Homes with weak hotspots will have a lot to thank for having an old laptop. In a pinch, you can use an old laptop as a Wi-Fi hotspot extender to cater to areas with a weak Wi-Fi connection.
Also, you can bring this idea when you travel, such as when in hotel guestrooms where they usually give single device access for Wi-Fi.
Turn Your Old Laptop Into A Chromebook
Surprisingly, you can also try to convert it into a Chromebook. You can start by installing Google Chrome as the operating system. Chromebook uses an open-source OS that uses the Chrome web browser as its main user interface. That way, there’s no need to worry about saving huge files with cloud storage and cloud computing.
Recycle The Working Parts
If you think it is really something which you will no longer use as a whole, then maybe you can use the parts. Take advantage of its CPU, RAM, LCD, and hard drive. The hard drive may be turned into backup storage if it is small enough to fit in a USB enclosure.
Mount-It As A Digital Screen
Old laptops with some faulty parts as well as those that are already too slow for an everyday PC may be turned into a digital screen. Turn it into a family photo frame, make it your next kitchen DIY project as a monitor for daily recipes or a calendar. You can also use it to play exercise videos for your daily workout routine.
Make It A CCTV Camera
You can install Apps like iSpy to turn your old laptop into a surveillance camera. This is a modern and effective way to look after your home, kids, or even business. Even better, you do not need to spend any amount for this to work.
Turn It Into A Media Center
Reformat the old laptop to create more storage space. Turn it into a media center by saving your movies in it. Using an HDMI cable, you can connect your laptop to your TV and start screening. Alternatively, you may use this idea to connect to other displays such as a monitor and a projector.
Conclusion
There are many ways to repurpose an old laptop so you don’t have to throw it away. Make an old laptop work again and use it as a spare or turn it into a Chromebook. Alternatively, a slow-moving laptop may be repurposed into a Wi-Fi hotspot or a media center.
