Did something stupid. Learn from my mistake.
 

Hi all. About 3 months ago I found a Dell computer near my trash dumpster. It looked clean so I thought I would try to fix it, or at least salvage some parts. It was a Celeron (P4-based-Yuck) 2.5 GHz based computer, integrated vid, 40 GB HDD, etc. It was like a 2003 model, pretty much useless. It wouldn't boot. I gave up, but took the hard drive out. Today I put the drive in a USB enclosure. I guess I was bored and was wondering what was on the drive. Scary, I know. Nothing fun was found. But lots of virus crap and spyware.

My point is: Don't do it. If you see a dead computer, leave it dead. I know what I'm doing. If you don't, just avoid old hardware.

The more you know...

Alas.

Coulda been a map to a treasure though!

I fix up old computers I get at garage sales, trash or from people who don't need them when they upgrade and want files transferred. Clean the fans, mobo, case and its good to go. You can just format em, load XP, free office and take away a lot of admin rights for guests. Then donate it to a woman's shelter or other .org that needs them. I have had to use my own cash to pony up a keyboard or mouse or cat-5 cables here or there but its worth it.

Be careful, when you become that "free computer guy" you will find that people have a list of things for you to fix when you come back. Do only what your sanity enables.

I have learned not to look on the HDs, just format em right away and call it a day!!!!!

I don't understand what we are supposed to learn here. And I don't see a mistake, either. Maybe I am missing something!

Just be grateful it wasn't a treasure chest full of child pr0n.

I don't know what I learned from reading this OP.

I learned nothing. In fact I may have dropped an IQ point.

I replace capacitors and do volt mods on machines when I feel the inclination. I never leave a drive in the trash, favoring ripping them apart and bending the platters while I keep the magnets for my fridge or filing cabinets. I have one open hard drive, a 250GB SATA drive, on my desk right now actually. I have three ~2003 computers I use for *nix testing or whatever I feel like at the time.

What was the point again?

If you pick up a pc from a corner, wear a condom before sticking it in.

i learnt that you should never pick up strays from the corner of the street. no matter how cheap you think you can get it, they all have viruses

I just learned I love TFP. :)