What to do with an old laptop, whether it works or not

Is it worth keeping?

Three quick checks tell you most of what you need:

• Age and processor. Look for the model number on the sticker underneath and search it, or use these ways to find out how old a computer is. Anything with an Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 from about 2012 on, or any AMD Ryzen, is worth a second look. A Core 2 Duo, Atom, or Celeron from before that is usually recycling.
• Windows 11. Intel 8th generation or newer (about 2018 on) can run it, which makes the laptop much more useful and easier to sell. Older ones can run Windows 10 with security updates until October 2027, and Linux after that.
• The physical stuff. A cracked screen, broken hinge, or dead keyboard can cost more to fix than the laptop is worth, unless it's a common business model where used parts are cheap.

Keep using it

If it's slow, the drive is usually why. Most laptops from before about 2016 came with a spinning hard drive, and swapping it for an SSD is the single biggest upgrade you can make. You can clone the old drive to the SSD so nothing needs reinstalling. If it has 4 GB of memory, going to 8 GB helps too. My speed-up guide covers both, with current prices, and this diagnosis guide tells you which one yours needs.

Keep the spending small, around $100. Past that, a refurbished laptop a few years newer usually makes more sense.

Give it a new operating system

A laptop that can't run Windows 11 doesn't have to stop being useful in October 2027.

• Linux Mint is free, looks familiar if you're used to Windows, and runs well on older hardware. It handles web browsing, email, documents, and video calls. You can try it from a USB stick before installing anything. Here's which Linux to pick and how to try it.
• ChromeOS Flex is Google's free version of the Chromebook system for regular PCs. It's very simple and gets updates automatically. It's a good fit for someone who only uses a browser. Google keeps a list of certified models, so check yours first. More in my ChromeOS Flex guide.

Either one erases Windows when you install it, so back up first.

Give it a new job

An old laptop that only has to do one thing can keep doing it for years:

• A kitchen or garage computer for recipes, manuals, and videos.
• A kids' or homework laptop, where it won't matter if it gets dropped.
• A media player hooked up to a TV with an HDMI cable.
• A small home server for sharing files, backups, or running things like Pi-hole or Home Assistant. Laptops sip power compared to desktops, and the battery works like a built-in backup power supply.
• A dedicated machine for one old program, like scanner or label printer software that won't run on newer Windows. If it's on an unsupported version of Windows, keep it offline.
• A learning machine for trying Linux, taking it apart, or practicing repairs.

Sell it or donate it

Whatever you choose, wipe it first. Back up your files, sign out of your accounts, and use Reset this PC → Remove everything with Clean data turned on. My wiping guide has the full steps, including the extra one SSDs need.

Selling: Facebook Marketplace and local listings work well for laptops under about $150. eBay reaches more buyers for business models like ThinkPads, Latitudes, and EliteBooks, which hold their value better than home models. Include the exact model number, processor, memory, and drive size, and mention whether it runs Windows 11. Include the charger. A laptop without one sells for noticeably less.

Donating: Schools, libraries, churches, and local nonprofits sometimes take working laptops, but many only want ones that can run Windows 11. Call first. If it doesn't work, a charity usually can't use it, and recycling is the better choice.

Save the parts

If the laptop itself is done, a few parts are still worth pulling out first:

• Memory (RAM). If it matches another laptop you have (same type, like DDR3L or DDR4, and the small SODIMM size), move it over. If not, sell it. Laptop memory, especially 8 GB and larger sticks, sells easily and is worth more than usual with 2026 memory prices.
• An SSD. Put it in a cheap USB enclosure and you've got a fast portable drive. Wipe it first.
• The charger, if it fits another laptop you own.

Leave a swollen or damaged battery alone. Don't puncture it, and don't put it in the trash. Tape the terminals and take it to a store that collects rechargeable batteries.

Recycle it for free

Laptops don't belong in the trash, and there are free options almost everywhere:

• Best Buy takes laptops and most other electronics for free, up to 10 items per household per day.
• Staples takes laptops and office electronics for free at participating stores, up to 7 items per day.
• Dell Reconnect, run with participating Goodwill stores, accepts computers of any brand in any condition for free. Use the locator on Dell's Reconnect page to find a drop-off near you.
• Your county may run a free drop-off site or yearly collection event. In Topeka, Lawrence, and Manhattan, here's where to recycle electronics in NE Kansas.

If you can't wipe it because it won't turn on, pull the drive first, or use a recycler that wipes drives and gives you a certificate if you ask. That's how I handle the business equipment I pick up around Topeka.