Use old laptop wisely: 5 clever tricks

If you want to continue to use your old laptop sensibly, there are many areas of application. We have put together 5 clever tips for you.

Continue to use the old laptop as a media player

You can turn your old laptop into a media center by installing Kodi.

• The software itself plays many formats and can also be expanded with plugins. For example, you can use Amazon Instant Video.
• If the hard drive is getting old, it can be worth booting Kodi from USB.

Upgrade your laptop and keep using it

If your old laptop has become too slow for you, you can also upgrade it. This way it can be kept for a while.

• Ask your manufacturer which type of RAM you need or refer to the information in the operating instructions.
• Note that each device has a maximum memory limit and adhere to it. More memory will not work.
• The same goes for the hard drive: find out what type of hard drive you need.
• If the device is still worth it, look for an SSD hard drive. Otherwise, a hard drive with a higher speed can be noticeably faster. We will show you the advantages of an SSD hard drive in another practical tip.
• Also try whether an operating system from USB runs faster. Note that some USB ports on your old laptop may be slower than others.

Use the old notebook sensibly as a home server

An old laptop can still be a practical home server.

• If you would like to have a central data storage at home, an old laptop is suitable as a home server.
• To do this, install server software, for example under Linux.
• You can stow the computer out of sight after setup. However, make sure there is adequate ventilation and a dust-free environment.

Use your laptop as a WiFi hotspot

If you want to work in a place in the house where you don't have WiFi reception, you can use your old laptop as a mobile WiFi hotspot. We show the facility in external practical tips.

• How to create a hotspot on Windows7.
• This is how it works in Windows 8.
• And that's how it works on Windows 10.
• You can also set up a hotspot on Ubuntu.

Donate an old laptop so that others can use it

The organization Labdoo.org processes old laptops and makes them available to school children all over the world.

• Here you will find information on how to donate your device.
• Labdoo.org doesn't just accept laptops. Unused e-book readers, tablets and accessories can also be donated there.

Convertible notebooks: comparison of the best concepts

In the next practical tip, we will show you how you can remove your old laptop hard drive in order to back up the data.