I bought a storage unit full of vintage computers and software

Everytime I see posts and pictures similar to these I think about the Billions abandoned in form of licenses/software, devices, and PCs. One time I was hired to recycle all the technology on a medical facility that had been raided by the FBI for insurance fraud. This place was closed out 2010-2012 - Everything left AS IS, abandoned for over a decade. I counted hundreds of thousands in equipment that could have been used in education, or non-profits/churches, or even shipped to other countries, where schools and institutions are in desperate need of these things. Such a waste 💔

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pinksystems@reddit

those are very kind thoughts.

unfortunately, in cases of fraud - the FBI requires all assets associated with the case to be left in-place immediately; partially to recompense the victim after current and future investigation, similarly, if anyone would be selling off the litigated property then it would be the victim (insurance company here).

It's definitely not possible to have an unlicensed eWaste company to do so. these insurance systems may have PII data no one wants to deal with, lest they become charged for HPAA violation. there are plenty of licensed eWaste companies who handle this type of work already.

furthermore, a simple promise that the hardware involved is not being taken and sold into export restricted countries... it's not possible. Customs would seize the equipment and then be knocking on the sender's door with charges.

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myself248@reddit

Point is, the recovered value would be substantially higher if it was litigated in a timely fashion. Tech depreciates by dog-years and by the time it winds its way through the courts, it's worth pennies or negative because it's just waste now.

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joshuamarius@reddit

Correct - and we are now facing something similar once Windows 10 loses support. I already have a surplus of PCs that have been thrown away...I'm talking about dozens of perfectly performing PCs just because they are just under the requirements for Windows 11.

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LeftyTheSalesman@reddit

I've already installed Windows 11 on several Notebooks that didn't have the requirements. I just use a modified image for the install. The fun part is Win 11 automatically activates when the PC came with a valid Win 10 license. I give them away or sell them for dirt cheap.

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swingingthrougb@reddit

Yup use Rufus to create the iso and it's literally two check boxes and windows 11 will work on any pc. My current ddr3 2011 pc is running 11 flawlessly.

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LeftyTheSalesman@reddit

That's what I use. Rufus ftw.

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joshuamarius@reddit

The FBI raid was just an example out of the many situations I have been called to. Still...it's amazing all this equipment sat there for over 10 years while they did their investigation. That is a bit too much in my opinion.

I was also referring to the many businesses that over-spent, by thousands and hundreds of thousands, purchasing extra licenses, monitors, keyboard, AA/AAA batteries, mouse pads, Battery backups etc, that lay in closets for years, completely untouched, when there were other mom/pop almost going broke purchasing Office and Windows licenses. I've been to hundreds of offices where I cleanup telecom closets and find all sorts of un-opened boxes similar to this post.

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azherahmed@reddit

That’s like Windows 8,000,000.

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sputwiler@reddit

You don't need the phone to activate your license until Windows XP. :P

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supersapiosexual@reddit (OP)

So many!

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2raysdiver@reddit

They appear to be DELL OEM licenses.

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whowanderarenotlost@reddit

Where are you located?

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supersapiosexual@reddit (OP)

Midwest US

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xerographic@reddit

How much for one of those copy’s of win2k pro?

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supersapiosexual@reddit (OP)

You can message me, but I don't want to break the group rules and make this a selling post.

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xerographic@reddit

MSG sent

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vinaypundith@reddit

I've sent one too

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xerographic@reddit

That is a completely fair statement.

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Select-Table-5479@reddit

Though IBM keyboards are built link tanks have a mechanical. About 10 years ago they sold for 80-120 each on ebay. You might have good luck selling them.

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mp3god@reddit

You can make bank on those keyboards!

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KMS_XYZ@reddit

IBM mech kb have decent value

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DefKnightSol@reddit

Remember, old Windows looses networking support. They work just fine offline

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DontFuckWithMyMoney@reddit

In that pile of keyboards is there by chance an AT&T 6300/Olivetti M24? KBD0 or KBD1, I need a specific one that's so hard to find for a reasonable price before I can use a system I recently bought at an estate sale.

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SCgrisafi@reddit

I would like to purchase a few copies of your windows 2000. Please.

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ggekko999@reddit

I am becoming increasingly aware, almost all IT equipment has a "use by" date.

Yesterday's million dollar Sun E10k is tomorrow's E-waste hot dog cart (yes I have seen the pictures).

Imagine hording 56k modems & Win2k licenses for 20+ years thinking they hold any value, the storage unit would have cost considerably more than probably the contents of all boxes combined LOL ;-)

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someyob@reddit

I have a PS/2 Model 30 that's missing its keyboard. Wanna chat?

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CeldonShooper@reddit

Me too. Have you swapped the Dallas RTC already?

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someyob@reddit

It's a model 30/286 for the record. I did the Dallas clock mod where you cut into it from the side and solder on leads for a CR0232. Worked well, and if it hadn't, no harm done, buy the replacement.

Also had to recap the floppy, also working well now.

Last thing was the hard drive - definite head crash or something happened there. Trying to get an XT-IDE working now, but got distracted by other things.

How are things with yours? Love these machines, chassis built like a tank.

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supersapiosexual@reddit (OP)

Feel free to message me

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lord_nuker@reddit

I feel old when people say they find vintage software and it’s Windows 2000😭

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OfaFuchsAykk@reddit

I run a software development team of about 15. Recently I was talking to one of my protégées about text based adventure games. He didn’t have a clue what I was talking about. His first console was a PS2 and that had been out for years before he was handed it down from his brother 😅

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