advice please - re: old software

Gdetrailer wrote:
Oh the ignorance and disdain for older software is just amazing.

We obviously live in parallel universes. :)

I am not ignorant about older software, I started my career in computers in 1960 and have seen it all. And I don't have disdain for older software, I thought DOS WordPerfect was wonderful when it came out.

But the world moves on. Schools (and society) are increasingly moving to much cheaper to purchase and maintain Chromebooks, open source software, and cloud computing, etc that are very far removed from what you are describing.

I worked for about three years for a public high school after I retired that had hundreds of PCs, servers and a network that I helped support. Support was the big issue, not computer hardware or software acquisition. We would not take donated computers back then that were one-of-a-kind due to support costs. And this was back around 2001.

I don't think our throwaway society is sustainable and that recycling is admirable, but there are limits.

I hope the OP finds someone willing to take his older software, but I would not be optimistic. I stand by my original statement.

Gdetrailer wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Goodwill will likely give it a pass. They will tell you they have no use for it. They don't even want older computers, let alone defunct software.

BS.

My local Goodwill TAKES in computers, they do not take in TVs..

Goodwill stores that do not have a local processing place may or may not take PCs in so you have to ask.

The computers are palletized then sent to their processing center nearby.. The PCs are then reworked or torn apart for parts. if the PCs are not of any use they palletize then sell the pallet to a electronics scrapper who will pay them a set amount per lb..

Goodwill gives folks jobs that may not be able to have one otherwise so don't make assumptions based on your own preferences..

On edit..

Last summer I donated 9 P4 at 2.4ghz PCs loaded with 250GB HDs, XP, CD roms and Open Office plus 3 15" CRT monitors and a bunch of used WIRED PS/2 keyboards and mice to a local small Catholic school.. They were extremely happy to get this equipment to expand their computer lab for the younger kids! I could have easily sold those PCs on craigs list for $40-$50 each or even scrapped them.. But no, I rebuilt them and loaded them for OTHER less fortunate folks to be able to have a computer to use.

There are a lot of folks out there that are far less snobby about how fast or new their computer is.

That may be true in your area, but not necessarily true everywhere. Around here Goodwill doesn't want old computers. Maybe not true in your area, but not BS here.

Just a quick update to close the thread.....they went to the dump.
Just makes me cry when I think about the cost of them
Quark, Pagemaker, Corel, etc....

I recall back in the early 1980's, at work we had an IBM Office System 6 (OS-6) and I think it had HUGE floppies, 8 inches.

No comment on the software, but older computers that run Windows XP are good candidates for Linux or Chrome and can be excellent donations (as several have mentioned above).

I must be the only one still running numerous DOS based PC's! They run product testing programs written years ago and still running. Working on updating to new software and hardware but it is a very costly and time consuming project! Once we're done things will run fine on Windows 11 but then Microsoft will come out with Windows 11 and obsolete everything once again! MS isn't known for backwards compatibility!