Section

Second lives for old computers

A laptop with a cracked screen, a desktop that's too slow for the office, a machine that got replaced but still works: each of these has years of useful life left in a different job. These guides are about finding that job and setting it up properly.

Guides

Second lives Turn a broken-screen laptop into a living-room media PC Kodi, a remote that actually works, and what the streaming services will and won't allow. 5 min read Second lives Laptop screen broken? Three fixes cheaper than a new laptop External monitor, portable monitor, or a replacement panel by part number. Which fits, and how. 4 min read Second lives Turn an old PC into a home backup and media server Syncthing for backups, Jellyfin for media, one external drive, and an old laptop that's already a UPS. 5 min read

The bits these projects share

Most second-life builds need one or two of these.

Full gear list
HDMI cable Amazon Basics HDMI 2.0 cable, 6 ft Laptop to TV or monitor. See price on Amazon Paid link Air-mouse remote Yatao W1 air-mouse remote with keyboard The remote that actually works with a PC. See price on Amazon Paid link Vertical laptop stand OMOTON vertical laptop stand Keeps a closed laptop cool and tidy. See price on Amazon Paid link External hard drive WD Elements 2TB portable hard drive Roomy, simple backup storage. See price on Amazon Paid link Ethernet cable Amazon Basics Cat-6 ethernet cable, 25 ft Sidesteps Wi-Fi problems entirely. See price on Amazon Paid link Portable monitor ARZOPA A1 15.6" 1080p portable monitor Keeps a broken-screen laptop portable. See price on Amazon Paid link

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