With the end of Windows 10 support quickly approaching on October 14, and many desktops and laptops not being compatible with Windows 11, I wanted to cover some options you have to give a few extra years to those old devices that would otherwise become “obsolete”.
According to Microsoft’s official support pages, your best options are to trade it in—surely there are hundreds of places just dying to hand you loads of cash for your 5-year-old laptop so you can buy a new one, right?—or you can “responsibly recycle” it. Which I’m pretty sure is just fancy talk for “throw it away and buy a new Copilot laptop.” But I digress!
There are actually still plenty of cool things we can do with these old devices to breathe new life into them and create value for years to come. So here’s a list of 10 really cool things you can do with your old laptop or desktop that won’t involve tossing it into a landfill and hoping the recycling fairy turns it into a Tesla.
1. Transform It into a Smart Home Controller
Utilize platforms like Home Assistant and a Linux distro to manage your smart devices locally, enhancing privacy and reducing reliance on cloud services.
Home Assistant is a powerful open-source platform for home automation that you can run locally, and it’s compatible with many operating systems, including Linux. It’s designed to integrate with thousands of smart devices and services—everything from smart lights and thermostats to security cameras and media players. One of its biggest advantages is privacy: since it runs locally, your data stays in your home and isn’t sent off to the cloud. You can use it to automate routines, like turning off all your lights when you leave or adjusting the thermostat automatically at night. The user interface is clean and mobile-friendly, letting you monitor and control your home in real time, and it also supports voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. With a little customization, you can build detailed dashboards, write automations in YAML, and add all sorts of community-supported plugins. Home Assistant can turn your old laptop or desktop it into a full-fledged smart home brain—without needing a subscription or relying on Big Tech.
2. Create a Dedicated Writing or Coding Station
Install minimalistic software to eliminate distractions, turning your laptop into a focused environment for writing or programming.
For a minimalist setup perfect for both writing and coding, the focus should be on simplicity and efficiency. Pair your device with a basic, comfortable keyboard, and a reliable wireless mouse. For your screen, a single clean 24-inch monitor, that is comfortable for you to look at, is all you need—though a laptop screen alone could work just as well if you prefer compactness. On the software side, choose a lightweight Linux distribution like Ubuntu MATE or Zorin OS Lite, which runs coding tools smoothly without overwhelming your system. A simple code editor like VS Code, with only essential extensions, ensures your workspace remains clutter-free. For writing, apps like Typora or FocusWriter provide a distraction-free experience, allowing you to focus solely on your work. Keep file management easy with organized folders and minimalistic themes in your terminal and file explorer. On your desk, stick to the essentials: just your laptop, a notebook, and maybe a small plant. Soft, adjustable lighting like a basic LED desk lamp helps prevent eye strain, while a comfortable ergonomic chair supports long hours of work. This minimalist approach eliminates distractions and gives you a clean, efficient environment to stay productive while writing and coding.
3. Convert It into a Retro Gaming Console
Use emulators to play classic games, giving your laptop a nostalgic twist.
For a super rad retro gaming setup, go with a minimal Linux-based system or a dedicated gaming OS like Batocera. This will help keep things fast, efficient, and focused. Frontends like RetroArch or Batocera make it easy to manage and launch games across a wide range of classic systems, from early arcade machines to consoles like the NES and PlayStation 1, all through a single, streamlined interface. If your machine is on the more powerful side, you can even experiment with newer systems like the Wii or PlayStation 3, which are now supported by many modern emulator cores. A simple, no-frills controller with a retro feel is all you need—older USB gamepads work especially well and enhance the nostalgic experience. A basic monitor handles the visuals just fine, though for those chasing authenticity, an old CRT can really amplify the retro vibe. Keeping your game files organized by system makes navigation quick and smooth. It’s a clean, straightforward way to relive the classics. And remember: only use your own legally owned ROMs!
4. Setup a Personal Cloud Storage System
Implement solutions such as Nextcloud for Linux to access your files remotely, ensuring data privacy and control.
Nextcloud is a powerful open-source platform for file syncing, storage, and collaboration that you can run on a local machine. It’s designed to replace cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox, giving you full control over your files, calendars, contacts, and more—all hosted right in your home. This ensures maximum privacy, as it runs on your own hardware, keeping your data under your control and preventing it from being stored on third-party servers. You can use it to back up important documents, share files with friends or coworkers, and even collaborate in real time using built-in tools like Notes, Calendar, and Office-style document editing. The interface is clean, modern, and mobile-friendly, making it easy to access your data from anywhere without giving up ownership. With a little customization, you can expand it with plugins to add features like password managers, media streaming, and task boards. Nextcloud can turn your old laptop or desktop into a fully functional personal cloud server—without subscriptions, ads, or handing over your digital life to Big Tech.
5. Establish a Home Surveillance Monitor.
Pair your laptop with security camera software such as ZoneMinder to monitor your home, enhancing safety without having to spend a fortune on hardware and software.
ZoneMinder is a powerful open-source platform for video surveillance and home security monitoring that you can run locally on many different operating systems, including Linux. It’s designed to support a wide range of IP and USB cameras, giving you full control over your security setup without locking you into proprietary cloud services or subscriptions. Since everything is stored and processed on your own hardware, you don’t have to worry about your camera footage being uploaded or exposed to third-party servers. You can use it to monitor live camera feeds, record motion events, and set up alerts for any detected activity—all through a web-based interface that works from any device on your network. The system is flexible enough to handle anything from a single indoor camera to a full multi-camera home or office setup, and with some customization, you can add automation, AI-powered detection, and even integrate it with platforms like Home Assistant. ZoneMinder can turn your old laptop or desktop into a fully functional surveillance hub—without monthly fees, locked features, or outside companies managing your data.
6. Deploy It as a Personal Web Server
Set up a local web server using software like Apache or Nginx on a Linux OS. This is perfect for testing websites, hosting personal blogs, or learning web development.
Setting up an Apache or Nginx server is surprisingly easy! I recently covered it using Apache — you can check that out here as a prelude to the full WordPress-from-scratch guide I’m working on. I specifically chose Apache for that setup because it’s easier for beginners to implement on a Pi. That said, it’s not always the best option.
Nginx (pronounced “Engine-X”) is a high-performance, lightweight web server that also functions as a reverse proxy and load balancer. It’s designed to handle large volumes of simultaneous connections efficiently, making it a good choice for modern websites and applications. Unlike Apache, which uses a process- or thread-based approach that can become resource-heavy under high traffic, Nginx runs on an event-driven, asynchronous architecture. This allows it to handle thousands of concurrent connections while using minimal system resources.
Nginx is especially well-suited for serving static files, acting as a reverse proxy for distributed systems, and powering high-traffic websites that demand speed and scalability. While Apache still has its strengths — like robust .htaccess support and flexibility for certain legacy applications — Nginx is often the better choice when performance, resource efficiency, and scalability are the priority.
7. Experiment with Different Linux Distributions
Explore all the various Linux OS options out there to learn and customize your computing experience.
There are so many fantastic distributions of Linux available today. I highly recommend researching all the options because you can really tailor the look and feel of your desktop to suit your preferences. That said, since you are likely coming from Windows if you’re reading this, Ubuntu is a great place to start. It’s a very popular distro, so there’s plenty of documentation available for it. It also has good compatibility, which can save you a lot of headaches by eliminating the need to track down drivers for your hardware. While the desktop environment will take a little getting used to, it still offers many of the same functions that Windows provides. I also think it’s a bit easier for beginners to get started with compared to some other distros.
8. Utilize It as a Media Streaming Device
Install applications like Kodi and Jellyfin on a Linux distro to stream content, turning your laptop or desktop into an entertainment hub or a media streaming server.
Kodi is a free, open-source media center designed to organize and play movies, TV shows, music, and photos from both local storage and network sources. Its clean, customizable interface turns any device into a home theater hub, with support for countless file formats, streaming add-ons, and community-built plugins that extend its features far beyond basic playback. Whether you’re managing a personal media library or streaming content, Kodi offers a smooth and flexible way to control your entertainment, all without ads or subscriptions.
Jellyfin is a free, open-source media server that lets you organize, stream, and share your personal collection of movies, TV shows, music, and photos across all your devices. It’s designed to be completely self-hosted, so your media stays on your own hardware without relying on cloud services or subscriptions. With a clean, modern interface and apps for everything from smart TVs to phones, Jellyfin makes it easy to turn any computer into your own private streaming service.
9. Use It as a Network Attached Storage (NAS) Device
Repurpose your laptop as a file server using software like TrueNAS or OpenMediaVault for Linux.
This setup enables centralized storage and easy access to files across your home network. TrueNAS is a free, open-source storage platform built for reliability, offering advanced features like ZFS support, snapshots, and data protection, making it great for both personal and small business use.
OpenMediaVault is a lightweight and beginner-friendly alternative designed for easy setup and management, with a clean web interface and support for plugins to extend its features.
10. Repurpose Components for other DIY Projects
Disassemble the laptop to reuse parts like the hard drive or screen in other tech projects.
This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you enjoy tinkering in the least, everything from RAM, fans, and heatsinks could potentially find life in some new hardware. If you have no other use for the device anymore, you might as well strip it down and save the components to use in future projects. You never know when you’ll need a heatsink to fix a throttling issue or an old hard drive to serve as the basis for your next big project.
In Conclusion
There you have it – 10 pretty cool things you can do with that old laptop or desktop that are far more interesting than using it as a doorstop. Hopefully, these ideas will help keep it out of the dumpster for a little while longer. By repurposing or reusing parts, you’re not only giving your old tech a second life but also saving money and reducing electronic waste. Plus, it’s a great way to learn new skills and get creative with future DIY projects. Hope you all found this helpful. Until next time, Hasta la Vista, Baby [•_•]