Storing old PCs

Osem · 13-01-2011, 13:31

The wife's finally persuaded me to box up 2 very old PC's which are cluttering one of our spare rooms. They've both been left plugged into the mains until now but I'm intending to box them up and leave them in the loft until I decide what to do about them. My question concerns the Bios backup batteries. The older of the two machines is a Compaq Deskpro 575 (W3.1) and the other is a 1999 vintage Dell (W98). I have no idea what's in the Compaq but think the bios/backup battery has long since died as every time I turn it it bleeps a lot and I have to reset the time/date etc. before it'll boot up. IIRC the Dell uses a button cell which seems to still be working as it boots OK. I don't want to risk the batteries leaking while in storage so am wondering if it'd be best to remove them or if doing this could cause problems if I need to access either machine at some future point. Any advice (except "just get rid of the bloody things FGS!!!") welcome.

13-01-2011, 13:52

I believe Lithium ion batteries do not have liquid electrolyte in them so they do not leak

Kymmy · 13-01-2011, 13:52

Always remove the bios battery if storing for a long time

Wicked_and_Crazy · 13-01-2011, 13:58

either ebay them or bin them. Be honest with yourself, your never going to use them again

haydnwalker · 13-01-2011, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

either ebay them or bin them. Be honest with yourself, your never going to use them again

But they make excellent door stops

I would agree with Kymmy and remove BIOS batteries, mainly because they will probably run out way before you ever look at those dinosaurs again hehe!

13-01-2011, 14:16

Ive had 100's old motherboards that have been sat around go through my hands all of which had standard cr2032 with the odd a different button sell some have still worked and held cmos others had not but I do not think I have ever seen a problem thats cause could be attributed to the battery being left in

MovedGoalPosts · 13-01-2011, 14:20

If the BIOS has any non default settings to make the PC work then without a battery those will be lost. But then if you are going to place into storage then eventually the battery will discharge anyway.

As suggested above, do you really need to hang onto these relics on the off chance you will use them again? If you are going to store them you don't need use from them now. Just take them to the local council household recycling centre and be done with them.

Kymmy · 13-01-2011, 14:20

Yet I've had to clean or replace a lot of 2032 holders due to batteries popping

A lot of the newer batteries (even LR and SR) are a lot better sealed and don't tend to leak but there's always the odd one that goes pop.

So advice will always be if possible remove the battery, they're cheap to buy and you'll only lose the configuration details..

danielf · 13-01-2011, 14:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

Just take them to the local council household recycling centre and be done with them.

He may want to destroy the Drives though, just in case there's anything sensitive on them.

Osem · 13-01-2011, 14:24

Thanks guys. Are there CMOS and BIOS backup batteries in all PCs then and, if so, should both be removed for storage?

Yes, when the time comes, the HDDs will be destroyed and the rest recycled.

Peter_ · 13-01-2011, 15:03

Just remove the hard drives and bin them as they will just take up space because you will never ever power them up again, and if you do keep them when you eventually do bin them you will kick yourself for being so stupid.

13-01-2011, 15:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masque

Just remove the hard drives and bin them as they will just take up space because you will never ever power them up again, and if you do keep them when you eventually do bin them you will kick yourself for being so stupid.

old stuff aint worth keeping cuz new stuff is so cheap

admars · 13-01-2011, 15:20

Quote:

old stuff aint worth keeping cuz new stuff is so cheap

that's not true. I've got a PII450 from 1999 which is in the spare room, and is used as a cd, dvd, mp3 player if in that room, and also used to download files etc, so the main PC can be used for other things. if something catastrophic stopped this pc from starting I could use that pc to order new bits

I don't think I've had to replace the battery in that PC

Osem · 13-01-2011, 15:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masque

Just remove the hard drives and bin them as they will just take up space because you will never ever power them up again, and if you do keep them when you eventually do bin them you will kick yourself for being so stupid.

Nah - I'm just a bit of a hoarder......

Taf · 13-01-2011, 19:29

I used to be able to donate old PCs to charity (for schools, etc) but now they refuse them!