Windows gives you the option to keep your personal files when you reset the OS, but for best results (in both macOS and Windows) you should wipe them completely. You’ll need to take all your files and applications off the disk and put them back afterwards. With this in mind, make sure they’re in a safe place during the reset. You can use the OneDrive and iCloud services built into Microsoft and macOS, but you can choose your preferred backup method.
In Windows, open Settings from the Start menu, Windows Update, Advanced options, recoveryand Reset this PC.
On macOS, apple Select from the menu System setting, general, Transfer or Resetand Erase all content and settings.
Install Linux
Maybe you can even move away from Windows or macOS altogether. For the uninitiated, Linux is a free, open-source desktop operating system that comes in a variety of versions called distributions. While it’s less polished and powerful than platforms developed by Microsoft and Apple, Linux is lightweight and easy to use.
In other words, certain Linux distributions work well on older computers that slow down Windows and macOS. And there are plenty of them to choose from. You’ll find plenty of lists and comparisons online, but Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Zorin are some great places to start.
Or turn your Windows or macOS computer into a Chromebook with Google’s ChromeOS Flex (also based on Linux). It’s easy to download and install, and the new device only lets you use a browser and web apps, which is all most people really need these days.
Reusing your computer
Even if a computer is no longer actually a computer, it can still be useful and saved from the recycling center. Reusing your desktop or laptop computer for a different, less demanding use can help you enjoy a well-earned sort of retirement.
One option is to use your computer as a server, which means you simply store media files on it and serve them to other devices on your home network. The Plex software suite is a great option for this purpose; all of the core features are free to use and easy to set up. Once you’ve set up your computer as a Plex server, you can install the free Plex app on your phone, tablet, Roku, or Apple TV to stream music and movies throughout your home.
If your old computer has a webcam connected to it, you can also use it as a security camera. For this, you’ll need iSpy, a program that allows you to record footage to your old computer’s hard drive and log into the feed from anywhere.
Depending on where your computer is and what you connect it to, it can also function as a basic media player – it doesn’t require much processing power to stream Netflix or Disney+ – and you can even connect it with an HDMI cable to older TVs that don’t yet have smart apps installed.
