Don't trash it! 15 great uses for your old PC

To find a computer recycling centre near you, visit http://tinyurl.com/d2asb. If all of this sounds like too much hard work, you might like to consider giving the PC away via Freecycle, or even taking it to your local household waste centre so that it can be disposed of responsibly on your behalf.

6. Use it as a television

Your decrepit computer itself may be next to useless, but its old 19in CRT monitor could be perfect to use as a second television. Get yourself an external TV tuner, such as the AVerTV DVB-T STB7, plug an aerial cable into one end and the VGA lead from your monitor into the other – and you've got yourself a fully functional TV. The STB7 is a digital tuner, so it will work after the analogue switch-off, but you can pick up both analogue and hybrid models from AVerMedia too.

7. Deter thieves

A ten-year-old, coffee-splattered beige PC with a 486 sticker, placed in a highly visible spot in your home, will appear so valueless that thieves won't think you have a computer worth nicking… Just make sure that the real one's kept out of sight of prying eyes.

8. Make a jukebox

Even the hoariest processor is capable of playing digital music in WMA or MP3 format, and a venerable 40GB hard drive will quite happily store thousands of tracks. So rig up your old PC to your hi-fi and you've got yourself a jukebox. If it's an old laptop you're using, that's perfect, but one thing you don't want is a giant CRT sat on top of your amplifier if you're using a desktop PC.

Here's an alternative. Put a shortcut to Windows Media Player (WMP) in the Startup folder on your Start Menu, so the program will autoload. Create a new playlist containing every song on the PC and then set WMP to random playback mode (Play > Shuffle or [Ctrl] + [H]).

9. Give it to charity

We may be living in the internet age, but that doesn't mean for a moment that everyone in the UK, let alone the world, is computer-enabled. Ask if any local schools or charities would be able to make use of your old PC. Ensure your computer's in good working condition beforehand, because if they have to spend money, resources and time getting a broken machine back on its feet, it will be counterproductive. There are also various organisations dedicated to collecting old PCs for the disadvantaged, such as Express Link Up.

One thing to look out for before disposing of your PC is the data stored on your hard drive. Even if you format the drive, the data can still be recovered, so use a tool such as Eraser to delete all your personal details.

10. Make a games server

If you play online multiplayer games with a group of mates, it's preferable to play on your own server rather than hop onto a random one that's probably a continent away, thus introducing lag and the whim of moderators you don't know.

Enter your PC: use it as a dedicated server that only has to deal in web traffic, so it doesn't have to load the game itself and doesn't need a fancy 3D card or a beefy CPU. Most games have an option for a dedicated server in their Start menu folder – load it up and you're away.

11. Set up a home security system

Any old webcam can be used for makeshift CCTV. The latest Creative models include software to capture video or pictures upon motion detection, go to its website to view the entire range. Just make sure you pick a model that uses the Live! Cam software, such as the Live! Cam Video IM (£20) or Live! Cam Optia (£40). If you already own another make of webcam, try webcamXP, which runs on Windows XP or above.