Replacing them can be costly in labor and dollars. Thoughtful donating agencies only hold back essential parts. When they do this, replacement parts are installed and the new configuration is tested. Donor agencies should provide configuration disks, system and application software, and documentation, instead of tossing manuals into the trash. Recipients can use these items to make unfamiliar software work or as proof of ownership to get upgrades at reduced prices.
Donations can be a great boon for the recipient.
Your agency can consult an experienced charity for advice on how to recycle excess PCs successfully. For example, the Capital PC User Group rebuilds donated computers and gives them to schools in the Washington area. Walter R. Houser, who has more than two decades of experience in federal information management, is webmaster for a Cabinet agency. All rights reserved.