Monster1
10-01-2002, 02:58 PM
I go dumster diving about once a month. I have found hdrives, motherboards and memoy..
How about you?
what did you find:D
How about you?
what did you find:D
Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : Do you dumpster dive.. I DO ;-)
AllGamer
10-01-2002, 03:04 PM
When there are FREE computer parts involved I DO :D :x
rangeral
10-01-2002, 03:13 PM
No and yes, no I don't but did go with a friend or customer that did. Didn't see anything useful although he did give me some speakers he found in staples dumpster that still work on my old 166 though I don't use it anymore.:D
Bigjakkstaffa
10-01-2002, 03:19 PM
Your all bloody cheapo's :p
--Jakk:t
--Jakk:t
AllGamer
10-01-2002, 03:34 PM
if i ever open a computer firm of my own
i'll call it
Computer Cheapo R Us :D
i'll call it
Computer Cheapo R Us :D
ukulele
10-01-2002, 04:11 PM
Dumpsters, recycle drop offs, abandoned wharehouses, road side scenic improvements, pig pens, you name it. Parts is parts. :D
ukulele
10-01-2002, 04:28 PM
No and yes, no I don't but did go with a friend or customer that did.
rangeral, You gotta make a conserted effort here. Old hand woven ram frames are worth at least a Ben Franklin each these days. I once saw a fairly new computer in a trash can behind a liquor store. I asked the owner what the problem was with it. He said he took it apart one day to see how it worked and never put it back together again. All the cards, cpu, ram and drives were in the bottom of a box with the case on top of it all. It was a custom build with a 650 duron and gigabyte motherboard which was state of the art back then. I sold it for $500 a few days later. It's only junk if you can't make it work.
rangeral, You gotta make a conserted effort here. Old hand woven ram frames are worth at least a Ben Franklin each these days. I once saw a fairly new computer in a trash can behind a liquor store. I asked the owner what the problem was with it. He said he took it apart one day to see how it worked and never put it back together again. All the cards, cpu, ram and drives were in the bottom of a box with the case on top of it all. It was a custom build with a 650 duron and gigabyte motherboard which was state of the art back then. I sold it for $500 a few days later. It's only junk if you can't make it work.
Monster1
10-01-2002, 04:37 PM
The biggest problem in my area is almost everyone uses a stinking compactor:mad:
Bigjakkstaffa
10-01-2002, 04:39 PM
In Hartlepool they woudl automatically arrest you and throw away the key for snooping about dust bins and skips there are that many wacko's, smackheads and wierdos about :x
--Jakk:t
--Jakk:t
gjimene2
10-01-2002, 04:46 PM
heck in my area people leave their old pc's in front of their driveway ready for the garbage man, so it's an easy grab.
that's how I got three old IBM servers that weigh over fifty pounds a piece :)
that's how I got three old IBM servers that weigh over fifty pounds a piece :)
rangeral
10-01-2002, 04:51 PM
**** those compactors.:D
Sorry uke's I'll try harder when I have the time, it was just a fluke I took the kid or customer down there for the hell of it a couple of yrs ago but there is gold in dem dar boxes.:D
Sorry uke's I'll try harder when I have the time, it was just a fluke I took the kid or customer down there for the hell of it a couple of yrs ago but there is gold in dem dar boxes.:D
ukulele
10-01-2002, 06:25 PM
In Hartlepool they woudl automatically arrest you and throw away the key for snooping about dust bins and skips
Jeepers! What do they do if you're caught stealing trash?
Jeepers! What do they do if you're caught stealing trash?
Monster1
10-02-2002, 01:34 AM
Yea, I know jack.. I was sniffing around a office depo dumpster and this woman come out just screaming..little did she know.. my buddy was IN the dumpster, he jumped out and into my truck with about 15 junk mice without balls..
but, we got a good laugh:D
but, we got a good laugh:D
ukulele
10-02-2002, 02:13 AM
Well I don't do dumpster diving but I keep my eyes open when I haul the rubish. We don't have curbside pick up here and the local folks leave still good stuff on the side at the dump for who ever wants it. Folks here don't worry much about wacko's, smackheads and wierdos. The losers get food stamps here and don't care to shop at the dump. Mostly I get a lot of parts from garage sales and the few local thrift stores. It is very expensive to get computers fixed here so I get great deals on broken computers here. I strip them, wait for a nice case and put one together. My main rig is all built from new parts I bought by selling used computers I built from junk, and I offer free parts to the people that buy them from me. There is a lot of people here that can't afford the latest and greatest and are happy with something that can cruise the internet and print greeting cards.
Strat
10-02-2002, 02:42 AM
Nope.
optic_pro1430
10-02-2002, 03:51 AM
Shouldn't this be in the Community Forum?! :confused:
LordKwiKSilva00
10-02-2002, 12:32 PM
yo, i do it....u can find a lot of good parts in the dumpsters behind computer part stores, like the three or four in my area....other than that, i gank most of my parts from friends, or buy old ones from them for cheap...picked up my P3 barebones with 64mb ram and a 16mb voodoo3 for 35 bux....and it runs 450mhz!!! then to top it off, i found a 2.62 gb fujitsu hdd in a dumpster....all it needed was jumper pins straightened and a plug attached to set them....so, dumpster diving can be a good thing sometimes
ukulele
10-02-2002, 12:40 PM
Shouldn't this be in the Community Forum?!
Nah, this is actually a revelent discusion on low cost repair and upgrade solutions. :p
Nah, this is actually a revelent discusion on low cost repair and upgrade solutions. :p
LordKwiKSilva00
10-02-2002, 01:02 PM
LOL!!!!!! aint it the truth uke???:D
Monster1
10-02-2002, 01:11 PM
nicely said:D
LordKwiKSilva00
10-02-2002, 01:36 PM
Originally posted by Monster1
nicely said:D
yup :p
nicely said:D
yup :p
tranka32
10-02-2002, 03:37 PM
I do the curbside pickkup,,, found a few nice scraps,,, and a 17"monitor that worked fine for about 1 month tilll I screwed it up,,, install my agp card,, but all this talk about dumpsters has me wanting to take a little ride to the local computer shops,,, :)
Bigjakkstaffa
10-02-2002, 03:41 PM
You mean compo stores in the US actually chuck out decent, working stuff??
:confused:
--Jakk:t
:confused:
--Jakk:t
ukulele
10-02-2002, 04:14 PM
You mean compo stores in the US actually chuck out decent, working stuff??
American decadence is still alive and well here. :)
American decadence is still alive and well here. :)
dna_level_c7
10-02-2002, 04:41 PM
most of the stuff i'm running now I got from the curb. Some of the best...
8.2gig fujitsu HD , Not a thing wrong
EPoX socket seven board and amd k6 300. The jumpers where set wrong. it was at 100 FSB
a couple of 15-19 inch monitors
(3)56k modems
A box full of Ribbon cables, and printer cables
my computer chair i'm in right now, it's extremly nice i just had to find a new base.
a dual slot 1 MoBo
tons of printers
tons of 166-200MHz systems
I also buy parts from garage sales, flea markets, freinds, and you guys;)
8.2gig fujitsu HD , Not a thing wrong
EPoX socket seven board and amd k6 300. The jumpers where set wrong. it was at 100 FSB
a couple of 15-19 inch monitors
(3)56k modems
A box full of Ribbon cables, and printer cables
my computer chair i'm in right now, it's extremly nice i just had to find a new base.
a dual slot 1 MoBo
tons of printers
tons of 166-200MHz systems
I also buy parts from garage sales, flea markets, freinds, and you guys;)
vibe666
10-02-2002, 04:50 PM
someone left a 28" stereo TV in our communal dumping area in my apartment block, complete with remote. only about 5 years old.
took it home, and it was busted. changed the fuse and wey hey waddaya know. it works.
amazing what people throw away without checking.
it's now our main TV, with the brand new 20" we got when we moved in relegated to the bedroom.
took it home, and it was busted. changed the fuse and wey hey waddaya know. it works.
amazing what people throw away without checking.
it's now our main TV, with the brand new 20" we got when we moved in relegated to the bedroom.
Bigjakkstaffa
10-02-2002, 04:54 PM
Lucky sod :eek:
--Jakk:t
--Jakk:t
morpheus kain
10-02-2002, 05:18 PM
My buddies got 2 19" monitors out of a Comp USA dumpster.:)
Greg Harper
10-02-2002, 07:24 PM
not yet, but I would if there was some place around here that did that.That is threw parts in the dumpster. My sister was gonna do that I found out on a trip to New england to visit her. SHe had a pentII, with dvd, mouse and all and had bought a new rig because it wouldn't reload off the recovery disc. I loaded it up and brought it home. Had it up in an hour. Use it for a backup. Threw in the printer too. Best deal I've got in years.:)
leprechaun_40
10-02-2002, 09:08 PM
Never actually gone into a dumpster yet, but I've taken machines destined for that end.:D Took them all and made 2 machines I gave away and salvaged the other parts as I could. I may have to do this more often:r
vibe666
10-03-2002, 05:42 AM
I've been on a contrac twhere they were crushing all the old PC's and laptops because it was cheaper to scrap them that reycycle them (data security reasons) and I parked next to the crusher one day and loaded a couple of P2 desktops and a laptop into the back of my car instead of the crusher. most of the time they were fairly closely watched but this particular day the guy who was doing the watching wanted a PC for his kid, and mentioned maybe redirecting the odd computer his way. I just said hey, me too and with a little bit of sneaking about we managed it OK between us.
wufam007
10-03-2002, 09:36 AM
At my old job we used to throw all kinds of good merchandise in the crusher. From computer parts to office chairs and furniture. It broke my heart to see this :( and especially when they would throw entire PCs in there. I asked management about this retarded behavior and he said "Company Policy" I think he is even a bigger fool for just going along with it, especially when we could have just placed some of the stuff in our cars so easilly :r
Monster1
10-03-2002, 11:14 AM
Originally posted by vibe666
I've been on a contrac twhere they were crushing all the old PC's and laptops because it was cheaper to scrap them that reycycle them (data security reasons) and I parked next to the crusher one day and loaded a couple of P2 desktops and a laptop into the back of my car instead of the crusher. most of the time they were fairly closely watched but this particular day the guy who was doing the watching wanted a PC for his kid, and mentioned maybe redirecting the odd computer his way. I just said hey, me too and with a little bit of sneaking about we managed it OK between us.
more than one way to skin a cat.. ay?:p
I've been on a contrac twhere they were crushing all the old PC's and laptops because it was cheaper to scrap them that reycycle them (data security reasons) and I parked next to the crusher one day and loaded a couple of P2 desktops and a laptop into the back of my car instead of the crusher. most of the time they were fairly closely watched but this particular day the guy who was doing the watching wanted a PC for his kid, and mentioned maybe redirecting the odd computer his way. I just said hey, me too and with a little bit of sneaking about we managed it OK between us.
more than one way to skin a cat.. ay?:p
morpheus kain
10-03-2002, 02:00 PM
Hey wufam, I woulda frikkin got a couple a SUV's and nabbed everything I could if it wasn't an especially good job.:)
rangeral
10-03-2002, 02:33 PM
Yea alot of this stuff could go to senior citizen centers and the like, rather than donating new computers, schools could use these systems as well instead of *****in' about the city budjet's.
causticVapor
10-12-2002, 10:38 PM
****. I need to do some diving myself. Someday some dumbass is going to throw away a 2.5GHz P4 because he can't put it together again...
jes2
10-13-2002, 01:24 PM
Folks,
I've just joined the conference, and spotted this thread. Loved it - had to show it to my wife! She's always shaking her head when I come walking in with another pile of PC parts!
I've picked up some respectable PCs & parts by dumpster diving - learned this trick accidently while I was grabbing some rolls of shipping bubble wrap in a Staples dumpster. Put together a decent Socket 7 PC for my son's use.
If I find fairly new equipment that my family can use, I'll keep it. Otherwise, I'll hang onto the older stuff and put together desktops to donate to the local Mustard Seed charity. They'd practically kill for a decent working PC! ;->
I used to be able to find a fair amount of PC equipment in dumpsters and at the curb on trash day, but with the economy in the toilet, mostly what I'm finding lately is stripped PC carcasses (and I mean STRIPPED), or nothing. People tend not to throw things away if they don't have a replacement for it....and when money is tight, when you see something discarded, there's usually a very good reason doing so. It's broken!
As far as the local PC stores are concerned, it ticks me off to see what steps the local Gateway 2k store, Office Depot, and Staples now take to make sure that you can't pick up even a lousy keyboard. They either use closed trash compactor systems, or locked dumpster bins. I even learned from a local CompUSA puke that they sometimes will physically damage anything that they throw away that could possibly be retrieved and used. What JERKS.
Even my local county recycling facility have been real jerks. I've taken up some old TVs & motor oil for recycling, and in the electronic recycling section sets about 60 PCs and 20 monitors on three pallets, wrapped in shrink wrap. Next to them were at least a dozen loose mid-size towers that appeared to be intact; I started looking at them, and a woman says, "Don't even THINK about it - they're going to be recycled". They watch that area like it was a loaded jewelry showcase at Saks Fifth Avenue. Sigh...just give me 5 unwatched minutes and my pickup truck! ;)
Oh well. Keep on lookin!!!!
I've just joined the conference, and spotted this thread. Loved it - had to show it to my wife! She's always shaking her head when I come walking in with another pile of PC parts!
I've picked up some respectable PCs & parts by dumpster diving - learned this trick accidently while I was grabbing some rolls of shipping bubble wrap in a Staples dumpster. Put together a decent Socket 7 PC for my son's use.
If I find fairly new equipment that my family can use, I'll keep it. Otherwise, I'll hang onto the older stuff and put together desktops to donate to the local Mustard Seed charity. They'd practically kill for a decent working PC! ;->
I used to be able to find a fair amount of PC equipment in dumpsters and at the curb on trash day, but with the economy in the toilet, mostly what I'm finding lately is stripped PC carcasses (and I mean STRIPPED), or nothing. People tend not to throw things away if they don't have a replacement for it....and when money is tight, when you see something discarded, there's usually a very good reason doing so. It's broken!
As far as the local PC stores are concerned, it ticks me off to see what steps the local Gateway 2k store, Office Depot, and Staples now take to make sure that you can't pick up even a lousy keyboard. They either use closed trash compactor systems, or locked dumpster bins. I even learned from a local CompUSA puke that they sometimes will physically damage anything that they throw away that could possibly be retrieved and used. What JERKS.
Even my local county recycling facility have been real jerks. I've taken up some old TVs & motor oil for recycling, and in the electronic recycling section sets about 60 PCs and 20 monitors on three pallets, wrapped in shrink wrap. Next to them were at least a dozen loose mid-size towers that appeared to be intact; I started looking at them, and a woman says, "Don't even THINK about it - they're going to be recycled". They watch that area like it was a loaded jewelry showcase at Saks Fifth Avenue. Sigh...just give me 5 unwatched minutes and my pickup truck! ;)
Oh well. Keep on lookin!!!!
rangeral
10-13-2002, 01:32 PM
Welcome to Sysopt jes2!
BJUK
10-13-2002, 01:39 PM
Tight wads
Monster1
10-13-2002, 01:46 PM
Wecome:p
Wonder why they go to such extents to keep me out:confused:
Wonder why they go to such extents to keep me out:confused:
ukulele
10-13-2002, 01:47 PM
Tight wads
Do you mean the computer stores or the dumpster divers? :confused:
Do you mean the computer stores or the dumpster divers? :confused:
jes2
10-13-2002, 01:49 PM
BJUK,
Yep...guess you could call us true "recyclers" tightwads!
Of course, if you're willing to pay for all of our PC equipment and software needs (I'm found some OK software, too!), I promise I will never dive into another dumpster again! ;->
Heh, heh, heh....
Yep...guess you could call us true "recyclers" tightwads!
Of course, if you're willing to pay for all of our PC equipment and software needs (I'm found some OK software, too!), I promise I will never dive into another dumpster again! ;->
Heh, heh, heh....
dna_level_c7
10-14-2002, 12:06 AM
OMG, I can't beleive when people get so mad about you picking up stuff that will just go to waste....
Before I throw away anything, I ask EVERYBODY, and I do mean everybody. Sometimes I keep stuff for months, because I can't stand to see stuff go to waste;) .
Maybe that's why my room is such a mess?:r
Before I throw away anything, I ask EVERYBODY, and I do mean everybody. Sometimes I keep stuff for months, because I can't stand to see stuff go to waste;) .
Maybe that's why my room is such a mess?:r
ukulele
10-14-2002, 12:08 AM
Maybe that's why my room is such a mess?
A mess is relative. ;)
A mess is relative. ;)
Monster1
10-14-2002, 04:47 PM
Before I throw away anything, I ask EVERYBODY, and I do mean everybody. Sometimes I keep stuff for months, because I can't stand to see stuff go to waste .
Same here;)
Same here;)
morpheus kain
10-14-2002, 05:00 PM
Waste is relative.;) :t
Disk11
10-14-2002, 08:27 PM
I haven't actually gone into dumpsters, but I have redirected a couple hard drives my way.;)
Dr_Watson
10-15-2002, 12:49 AM
guess i just live in the wrong neighborhood...
best things ive ever found @ the curb on trash day is a pair of perfectly functional 15" monitors, and some 4x86 dx2 66's.
never thought of checking the dumpsters @ compUSA/circuit city...
i just figured they wouldn't throw out merchandise that was functional.
best things ive ever found @ the curb on trash day is a pair of perfectly functional 15" monitors, and some 4x86 dx2 66's.
never thought of checking the dumpsters @ compUSA/circuit city...
i just figured they wouldn't throw out merchandise that was functional.
ukulele
10-15-2002, 01:14 AM
best things ive ever found @ the curb on trash day is a pair of perfectly functional 15" monitors, and some 4x86 dx2 66's.
Better then a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. If you got two dx2 66's then you can look at it like it was a dx4 133. :D
Better then a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. If you got two dx2 66's then you can look at it like it was a dx4 133. :D
Dr_Watson
10-15-2002, 01:53 AM
Originally posted by ukulele
Better then a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. If you got two dx2 66's then you can look at it like it was a dx4 133. :D
but their isn't really much you can do with them other than cluster them together and do rfc or seti junk with them...
i chose to just pull the chips and decorate my car with them.
AMD 4x86 dx2 66 on my dashboard looks cute.
Better then a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. If you got two dx2 66's then you can look at it like it was a dx4 133. :D
but their isn't really much you can do with them other than cluster them together and do rfc or seti junk with them...
i chose to just pull the chips and decorate my car with them.
AMD 4x86 dx2 66 on my dashboard looks cute.
dna_level_c7
10-15-2002, 02:21 AM
You could donate stuff like that to youngins or charities or somin.
I sell em from $50 - $200...
I sell em from $50 - $200...
tranka32
10-15-2002, 03:07 PM
I upgraded to a 17" monitor today compliments of the local refuse pickup,, it's got a crappy refresh rate, 50~60Hz but it's better than the 15" I've been using... dumpster dive??? I have no problem with that... !!!!!:D
acid_burn~187
10-15-2002, 04:42 PM
I do! I got a working 19" viewsonic monitor!! I just needed to make the VGA - RGB/Sync cable which is basically just a 15 pin VGA port at one end, and 5 BNC connectors at the other. I also got the parts for the cable out of the dumpster. :)
~Paul
~Paul
Ammok
10-15-2002, 04:56 PM
British Aerospace in Preston revamped over 150 computers a couple years back, and because some dope fell off a chair he had from them and tried to sue them, they skipped 150 17" monitors, not too mention dozens of PII 233 base units, its a crying shame.
You couldn't even steal them, they were so well guarded. sob.....
You couldn't even steal them, they were so well guarded. sob.....
Bigjakkstaffa
10-15-2002, 05:03 PM
The argument with full systems is that orrible little industrial espionage sorts could nick em and extract remnants and what not offa the hard drives which could proove costly.. although having said that i think the majority of the time theyre just being bloddy scrooges :mad:
--Jakk:t
--Jakk:t
jes2
10-15-2002, 06:58 PM
Hey - for those folks that haven't found any PC equipment lately, chin up....
I picked up a couple of semi-stripped AT mini-tower carcasses last nite by my son's apartment; they didn't even have the cover on either of them. I just put 'em in the back up the truck & figured I'd look at 'em when I got home.
Found out that the yahoo that stripped them and put them out with the trash left the mobo & processor in each tower. Asus P5A-B mobos w/AMD K6-2 500 processors...and he was apparently only worried about the memory, video card and hard drive. Woohoo!
I've tested one mobo/processor out, works fine. I'll look at the other one later. I'll upgrade my younger son's game server, and if the other mobo/processor works OK, I can set up a nice lil' web surfer email machine for my neighbor with some spare parts (and MAN, I have a spare bedroom that looks like an electronics surplus store!) :p
Might be able to pick up about $125 for my efforts! :D
So, keep your eyes open, folks. Ya never know what's laying around waiting for you!
I picked up a couple of semi-stripped AT mini-tower carcasses last nite by my son's apartment; they didn't even have the cover on either of them. I just put 'em in the back up the truck & figured I'd look at 'em when I got home.
Found out that the yahoo that stripped them and put them out with the trash left the mobo & processor in each tower. Asus P5A-B mobos w/AMD K6-2 500 processors...and he was apparently only worried about the memory, video card and hard drive. Woohoo!
I've tested one mobo/processor out, works fine. I'll look at the other one later. I'll upgrade my younger son's game server, and if the other mobo/processor works OK, I can set up a nice lil' web surfer email machine for my neighbor with some spare parts (and MAN, I have a spare bedroom that looks like an electronics surplus store!) :p
Might be able to pick up about $125 for my efforts! :D
So, keep your eyes open, folks. Ya never know what's laying around waiting for you!
Monster1
10-15-2002, 07:00 PM
Wow.. lucky dog:(
I hope I get the chance to go through an idots trash;)
I hope I get the chance to go through an idots trash;)
eFrisky
10-16-2002, 10:54 AM
I had to laugh the other day.
It's not often that you'll find nice stuff lying about outside houses, waiting for the trashman, in this country. The Dutch are pretty "careful" with their money and I don't see much being binned, unless it's very obviously broke.
But I did see a 21" monitor in reasonable (external) condition next to the communal bins a few feeks back. Three students across the road spotted it pretty **** quick too. It only too me 2 mins to pop back into the house to ask the gf's permission to swipe it. **** those students - it was clean gone, and so were they. Dunno if it worked, but hey, I figure they probably had more need of it anyway..! Probably just a fuse or sticky switch.
The "computing facilities room" in my house is already pretty full of old-ish stuff LOL!
I rekon if you were caught picking through old computer parts in a bin over here, any local passing-by would respect you for it..!!
"Waste not, want not!"
It's not often that you'll find nice stuff lying about outside houses, waiting for the trashman, in this country. The Dutch are pretty "careful" with their money and I don't see much being binned, unless it's very obviously broke.
But I did see a 21" monitor in reasonable (external) condition next to the communal bins a few feeks back. Three students across the road spotted it pretty **** quick too. It only too me 2 mins to pop back into the house to ask the gf's permission to swipe it. **** those students - it was clean gone, and so were they. Dunno if it worked, but hey, I figure they probably had more need of it anyway..! Probably just a fuse or sticky switch.
The "computing facilities room" in my house is already pretty full of old-ish stuff LOL!
I rekon if you were caught picking through old computer parts in a bin over here, any local passing-by would respect you for it..!!
"Waste not, want not!"
COLN
10-16-2002, 04:32 PM
I would if I could, but living in the middle of nowhere, no dumpster to dive into. One of these days though, someone will be really nice and donate really good computer stuff. :D
tranka32
10-23-2002, 06:57 PM
Just figured I would post my latest, not my greatest finds.. I found an Ibm 17" monitor(nothing special but it works well), A Hp laserjet IIIP,, (all I needed to do is loosen the back cover and hit the reset switch and it works fine. Another Ibm monitor 15" that works well and a few other goodies that I have yet to test out... keep your eyes opened You never know what people are just throwing away..... :) :) :x
x51out
10-23-2002, 11:59 PM
It's great to find fully functional stuff that someone else has discarded. And making the occasional grab at some soccer-moms garage sale is killer. But I do kinda understand "company policy" of locking up dumpsters and/or physically destroying merchandise, but only because of rampant greed. Employees would mark perfectly fine items as defective and toss them in the dumpster to retrieve them later. That is employee theft. Here in Tucson, where it's mostly cushy and warm, we've got so many transients that pretty much ALL dumpsters are locked, especially the ones behind the Walgreens and Osco's (drugs... ). Dumpster diving is illegal, but if it were not, I'd do it too (for the stuff, not the drugs;) )
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