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I'm doing an end-of-the-year clean up and found some old OS install media - Mac OS X 10.3.5, Windows 2000, Windows XP. It seems wrong to just throw them out but they can't have a home with me anymore. 

Is there some place I can donate them to?  Anyone know of anyone collecting this stuff for posterity?  

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please make this Community Wiki. – Molly7244 Dec 7 '09 at 0:47
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7 Answers

up vote 4 down vote

As long as they are not OEM machine specific install disc, there is always someone out there looking for some old copies of operating systems. If you want to take the time, you can put them on freecycle, ebay, craigslist for free or you can try and make a couple bucks.

Believe me, I saw someone the other day that had a collection of AOL cd's on display in their kitchen... so there is ALWAYS someone looking for old things. ;)

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up vote 4 down vote

Do-It-Yourself Ornaments for that Nonspecific Winter Retail Festival rapidly approaching.

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That is really hideous! +1!!! – outsideblasts Dec 7 '09 at 7:46
ain't it just... i've got a rack of 'em drying now. want one? – quack quixote Dec 11 '09 at 18:30
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up vote 3 down vote

If you don't like having them lying around, rip them to ISO files and save them to an external hard drive or something, then dispose of the media (or reuse it in an interesting way like ~quack mentioned). Chances are you may want to play with it for nostalgia value some day, then you can easily load it up on a virtual machine from the ISO at any time.

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I used to think that I would get around to playing around with some older stuff some day: I'm wise enough now to realize that it's not going to happen. – dwj Dec 11 '09 at 18:07
Especially remembering that Win2K doesn't need activation. – harrymc Dec 11 '09 at 18:13
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up vote 1 down vote

You can try selling it on EBay or Craigslist. I've seen old software on both and there are some who really want it.

They also make great drink coasters.

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note that selling OEM copies may get you into trouble. – Molly7244 Dec 7 '09 at 0:47
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@Molly: Yes, good point. This depends on the jurisdiction, however. In Germany e.g. the Bundesgerichtshof (Supreme Court) ruled that restrictions on OEM software are only binding to the original dealer, not to the customer. So once you legally bought OEM software, you can resell it as you wish. See de.wikipedia.org/wiki/… . Rules in other countries may be stricter, e.g. because of the DMCA in the United States. – sleske Dec 7 '09 at 1:03
Good point. If it is retail media, you can resell it. – Steve Rowe Dec 7 '09 at 5:56
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up vote 1 down vote

There are a few organisations who will take and recycle CDs/DVDs

In the UK try polymerrecycling, in the US, cdrecyclingcenter or greendisk (otherwise Google "cd recycle + location"). But +1 to any interesting reuses first of all.

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up vote 0 down vote

Keep them or your geek side will hate you!

I have a stack of old CDs that are to be used one day when I have more time!

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Time: always fleeting, never returning. – dwj Dec 11 '09 at 18:08
+1 not heard that one, but true! – William Hilsum Dec 11 '09 at 18:19
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You could send them to me ;)

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