Got an ancient laptop or desktop lying around? Here's how to transform an old PC into an NAS, experiment with a new OS, build ...

According to a CNET survey, just over three in 10 (31%) US adults hang onto old devices because they are unsure what to do with them. Nearly one-fifth (19%) of those surveyed simply throw them away.

For years, I've had a shelf filled with old laptops. I developed a sentimental attachment to each of them and couldn't muster the nerve to dispose of them. Although they still work, these old laptops ...