Old computer gear.

[trubrit]

What does one do with your old computer equipment? Does it have any use at all or simply scrap it , which seems a shame really .This Canon slimline scanner I bought new, must be at least 10 years ago and has been in the cupboard for the last six since I bought a new one .It worked perfectly when I put it away so I would guess still does. It,s complete with starter CD and instruction book. Does it have any value or use to anyone?Model FB30U.

[Barney]

It is a conundrum these days with the advancement of technology, must be million of pieces of kit each year becoming redundant.
There was also a post recently about donating computer gear to a school.
If it does actually work and you don't want money then that may be an option?

[parrot]

Specific to your scanner, Val.......the driver for your scanner probably doesn't work with newer versions of Windows......and there are none available that do. I ditched my scanner when I upgraded to Windows 7 for that reason. But I also found out I no longer need a scanner. I have an app on my smartphone that does a better job of scanning documents than the separate scanner that I previously had.
IMO, if you want to help out a school with computer gear, buy them something that's relatively new so it can be useful. Otherwise, the gear that's filling your closet as unused will probably fill the school's cabinets in the same way.

[trubrit]

Since my opening post I have discovered the original bill, bought in 1998 so nearly 20 years ago, it certainly doesn't owe me anything, it just seems such a shame putting something in such immaculate condition into the trash can, but as my friend Parrot says, no good giving it to a school or charity just to clutter up there cupboard instead of mine , if they cannot use it either .So it's in the bin with it, bet our local bin scavenger guy will think he's got something special when he comes round next.

[BobHelm]

Sadly Val it looks to be as parrot suggests..

It is possible that it might work on a Linux Distribution using a generic Linux driver, but I have my doubts as Cannon & the Free software world don't sit very well together...

[degilbo]

I have used this software on Windows 7 PC for a very old standalone Cannon Scanner of the same vintage as mentioned in earlier posts. It worked great and got around the lack of suitable drivers

https://www.hamrick.com/

[DoctorFix]

I've used Vmware virtual machines with Windows XP just for all that old software that never got updated and the odd device that needed it. That or even using linux in the same manner functioned for me. But I also discovered my phone could make do for the odd quick scan better than fighting with the flatbed. A shame still.