Computer Recycling Center April, 2003 Newsletter

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	APRIL, 2003 - the month we celebrate Earth Day! Upcoming 2003 Topics: Nonprofit Collection Projects, Technical Volunteers Supporting Schools Computer Cost Estimators, Support for School Computers Moderators for Public School Conferences, Direct Donation Programs Group Conferences, Liquidator Markets, Software, Service Earth Day events Earth Day events highlight the opportunity for recycling electronic equipment. There are informational events going on in many communities across the U.S.A. It is illegal on a federal level, and most state and local levels, to throw this stuff in the trash. Electronic items (2+ years old) have solder with lead in it. Monitors contain lead in solder and glass. Laptops with backlights in their screen may contain mercury. Other electronic items contain heavy metals. We don't want to put these items in the ground and have our drinking water run over them. We don't want to smash them in the air and breathe in the particulate. Check out the U.S. E.P.A. website at www.epa.us.gov and the National Safety Council website at www.nsc.org. Back up your files! To make sure you do not lose information, back-up your data (files) regularly; every 20 minutes is best, and at the very least, at end of day. Keep each daily back-up at least a week before over-writing. You will need a tape drive, zip-disk drive, or writeable/rewriteable CD Rom drive. Update your system files and antivirus definitions To keep your computer running well, pay attention to these three issues: Have a licensed antivirus software program. Update and run a scan for viruses regularly or at least weekly. Check for updates to all your programs and your operating system at the software manufacturers website, regularly or at least weekly. This should include your browser and mail programs. Run your diagnostics and/or scandisk-type and defragment-type programs regularly or at least weekly. When you have equipment to donate for reuse Equipment, working or nonworking, has a better chance for reuse if you leave all the parts in it. If you are discontinuing use of equipment because it is too old or slow, you will not be able to use the parts in a newer system, so don't take them out. Special software disks with drivers and special cables, connectors, and fasteners, are also important. Be careful to protect CD discs in an envelope to avoid scratches. Rubber bands are better than tape for keeping parts, cables, and discs together; and easier to get on / off than tape. There is also less chance for pulling parts off and / or breaking / deforming. Monitors are most-usable when the glass is not scratched, and the case is not written all-over. Don't lay monitors on their glass, and don't lift monitors by their cords. Don't write on the case with markers. Donation Events We are receiving requests from schools to partner in collection drives. CRC will assist student clubs have a collection drive in 2003. FAX a request on letterhead to our offices at 415-643-6290. Contact us at least 60 to 90 days before you would like to have the event. Free Software We received so much interest in this title last month that we would like to open this up to our readers. If you know of free software that you think we should list here, please email the information to us at info@crc.org Please include the software's website and details about the program and its applications. Saving/Downloading Files Another popular issue from last month, we mentioned that most Files are too big for floppy discs. Options for saving files include zip drives, CD Writers, and the new generation of USB storage devices (flash memory)that fit in your pocket. But because older computers may not have a USB port and probably have a CD, burn your drivers and updates to a CD. Thanks for reading, and check out the rest of our site. Regards! HOME \| DONATE COMPUTERS \| APPLY FOR A COMPUTER SATURDAY FUNDRAISERS \| CRC INFO \| CRC NEWS \| CONTACT Š 1991 - 2003 Computers & Education and Computer Recycling Corporation. All rights reserved.