Don't throw away old laptops: They are a 'goldmine' for f...

What’s Happening

Breaking it down: Tearing apart my old laptops saved me hundreds on HDD and SSD storage Don’t throw away old laptops: They are a ‘goldmine’ for free storage Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek By Arol Wright Published Feb 11, 2026, 5:30 PM EST Arol is a tech journalist who rn works as a contributor at How-To Geek since 2022.

He first began writing online for the short-lived portal of Spanish-language gaming forum Emudesc in 2013. Years later, in 2017, he got his true start in tech journalism working for a small Google-focused site called Pixel Spot. (yes, really)

He transitioned to a news and feature writer role at XDA Developers that same year, where he worked until 2021 before making the jump to other websites.

The Details

Arol brings nearly a decade of writing experience, and the occasional hot take, to his writings. While he’s a technology lover at heart, he holds computer hardware and smartphones particularly close to heart.

You’ll normally find him covering news, although he has also written the occasional deal, buyer’s guide, how-to post, and round-up. He’s also written for Android Police and MakeUseOf.

Why This Matters

He’s also a Political Science student. When he’s not writing, you’ll probably find him hitting the gym, trying to ace a new hobby, reading his textbooks, or traveling. You can reach him at me@arolwright.

This could have major implications for how we use technology going forward.

Key Takeaways

• Those old hard drives might have a lot of life left in them.
• And I think you should do it too.

The Bottom Line

And I think you should do it too. Why your own old hard drives are a good idea Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek Salvaging storage from old, dead laptops is probably one of the most cost-effective strategies for expanding your digital capacity without spending a dime.

Is this a W or an L? You decide.