Vent: I spent $60 on a 'mystery' hard drive lot that was just full of old tax files

I saw an online auction for a box of ten old hard drives from a closed office, listed as 'unchecked digital media treasure.' It cost me sixty bucks plus shipping. Every single one was wiped or just had years of someone's QuickBooks backups and spreadsheets from 2005. Total bust for anything interesting. Has anyone had better luck with those bulk electronics buys from storage units?

5 comments

5 Comments

nathan8512mo ago

QuickBooks from 2005... seriously?

lane.mason1mo ago

But honestly @nathan851, if the old software still does the job, what's the real cost of switching?

ruby_lane2mo ago

My uncle still runs his shop on an old DOS system. Green text on a black screen. He says it works fine for invoices and basic stuff. Refuses to learn anything new.

the_fiona1mo ago

It's like that with a lot of older folks... they find a system that works and just stick with it forever. My dad still balances his checkbook by hand every month even though his bank app does it instantly. There's a comfort in the old way, even when it's clearly harder. @lane.mason has a point about the cost, but the real cost is being cut off when that old machine finally dies and all the knowledge is gone. It's a kind of stubbornness that ends up creating way more work for someone else down the line.

ross.angela1mo agoTop Commenter

So what happens when he needs to print an invoice for a client and that old dot matrix printer finally gives out? Finding parts for that is a nightmare. @lane.mason, the cost is in the total lack of support when something breaks for good.