what to do with old software discs?

I’ve got a few old software packages:


Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0

Adobe Photoshop CS

Adobe Photoshop CS4

Office for Mac vX

Office for Mac 2011


and a few others (old versions of Aperture, GarageBand etc). What’s the best thing to do with them now? The serial numbers would have been used when I installed them so do I just bin them or are they of use to someone? They were installed on previous Mac’s that I’ve owned from 2003 onwards but I have an iMac now with more up to date equivalents.

Posted on Jul 22, 2024 5:13 AM

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Jul 22, 2024 6:12 AM in response to generalkadargo


Perhaps when looking to dispose of older software or hardware

that gear may be useful to those who are stuck with using older

Mac hardware. A good place to donate may be an AASP or Apple

Authorized Service Provider; who usually repairs old Macs too?


[I've an unused Apple Extreme 56K which was refurbished, direct

from Apple; it was a spare, but never taken out of the box. Also

have an Airport card for iMac G4 1.25GHz too, new; & put back..]


Options are fewer in climate-compromised Far North.

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Jul 27, 2024 6:21 AM in response to generalkadargo

Microsoft deactivated the retired Office suite license servers that validated license keys. That would prevent one from installing the old software packages on different hardware and activating it — in my opinion. Probably, Adobe has done the same. What you have now may just be drink coasters.

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what to do with old software discs?

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