Uses for old hard disks?

[Grammarian]

I have 4 or 5 old hard drives -- 20GB-40GB 4000rpm -- lying around.

Is there anything useful that can be done with them, apart from throwing them at crows on the lawn?

 

[IH8U]

Target practice maybe? or tear em apart, and use the platters as coasters. Then use the magnets for the fridge, or the garage to hold tools.

 

[richard tj]

Are they laptop or desktop HD's. At 4000rpm, they sound like laptop drive? Put them in an extenal USB powered caddy and use them as backups?

 

[shubham1401]

They may work as external drives.
Like Pendrives(Though quite heavy...)

Or sell them if someone takes...

Even crows deserve more than 20GB

 

[mindless728]

i like the tear them apart and use the platters for coasters idea

 

[Grammarian]

Fridge magnets and coasters... true technical genius at work

The crows would have just eaten them anyway