Inherited Hard Drives: A Dilemma of Preservation or Disposal

Recently, I’ve found myself facing a perplexing situation: over 500 hard drives are taking up residence in my garage. This unusual predicament stems from my late father-in-law’s acquisition of an extensive collection of refurbished SCSI hard disk drives. Unfortunately, he passed away before he could turn this unexpected stockpile into a business opportunity, leaving me to determine the next steps.

These hard drives come with diverse price tags, ranging from $10 to $120, according to my research on their model numbers. While they are in excellent condition—factory refurbished, sealed, and packaged for shipment—many of them are outdated, raising questions about their marketability.

As I sift through these relics of technology, part of me contemplates the practicality of scrapping them to cut my losses. After all, it’s not my investment but rather that of my father-in-law. However, I can’t shake the feeling that there might be someone out there still interested in these drives, especially given their pristine condition and readiness for new homes.

Here are the specific models I have on hand:

• Seagate Barracuda ST15150N
• Seagate Barracuda ST118273LC
• Seagate Cheetah ST118202LC
• IBM DRHS IEC-950 ECE32148

I’m reaching out for advice and thoughts from those who might have encountered similar situations. What should I do with these hard drives? Is it worth the effort to market them, or is scrapping the more sensible route? Any insights or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!