business for goodall donations stay in the Calder Valley micro-economyHebden Bridge · Calder Valley · since 2024DBS checked · fully insured · GDPR compliantpatient · plain English · at your paceAI-enhanced, teacher-led, never jargonbusiness for goodall donations stay in the Calder Valley micro-economyHebden Bridge · Calder Valley · since 2024DBS checked · fully insured · GDPR compliantpatient · plain English · at your paceAI-enhanced, teacher-led, never jargon

business for good · all donations stay local · Calder Valley CIC

From £60, honest assessment first

Old device? It's not dead yet.

A laptop too slow for the latest Windows often runs beautifully on Linux. An Android phone that has stopped getting updates can have years more life with LineageOS. We refresh, install, and teach you how to use what is now genuinely yours.

Book a session ➜

Manufacturers say your device is too old. We say it depends.

Every couple of years a software update arrives that your laptop or phone "no longer supports". The implication is clear: time to buy a new one. For a lot of devices, that is simply not true. The hardware is fine. What has been withdrawn is the manufacturer's support for the operating system.

Open source operating systems (Linux for laptops, LineageOS for many older Android phones, ChromeOS Flex for lightweight everyday use) are built and maintained by communities of developers who are perfectly happy to keep your hardware running for years more. The catch is that installing them, setting them up, and learning a slightly different desktop is not most people's idea of a fun weekend. That is what we do.

What is included

  • Honest assessment

    We tell you straight whether your device has a few good years left or whether recycling really is the right call. No pressure either way.

  • Operating system replacement

    Linux for old laptops, LineageOS for older Android phones, ChromeOS Flex for Chromebook-style use. We pick what fits your hardware and your habits.

  • Open source software setup

    LibreOffice for documents, Firefox for the web, Thunderbird for email, GIMP if you edit photos. Free, modern, and supported.

  • Data preserved

    Photos, documents, and email moved across cleanly. We back everything up first so nothing is at risk.

  • Plain-English walkthrough

    We sit with you and go through the new system. No jargon, no rush. You leave the session knowing how to use what you have.

  • Written guide

    A step-by-step summary of how your refreshed device is set up, what is installed, and where to click for the things you do most. Yours to keep.

  • Aftercare check-in

    A short follow-up call or visit a couple of weeks later to make sure everything still feels right. Included.

  • Recycling advice if needed

    If your device really is past it, we point you to local recycling. We will never push you to upcycle hardware that should not be saved.

Most jobs run 2 to 3 hours on the device, plus a follow-up check-in two weeks later.

Got an old laptop or phone you are unsure about?

Drop us a line with the make, model, and rough age. We will tell you straight whether it is worth refreshing. The honest answer is free.

How it works

Tell us what you have

Call or message us with the make, model, and rough age of the device. A photo of the back is often enough. We will tell you in plain English whether it is worth refreshing.

We assess and recommend

We pop round (or do it remotely if the device is online) and run through what is possible. You decide whether to go ahead. No pressure, no hidden costs.

Backup, refresh, transfer

We back up everything, install the new operating system, set up the open source software you will actually use, and move your data across.

Walkthrough and written guide

Before we leave you get a guided session and a written summary. We do not consider it done until you feel comfortable using it.

Two-week check-in

A few weeks later we get in touch to see how it is going. Tweaks and small fixes are included.

What we work with

Old Windows laptop
Old MacBook
Older Android phone
Old Chromebook
Tablets running outdated Android
Desktop PCs

iPhones and iPads are harder to refresh because Apple does not permit it. We will still give you an honest view on options.

Why we care about this

E-waste is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world. Every device that gets a second life instead of being replaced is one less in landfill, one less mined for new materials, and one less subscription to a manufacturer who has decided your hardware is no longer worth supporting.

Open source software has been quietly excellent for years. We think more people should know it works, runs well, and respects you in ways that commercial software increasingly does not. We are not zealots about it. We are just honest about the alternatives.

Common questions

Will Linux feel weird if I have only ever used Windows?
Modern Linux desktops (we usually install Linux Mint or Ubuntu) are designed to feel familiar to anyone who has used Windows. The Start menu is in the same place. Your files live where you expect. The differences are mostly under the hood. We choose the version that will feel most natural to you and walk you through it before we leave.
Why would I want this instead of a new laptop?
Three reasons. It is significantly cheaper than a new device. It keeps a working laptop out of landfill. And the open source software we install is genuinely good, with no subscriptions and no nudges to upgrade every year. If you mostly browse the web, do email, watch streaming, and write the odd document, an upcycled Linux laptop will feel faster than a brand-new budget Windows machine.
My old phone says it is no longer supported. Can you fix that?
Often, yes. Older Android phones can run LineageOS, a community-supported version of Android that gets security updates long after the manufacturer has moved on. iPhones are harder to refresh because Apple does not allow it, but we can advise. Bring the phone in or send us the model number and we will check.
What if my laptop is just too slow even for Linux?
Linux runs comfortably on hardware that struggles with current Windows or macOS, but there is a floor. If the device really is past saving (typically 12+ years old, or with a failing hard drive that is not worth replacing) we will tell you and point you to local recycling. We charge nothing for the honest answer.
Will I lose access to my files or accounts?
No. We back up everything before we start. Your photos, documents, email, and bookmarks come across to the new system. Cloud accounts (Google, Microsoft, iCloud) work the same way they always did. We test it all with you before we leave.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the device and what you want set up. Most jobs land between £60 and £120 in total. We do an honest assessment first, give you a quote, and only proceed once you are happy. Tutoring afterwards (if you would like more support learning the new system) is at our standard tutoring rates: £30 for the first hour, £35/hour after that.

Old device? Get an honest answer.

Send us the make, model, and rough age. We will tell you whether it is worth refreshing, what it would cost, and what to expect. No pressure to go ahead.

Ready to get started?

No contracts, no pressure, just friendly, patient help at a time that suits you. Concessions available if needed.