How to properly store an old Mac

[sir pball]

3. Multiple backups and careful storage.

First, backup to good optical media. Yeah, you might need 25 DVDs, but it's a pretty failsafe method. Then buy a new hard drive and backup to that. And then a cloud for good measure, iCloud or Google Drive or Amazon Cloud or whatever you use. If you want to keep the MB itself, pull the battery out and recycle it - you can run it without a battery, it's just a bit slower and riskier.

Take the optical backups, the fresh hard drive, and the MB and power supply, put them all in an airtight container with a handful of silica gel packets too keep everything dry, and store in a cool, dark, dry place like a first-floor closet. For god's sake not the attic or basement though!