1

In some companies there are some hardware, like PCs, that are out of use (stored in the warehouse), and we say they are "retired". What is the opposite? How can we name the PCs in use, and what is the verb to refer to the action to make some PC usable. In Spanish is Alta/Baja, and the verb is "Dar de alta / Dar de baja". Thanks.

toscanelli
  • 111
  • 'Active' ? 'Current' ? – Nigel J Oct 18 '18 at 14:46
  • "In service", but there are shades of gray here for what the machine is used for. – jimm101 Oct 18 '18 at 16:11
  • When you say "to make some PC useable" do you mean to change an old, faulty or obsolete PC so that it can be used; or do you mean to remove it from the store and bring it into use without further work? "To make something usable" means the first in normal speech but the context of your question makes me think that you mean the second. – BoldBen Oct 20 '18 at 22:43
  • @BoldBen, you are right, I meant the second example. – toscanelli Oct 29 '18 at 11:45
  • In that case you should refer to them as computers which have been "returned to use" rather than "made usable" as no repair or refurbishment has been carried out. "Made usable" implies that the computers were actually unusable until some repair, refurbishment or upgrade has been carried out. – BoldBen Oct 31 '18 at 00:04

2 Answers2

2

The opposite (as you have already said) is in use. Though you could also use active.

active adjective
ac·tive | \ˈak-tiv \
...
9 : engaged in full-time service especially in the armed forces active duty
10 : marked by present operation, transaction, movement, or use an active account
...
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/active

The act of returning retired equipment to use is usually restoring, though sometimes also reviving or resurrecting, depending on the perception of just how retired something was.

restore verb
re·store | \ri-ˈstȯr \
restored; restoring
transitive verb

1 : GIVE BACK, RETURN
2 : to put or bring back into existence or use
3 : to bring back to or put back into a former or original state : RENEW
4 : to put again in possession of something
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restore

Ian MacDonald
  • 3,622
0

The most common word that refers to used computers that have been certified as functional and resold, is refurbished:

[Merriam-Webster]

: to brighten or freshen up : RENOVATE

An example of this use is at the Dell website www.dellrefurbished.ca:

Off Lease Dell Refurbished Computers and Accessories Direct from Dell

Community
  • 1
Jason Bassford
  • 38,040