You would be AMAZED at some of the thanks we have had for older laptops that have been shipped off with people travelling to foreign parts.
In our case it is usually Cuba where slightly older cell phones are very much appreciated along with much older laptops... Best to make sure the battery is capable of holding a decent charge or that they can be replaced easily.
In return my Aunt is involved in rescuing dogs from Cuba.
I am sure that if you know somebody who travels a lot to a specific country or there is an HONEST charity for reclaimed electronics you would be surprised how much more life many things have.
As far as in your case your best bet is the internet to see what can be done as far as any OS changes and upgrades as that in itself is a very deep topic and quite often best left to the individual to decide.