How to properly store an old Mac

[musiclawyer]

My 2007 era leopard MacBook has all my song files and projects when I used logic 8
I consider the data valuable. I no longer need to use the computer. Should I fire it up every month, week? Partially drain the battery ? I want to make sure it comes to life if I ever need it to access these old folders /projects

[RevStPatrick]

1. Why not just back up all those files...

...to CDs, DVDs or the cloud?
He types from his 2007 era MacBook...

[onehandle]

2. I agree with the Rev. Back it up somewhere and consider the MacBook an emergency device.

Start it up every 3 or 4 months.

But keep in mind that the battery will eventually go bad. Disuse is almost as bad as use.

[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!