Retire that computer more safely
Tips on how to help reduce risks when selling or discarding
computer hardware
Published: January 17, 2005 | Updated: October 11, 2005
Picture of a computer ready for donation
If you're ready to replace, sell, or retire your old computer, it's
very important to eradicate personal data stored on its hard drive
before unplugging it for the last time. You should always remember
that even though you manually delete computer files, an identity
thief might still be able to recover them, possibly putting you or
your family at risk.
Files you should remove before you donate or sell your
computer:
E-mail contacts
E-mail messages
All documents
All files in the operating system recycle bin or trash folder
Internet files
All non-transferable software (most software is transferable if you
have the original disks and product key)
Options for removing files from your computer:
1.
Remove the files yourself at home using disk-cleaning software.
It's not difficult to do, and many cleaning utilities are free.
Some currently available are listed below.
2.
Call the computer manufacturer's technical services department and
ask how to delete personal files (your computer might need to be
under warranty for this service).
3.
Take your hard drive to a local reputable computer supplier to have
them safely overwrite your files.
Shared Windows disk-cleaning utilities (free of charge):
Weberaser Demo
Active Kill Disk: Hard Drive Eraser
Disk Cleaner
Sure Delete
Others available on Shareware.com
In addition, several commercial disk-cleaning utilities compatible
with Windows are listed on the File Deletion page in Windows
Marketplace.
Once you've cleaned the personal data from your old computer (and
you don't plan to or are unable to sell it), what should you do
with it? Consider donating or recycling.
Donate
If your unwanted computer still works, donating it is probably the
best way to go, and doing so will help keep toxins such as lead,
mercury, and other electronic byproducts out of the environment.
Each computer dumped in a landfill is a missed opportunity to
provide a computer for others to use through one of the more than
400 nonprofit or school-based refurbishers around the country. In
addition, depending on the current market value of your donated
computer, you might be able to deduct its value from your taxes
(refer to current federal and local tax laws for more
information).
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Recycle
If your computer is an older model (five years is typically the
maximum for donating), doesn't work, or donating isn't otherwise an
option, you can dispose of it responsibly with the help of a
qualified recycler near you, such as those found on the Electronics
Equipment Recyclers Contact List or the Electronics Recycling
Initiative Web site. 
