In some cases you may have to fill out a pickup request online. Then the hard drive can be easily removed.

Use the appropriate tools, too. Finally, you can try taking it to a local swap-meet or flea market and fetching whatever price you can for it. But desktops and laptops often have 8GB. Need further assistance? All that you need to make a posting on an online auction site like eBay are the technical specification of your computer and a few pictures for good measure. One new use for your old computer is as a file server for your home or work place. And finally, if you have a child or a friend in need of a computer, you might consider giving the one you've outgrown a quick tuneup. It might also be useful for someone who doesn't need to purchase a new computer. Often, people who purchase a new computer will wonder what to do with their older computer, or if they should throw it away. Edit this Article.

Scam calls: How to tell if a call is from BT. This means that, usually, rendering your computer completely free of personal information requires formatting its hard drive. MacBooks are notoriously difficult to upgrade because their parts are usually soldered or glued into the body. Send it to somewhere that recycles computers, but make sure you remove any part that may have your personal data on it first. If you have yet to buy your new computer and you're interested in purchasing from the same company as before, consider this option, as it allows you to leave the process of finding a responsible means of disposal to the experts while possibly receiving a discount on your new computer. When you have time, try teaching him or her how to use e-mail and surf the web - you'll be doing him or her a favor and ensuring that your old computer isn't going to waste. When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. Or, you might try making the same offer on an online classifieds site like Craigslist.

Be extra careful when giving your computer to a stranger, as you have no way of knowing whether they have malicious intentions or not. In some cases you may have to fill out a pickup request online. By Tercius Bufete. Some computers also come with a recovery partition on the hard-drive that you can use to do a fresh install of the OS, but this won't guarantee your data can't be recovered if someone has the right tools to do it. Many people think once they get a new computer their old computer automatically becomes obsolete and can't be used for anything else. Is this article up to date? You can use an application like TeamViewer to make this process as painless as possible. Follow Us. Many organizations that exist primarily for the public good have programs to make use of older computers.

And if the library closes, they're out of luck. Just be sure to securely erase all personal data from any storage devices before you sell, sign out of any online accounts and delete your Windows user account. This allows you to continue using the computer for certain minor purposes - basic word processing, web browsing, simple games, etc. Not Helpful 9 Helpful 7. Remember Me. How to make sure all data is erased on a computer hard drive. Not Helpful 3 Helpful 6. Be a responsible consumer by researching the companies you choose for your disposal needs. Working computers of any age can be in demand at establishments that are short of funds for new ones, since even an old PC can give new users valuable experience with the web, and simple applications like Microsoft Word or Excel.

These are the parts you can use to enhance your new system. Additional information Now that I've got a computer, what can I do? Many computers have the ability to act as the broadcasting hub for a wireless network. This allows you to continue using the computer for certain minor purposes - basic word processing, web browsing, simple games, etc. Need further assistance? Be sure to pay attention to the gaps in between keys on the keyboard, which can become disgusting with long-term use. Keep in mind that your donation may be eligible for a tax break. There are a wide variety of charitable uses for computers.

Oops, we messed up. Use it for spare parts or cannibalize it. Not Helpful 5 Helpful 8. They may also be able to scrap your computer for parts, taking what they need and properly disposing of the rest. And finally, if you have a child or a friend in need of a computer, you might consider giving the one you've outgrown a quick tuneup. You may use a USB stick or an external hard drive to store your important information - both of these are available at electronics stores. Linux is a free, popular, no-frills operating system with many different variants are often used for this purpose. So, there are many great reasons to find a new home for your old computer. Don't throw that PC away! In some cases you may have to fill out a pickup request online.

One new use for your old computer is as a file server for your home or work place. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Additional information Now that I've got a computer, what can I do? If you want to be really, really sure your data is safe, you can send your hard drive to a company that can either wipe it for you or shred it. Be sure to pay attention to the gaps in between keys on the keyboard, which can become disgusting with long-term use. Then the hard drive can be easily removed. How often should I buy a new computer? To create this article, 85 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Use it for spare parts or cannibalize it.

Choose an option for disposal. Many organizations that exist primarily for the public good have programs to make use of older computers. Use the appropriate tools, too. Consider giving your computer to an elderly user like a parent or grandparent. For example, a Linux system called Puppy Linux is a variety of Linux that has especially low system requirements. Method 2 of One new use for your old computer is as a file server for your home or work place. It can be Sata or IDE depending on what your hard drive uses. Another method for getting some use out of an old computer is to install an operating system with exceptionally low system requirements.

Some computers also come with a recovery partition on the hard-drive that you can use to do a fresh install of the OS, but this won't guarantee your data can't be recovered if someone has the right tools to do it. Things you may want to keep include: fans, power supply , CD-ROM , floppy drive , hard drives , and memory. What is Cyberbullying? Search for local companies in your area - you may be able to dispose of your computer for free or may need to pay a disposal fee, depending on which types of services are available. Here are our tips for recycling your old computer in a less wasteful way. So, there are many great reasons to find a new home for your old computer. I want to sell my old computer but need to remove all stored files and personal information. If some of your computer's components are higher-quality than others i.

Not with us? The best option is to take it to a pawn shop for some cash, give it to a friend or relatives, or just call the manufacturer and see what they recommend. For a laptop, you're better off removing the hard drive. Online marketplaces make it really easy to list items, offering intuitive step-by-step instructions to help you sell your wares without a fee. Here are some options for putting it to good use. For extra storage space, you may want to install an extra hard drive or two. See if any of your kids would like to have the families old computer for their computer. This means that, usually, rendering your computer completely free of personal information requires formatting its hard drive.

Use your old computer as a router. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Or, you might try making the same offer on an online classifieds site like Craigslist. If you are interested in donating your computer, see the computer disposal page. Let's do this! Many organizations that exist primarily for the public good have programs to make use of older computers. And if the library closes, they're out of luck. Not Helpful 2 Helpful 0. Don't throw that PC away!

Do any of the above steps, but just don't throw that computer into the trash. One example of such a program is FreeNAS. Tech-savvy people sometimes reconfigure old computers for use as file servers or e-mail stations. They may also be able to scrap your computer for parts, taking what they need and properly disposing of the rest. Let's do this! Become a Member. Usually this requires booting from a bootable CD or USB stick that contains tools to format the hard drive. Co-authors: Once your important information has been backed up, it's wise to delete it from the computer so that future users or identity thieves can't access it.

You don't want bank account info, personal images, or your browsing history lingering on the machine. Use the appropriate tools, too. Use a Q-tip to clean these hard-to-reach spaces. Make sure your computer will not end up in a landfill in China before handing it over. Co-authors: Open the computer and take any spare parts you think you need for your new computer. Many computers have the ability to act as the broadcasting hub for a wireless network. Once you know how it all fits together, that is.

Tech-savvy people sometimes reconfigure old computers for use as file servers or e-mail stations. This article has been viewed , times. And if the library closes, they're out of luck. Keep in mind that your donation may be eligible for a tax break. Not a member? In a survey conducted last spring by the Consumer Reports Survey Group, a quarter of the members who had purchased multiple laptops since confessed to letting one of those devices linger under the roof—unused—after it had been replaced. Trade your computer in when you buy a new one. MacBooks are notoriously difficult to upgrade because their parts are usually soldered or glued into the body.

To find out what type of RAM modules your laptop needs, you might have to do a little digging. These programs are available for download from the internet. Many organizations that exist primarily for the public good have programs to make use of older computers. In a survey conducted last spring by the Consumer Reports Survey Group, a quarter of the members who had purchased multiple laptops since confessed to letting one of those devices linger under the roof—unused—after it had been replaced. Often, people who purchase a new computer will wonder what to do with their older computer, or if they should throw it away. You can see a list of current distributed computing projects at www. Give to kids or relatives. Selling something you no longer use makes a lot of sense, but do some research before trying to sell yours. This tool will erase your data with multiple passes via a bootable CD to make sure it cannot be recovered. And Amazon will reward you with a gift card for newer items recovered through its trade-in program.

This software lets you access the PC's screen from another machine, so you can see what the problem is without them having to talk you through it. Use the appropriate tools, too. Print this story. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Don't throw that PC away! This tool will erase your data with multiple passes via a bootable CD to make sure it cannot be recovered. If your computer is so old as to be rare or remarkable, you may actually be able to sell or donate it to a computer museum where it will be preserved for its role in history. When all else fails, giving a functional computer to a complete stranger is still better than putting it in a landfill. Learn why people trust wikiHow.

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 6. Online marketplaces make it really easy to list items, offering intuitive step-by-step instructions to help you sell your wares without a fee. Be absolutely sure that any personal information has been removed from the computer before giving it away. Before handing your computer over to your manufacturer, try to research it's ethical record with regards to computer recycling and disposal. This tool will erase your data with multiple passes via a bootable CD to make sure it cannot be recovered. If you are interested in donating your computer, see the computer disposal page. If that's too costly, lower-priced hybrid drives, which combine a hard drive with solid-state memory, are a good compromise. Even a 5- or 6-year-old computer can be given a second life in a new home, says Rizer.

Co-authors: As an added bonus, you will sometimes be eligible to receive a receipt of your donation for a tax deduction. Some computers also come with a recovery partition on the hard-drive that you can use to do a fresh install of the OS, but this won't guarantee your data can't be recovered if someone has the right tools to do it. These programs are available for download from the internet. Crucial's and Kingston's online stores can help. And that raises a good question: How do you go about finding a new home for an old laptop? If it was purchased in the last few years, you can make it run faster with a couple of tweaks. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker.

In a survey conducted last spring by the Consumer Reports Survey Group, a quarter of the members who had purchased multiple laptops since confessed to letting one of those devices linger under the roof—unused—after it had been replaced. Depending on the wireless capabilities of your old machine, you may be able to re-purpose it as a wireless router so that you're able to enjoy internet on your smartphone, tablet, or another computer. Sensitive personal information can remain on your computer even after deleting it! Become a Member. You may use a USB stick or an external hard drive to store your important information - both of these are available at electronics stores. In other words, keep it around so that you'll have a functional replacement for your new computer if it should break or suffer an error. In some cases you may have to fill out a pickup request online. Keep in mind that your donation may be eligible for a tax break. Another method for getting some use out of an old computer is to install an operating system with exceptionally low system requirements. About This Article.

If your city doesn't have such a program for electronics products, you can find a state-by-state listing of organizations that will accept them by going to the website TIA E-cycling Central. And, finding a new home for a computer is good for the environment. If your computer is so old as to be rare or remarkable, you may actually be able to sell or donate it to a computer museum where it will be preserved for its role in history. What is 5G? Just deleting it from the recycle bin isn't enough. There is no personal information on a graphics card, so you can just leave it with the computer when you recycle it. Tips and Warnings. Another method for getting some use out of an old computer is to install an operating system with exceptionally low system requirements. Simply installing your old hard drive in your new PC as a secondary D: drive is much quicker than trying to transfer your files by another method, for example. One new use for your old computer is as a file server for your home or work place.

Computers contain many precious resources, such as gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, which can be harmful for the environment if discarded improperly. If no one you know needs an old PC, try asking a local school or a charitable organisation, such as Age UK. To find a nearby nonprofit in need of equipment, you can check out the hundreds of prescreened organizations listed on the National Cristina Foundation website. You should check out the collection programs at BestBuy and Staples , too. See if any of your family relatives would like to have your computer. Can I just dump it in a bucket of bleach? If some of your computer's components are higher-quality than others i. Once you know how it all fits together, that is. You might find helping someone with their first steps into the world of computing quite satisfying, or you might find fielding tech support phone calls every other day to be a pain in the bum.

Things you may want to keep include: fans, power supply , CD-ROM , floppy drive , hard drives , and memory. Note: the screws are usually Torx screws, which require a special tool to remove. We respect your privacy. My advice would be to just keep the hard drive, or send it in for recycling if it doesn't have any critical data on it i. For extra storage space, you may want to install an extra hard drive or two. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Recycle your computer. Keep your computer as a backup. Just remember to take the necessary safety precautions: unplug it from the mains, ground yourself against static electricity and never disassemble the power supply.

How often should I buy a new computer? Both are free. Just be sure to note that it's gone when you place the item on sale. And no, "shred it" isn't some fancy hacker buzzword; they literally feed it into what amounts to a mega-wood-chipper. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Not really, because you'd still be stuck with the computer itself. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. If you ever wanted to build your own desktop PC, a good way to start is by taking one apart and putting it back together. Introducing Halo.

When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. Introducing Halo. Method 1 of Use a computer recycling or disposal firm. The only catch with this option is that by giving a PC to someone, you usually become the unofficial technical support person when problems arise. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. And if the library closes, they're out of luck. And no, "shred it" isn't some fancy hacker buzzword; they literally feed it into what amounts to a mega-wood-chipper.

It can be a fun way of releasing some excess aggression, too! You can use an application like TeamViewer to make this process as painless as possible. Or, you might try making the same offer on an online classifieds site like Craigslist. If you've got an old laptop collecting dust in your home, you're not alone. If you'd like to contribute a laptop to a family in need, the National Cristina Foundation and the World Computer Exchange can help you make that happen. How it can affect your child and how can you help. Sign In. Laptops With the Best Battery Life.