Laptop help!

[javamoma]

I have 2 old laptops that I want to donate to a charity garage sale. Other than deleting old files and emptying the trash can, is there anything else I need to do? I can't imagine where any other personal info would be. However, I am clueless about these things.

Please help!

 

[riley2008]

Don't forget about deleting all the temporary internet files, cookies, autofill for forms, and everything else on the web browser settings, if applicable.

Also delete your account settings in the email account - you don't want someone setting up the computer and your email poops up.

 

[javamoma]

How do I delete the cookies and autofil? These laptops are so old, I can't remember if I had autofil on anything.

 

[NYCDiane]

The "autofill" would be similar to this site --- you come to this site and your username is already there. Also, some of your other sites may automatically enter your password for you if you simply enter your username.

Even if you delete your files, pics, emails, etc and empty the garbage, your info is still retrievable if someone wants to get at it. Doing a maintenance and removing cookies, temp files, etc isn't going to get your info completely off the computer. You could try a quick restore disc which will bring it back to the settings it had when you first purchased it. I don't know if that will delete everything, though. Try calling Best Buy or a similar place and see if one of their techies can give you any ideas.

 

[javamoma]

I know what autofil is but how do I reverse it?

 

[Nicsmom]

It might be best to remove the hard drive alltogether. No chance of getting any of your info then. This is usually pretty easy to do on most laptops. My Thinkpad has one screw that when removed, a small cover on the side comes off and you can slide the drive right out.

Whoever you donate them to can replace them cheaply due to the low cost of memory/hard drives.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[TheZenMaster]

I would do one of two things.

Either remove the drive and let them take the computer without the drive. As mentioned it is easily replaceable. Of course, if you're worried about sensitive data on the HD, you'll eventually have to dispose of this drive properly anyhow and when you do that, it'll still have information on it.

So my advice would be to get the Windows disc(s) that came with it and reinstall Windows and wipe the HDD clean that way. It takes a little time but it is quite easy to do. That way you're getting rid of everything, saving a little bit of the environment by recycling the old HDD, and making more money for the charity with a ready to go machine with a HDD.

 

[dizneechic]

I would just reformat the c drive and pop on a copy of windows that came with them.

 

[javamoma]

Thank you! All of your replies helped.

 

[Frantasmic]

Something to consider (not a deterrent for donating, but nice to know) is that if it is a really old computer and your Windows OP is XP or older, the system you load may be one that is no longer supported with updates from Microsoft.

So, you'd donate a computer that has potentially old, and non-updateable fatal flaws in the operating system.

If it's a charity you support, it's probably best to wipe your drive and suggest to them to load a new Windows Vista OP if they really want to use it.

In the past, I've taken my hard drives out and just seen if a local computer repair person wants the extras for anything. It doesn't help with taxes for a charitable donation, but it beats the landfill.

 

[mantaz]

It has always been recommended to me that if you are getting rid a computer, the first thing you do is take out the hard drive and either run over it with your car or hit it with a sledge hammer! There are people that look for these things that know how to get personal info off computers. Just becareful in what you decide!

 

[stitchlovestink]

Don't forget about deleting all the temporary internet files, cookies, autofill for forms, and everything else on the web browser settings, if applicable.

Also delete your account settings in the email account - you don't want someone setting up the computer and your email poops up.

bolding is mine...
I'm sorry but I just couldn't help myself. This one is too cute not to share...
I love some of the funny typos that we all 'commit' here on the Dis.
No hard feelings I hope riley2008. I thought that this was one exceptionally funny.

 

[zenshome]

It has always been recommended to me that if you are getting rid a computer, the first thing you do is take out the hard drive and either run over it with your car or hit it with a sledge hammer! There are people that look for these things that know how to get personal info off computers. Just becareful in what you decide!

Please don't take offense but doing the above quote will get you nowhere(Bending up the outer case doesn't make the drive unreadable). If you want to get rid of the information you need to format the drive and run a disk wipe program on it(The quality of which you would need to decide). Even if you format a hard drive a technically savvy individual can still pull most if not all information off the drive.

I would not include the hard drives with your donation unless you really clean them!

 

[3boymthr]

If you don't have the windows software available you can erase the windows and put Linux on the hdd. It's a good solid program and it's shareware so no cost.

Truly, though, the only way to make sure no one gets your data is to remove the hdd and to run a drill through the hdd or otherwise make sure it is completely destroyed (in pieces) before disposing of it.

 

[EvanMaddieMouse]

bolding is mine...
I'm sorry but I just couldn't help myself. This one is too cute not to share...
I love some of the funny typos that we all 'commit' here on the Dis.
No hard feelings I hope riley2008. I thought that this was one exceptionally funny.

I am so glad I'm not the only one who is still 5 years old inside! I noticed that right away and actually scrolled through the rest of the thread looking particularly to see if anyone else had seen that typo. Yes, I am a child!

 

[musicmama]

If you don't completely reformat the drive, make sure that you edit the registry and remove any keys that contain your name, credit card numbers, social security number, etc. (you get the drift - search for the value and remove it)

Also, make sureto uninstall any registered programs that you don't want to give away, or that you may be using on other computers, such as Microsoft Office.