What Do You Do With An Old Laptop That Doesn’t Work?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Use dual monitors if the display works. …
  2. Turn an old hard drive into an external hard drive. …
  3. Donate to the local school’s computer science teacher. …
  4. Try selling parts to a computer repair or rebuild shop. …
  5. Sell it for cash online. …
  6. Find a good e-cycling location near you.

What is the best way to dispose of an old laptop?

If there is no other way to dispose of your laptop safely,

you can throw it away in your regular garbage

. Be aware that this can be very damaging to the environment and should be used as an absolute last option.

How do I dispose of a broken laptop?

Recycling is simple. Microsoft maintains a list of

local recycling facilities

for drop-off. In addition, most Best Buys accept laptops for recycling. A final reminder: Even if you recycle your laptop, be sure to clean your hard drive.

Should I destroy my old laptop?

If you are literally scrapping an old PC or laptop, you

should either remove the hard drive or destroy it to protect your data

. People have been known to scavenge hard drives from tips and retrieve sensitive personal, medical and financial information.

How do I wipe my old computer before recycling?

Simply go to the Start Menu and click on Settings. Navigate to Update & Security, and look for the recovery menu. From there you just select Reset this PC and follow the instructions from there. It may ask you to erase data either “quickly” or “thoroughly” — we suggest taking the time to do the latter.

How do you destroy a hard drive before recycling?

  1. BEFORE YOU BEGIN.
  2. STEP 1: Remove the hard drive from your computer.
  3. STEP 2: Access the hard drive’s platters and circuit board.
  4. STEP 3: Remove the read/write arm, and scratch the platters with a screwdriver to destroy data.
  5. STEP 4: Break the circuit board.
  6. STEP 5: Recycle the computer’s components.

Can I throw a computer in the garbage?

While

you can probably throw a computer away in the trash

, it isn’t really recommended. Not only is it going to be awful for the environment, but it is also going to be awful for your security too. Computers should be taken to your local recycling center or to an electronics store that offers recycling services.

Are old laptops worth anything?

In general, older laptops with i3 processors, 2GB RAM and 128-256GB storage capacities are generally worth

$20 to $100

. Laptops with i5 processors, 4GB RAM and 256GB storage capacities can net between $100 and $500.

Does removing a hard drive delete everything?

The hard drive in your computer stores all of your files and the operating system, which is essential to using the computer. … Computers can turn on and display the system BIOS screens without a hard drive, so

removing the drive doesn’t damage anything

— it just renders the computer useless.

Can you destroy a hard drive with a hammer?

There are many more creative ways that you can destroy your hard drive such as setting it on fire, cutting it up with a saw or magnetizing it. However,

simply scratching the hard drive disk and smashing it a bit with a hammer

will get the job done!

What liquid will destroy a laptop?

Everything except

distilled water

contains minerals that can cause damage to your computer. Mineral water has even more minerals, as does sparkling water. These aren’t as bad as spilled wine on a laptop or spilled tea on a laptop, to say nothing of spilled soda or juice, but they can still destroy your machine.

Can you destroy a hard drive with a drill?

“The three best ways to destroy a hard drive are with a drill, where

the disc is physically not capable of being read anymore

, microwave oven, or my favorite — thermite,” said Robert Hansen, vice president of WhiteHat Labs, WhiteHat Security. … Just whacking a hard drive with a hammer doesn’t do it.

How do you permanently erase data so that it Cannot be recovered?

Go to Settings > Security > Advanced and tap Encryption & credentials. Select Encrypt phone if the option isn’t already enabled. Next, go to Settings > System > Advanced and tap Reset options.

Select Erase all data

(factory reset) and press Delete all data.

How do I permanently delete everything off my laptop?

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap System and expand the Advanced drop-down.
  3. Tap Reset options.
  4. Tap Erase all data.
  5. Tap Reset Phone, enter your PIN, and select Erase Everything.

Does factory reset remove all data?

A

factory data reset erases your data from the phone

. While data stored in your Google Account can be restored, all apps and their data will be uninstalled. To be ready to restore your data, make sure that it’s in your Google Account.

Can you destroy a hard drive with bleach?

Can bleach destroy a hard drive? The simple answer to this question is

no

. While bleach can damage the hard drive just as any other type of liquid would, it will not harm the data on the disc itself. Bleach also doesn’t wipe away magnetic patterns and does not affect the glass or metal of the hard drive.

Charlene Dyck
Author
Charlene Dyck
Charlene is a software developer and technology expert with a degree in computer science. She has worked for major tech companies and has a keen understanding of how computers and electronics work. Sarah is also an advocate for digital privacy and security.