As I am writing this article new laws are being made that will prevent people from throwing computers, monitors and other components in the trash. Be sure what you are allowed to do in your area.
Computer repair services also may include deciding a computer is uneconomically repairable. This simply means that the cost of repair exceeds the cost of replacement. In that case the computer owner needs to take action to properly dispose of the computer. If you have a Goodwill store or other recycling outlet in your area you can take it there and they will do the rest.
What to do before you recycle it
Every area of the country is different when it comes to recycling computers and computer equipment. Check your local ordinances. Sometimes you can get fined or arrested if you dispose of this equipment illegally. For example, you may need to separate plastic components from steel.
The main thing to do is remove any parts you may need for the new computer or that you can use as a spare part in the future. Maybe you need the CD-ROM or Memory chips. However, you MUST remove your personal data from your hard drive. Why? If you do not remove your personal data you could become a victim of identity theft. You may have your name and address and even you contact information in either your e-mail or some other program. Even worse they might be able to log into your bank account. Thieves are out there just waiting for you to make this mistake.
How can you sure your information is removed?
You need to reformat the drive. Some computers come with restore disks and others have a key you can push when you first start the computer. In any case you need to be sure any data you want to keep is backed up on another drive or storage media. Once you start restoring the hard drive all data will be removed and you will not be able to get it back. Although there are possibilities to still get some of your information off, most people will not know how to and will not have the necessary tools to do it with. If you have very sensitive records (medical, criminal or other) you will need to have somebody use a special program that will obliterate any data that may be on the hard drive.
Are there other ways?
Yes! You could totally remove the hard drive. However, you need to remember that your personal data may still be on it. Either get somebody to destroy the information or make sure the drive is marked so you don’t loose it. You can still use it in another computer or as a backup drive.
What if I want to sell the old computer?
If you plan to give away or sell your old computer you definitely need to make sure all personal data is off the hard drive. This is the single biggest mistake people make when they get rid of an old computer. If you don’t know how to get rid of personal information find somebody that can do it for you.
I may have sounded repetitious about being sure your personal data is not on the hard drive. This was intentional. Even after all the warnings, people still make this huge mistake.