What should I do before I recycle a computer?

I have a computer that doesn’t work and I want to dispose/recycle it.
How do I delete files/info from the computer?

Tags: before, computer, Recycling, Should

This entry was posted by largie on February 26, 2010 at 11:30 pm, and is filled under Recycling computers questions and answers. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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Comments (6)

#1 written by Lin
about 1 year ago

Well, I’d take the hard drive out and sell the parts in the computer. Just because your computer doesn’t work anymore does not mean that the memory, cpu, chipsets, wires, fans, ribbons and cd drives don’t work.
#2 written by Keina
about 1 year ago

1. Rip out the hard drive
2. find a hammer
3. Apply hammer to harddrive til its in bite sized chunks.
4. Repeat with Motherboard.
5. have a cold drink and chill

As told to me by a microsoft computer Tech – the only way to make sure the data is gone is either Magnets or hammers and at least with hammers ya get some agression out in the process.

and water will only destroy electrical parts if those parts are functioning at the time. when they dry out theyll work properly unless corroded
#3 written by wolf1
about 1 year ago

Well if you have another computer then take the hard drive out and use it in the new computer I would then you have some more H DD space.

If you think there is anything else like the CD drive you can save then save it.

Ignore the person that says take a hammer too it they are phsyco.
#4 written by dylan a
about 1 year ago

drill a hole through the hard the second answer down works to
#5 written by gb34_2002
about 1 year ago

do a system restore.
1. Log on to Windows as Administrator.
2. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. System Restore starts.
3. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time (if it is not already selected), and then click Next.
4. On the Select a Restore Point page, click the most recent system checkpoint in the On this list, click a restore point list, and then click Next. A System Restore message may appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make. Click OK.
5. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration, and then restarts the computer.
6. Log on to the computer as Administrator. The System Restore Restoration Complete page appears.
7. Click OK.

by the way. what kind of computer? if your just tossing it i could buy some parts off of you?!
#6 written by ??LoveYou43v3r??
about 1 year ago

If you really wanna recycle it and lazy to take parts out, esp. the harddrive to preserve the data ; then just do the computer ” wash ” like you do car wash … water will destroy most electrical part. You will be safe from losing any sensitive data =)

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