Things to consider when disposing, selling, or donating your PC’s, computer drives and equipment
Information Point has been recycling PC’s and equipment for clients for the past 8 years. We have state of the art software to completely wipe the contents of your drive, making sure your information is protected against identity theft or even worse stolen financial information of your clients. Be sure to follow the following steps to help protect yourself. If you have any questions or would like us to take care of it just give us a call or email us, and we will get it done right away.
- Backup Data
Obviously, you will want to keep a copy of your data. Here is a quick list of information you should not forget to backup - Pictures, Music, Movies, anything
entertaining you have on your computer, don’t lose it. Same goes for any documents or files you have downloaded. - Browser Date
This includes bookmarks, saved logins & passwords, extensions, and other personal settings. It’s much easier to transfer the data than to set it all up again, don’t you agree? Backup & Restore Your Internet Explorer Browser Settings - Email
If you’re using a desktop eMail program like Thunderbird or Outlook, do backup your profile and take your conversations and your address book with you. - Program Data
Did you create databases, make specific settings, or save other data with any of the programs you’re using? Think of calendars, bibliography tools, image editing software, games, or music playlists. Any of that information can be backed up and transferred to your new computer. Usually, these data are saved under documents & settings or in the respective program files folder. - Fonts
Have you downloaded and installed any additional fonts? They are likely compatible with your new computer, so save you the time of tracking them down again and just backup the fonts folder. In Windows, it’s found under C:/Windows/Fonts. - Serial Numbers & Registration Keys
This point deserves special attention because losing a serial number or registration keys can actually cost you money. - Wipe Private Data
If you seriously don’t want to keep your hard drive or can’t be bothered to remove it from your old computer, make sure all your private information is gone. Your data in the wrong hands could result in humiliation, financial loss, or worst of all: identity theft. Neither deleting files, nor emptying the trash, or formatting your hard drive is enough! To be on the safe side, you must shred and overwrite your data. Contact iPoint to perform these services and be sure you are protected. - Strip Out Useful Parts
Basically, all parts of your computer, if still functional, may be useful for you or someone else. So think twice before you trash anything. - Re-use or Recycle your PC and equipment
Not only is it the proper way to dispose of electronics but recycling is also helpful to the environment, Please recycle. Re-Use the equipment, It may not be useful to you anymore but someone may need it or have a use for it.
iPoint can provide all the services above for you, contact an iPoint Technician to schedule your PC to be dropped off, we will backup the data if needed, wipe the drive completely clean with a drive utility meant to leave no traces of any data, This is not just a format of the drive, but a total destruction of the data storage. We can even take your equipment to recycling. We do charge our normal offsite PC Support rate for the above listed services,
**this articel original post published at https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-check-disposing-computers/