How to Liquidate Old Computers

I think just about everyone struggles with the question of what to do with old computers. It's a common problem in our technology oriented culture. Here's how to determine the best course of action to take about your old computer. There are three routes to choose from:

1. Reuse: If you own a small business, think about reusing the computer. It could be set up as a data entry machine, or act as a server for fax services or mail/shipping services.
2. Donate it: You could donate your machine to an organization or individual who needs it. If you choose to donate, it’s important to consider the following:
   • How old is it? If the computer is older than 5 years, newer software programs may not run on it, and organizations may not be able accept the donation. You can find a list of places to donate here and here.
   • Make sure you wipe/format the hard drive before you donate. The safest thing to do is overwrite the disk There are free programs that will make the hard drive unreadable. PC Inspector meets U.S. military standards. Another good program is Eraser, free at Heidi Computers. If you have a Mac, try this software.
3. Recycle it: There are companies which will take your used computer and recycle it. Individuals and small businesses can find a local recycler to help. There may be a small fee involved because recycling computer equipment is not a profitable task. You can find a list recyclers here.

Closing Thoughts

The factors involved in dealing with used computer equipment are confusing.

For example, the Environmental Protection Agency has specific regulations about disposing of computers which need to be considered.

And for most people, there’s the overwhelming task of making sure the computer drive is clean before liquidation. No one wants to leave sensitive data on that hard drive for some shady character to find. But most people have no idea how to erase a computer hard drive. And worse, some computer users don't even know they should wipe the hard drive before they get rid of the computer.

In 2003, two MIT students purchased 158 used disk drives from various locations and found more than 5,000 credit card numbers, medical reports, detailed personal and corporate financial information, and several gigabytes worth of personal e-mail and pornography on those drives.

This page has some more detailed information about erasing a computer hard drive. I hope it helps.

Done with Old Computers, back to Home