You know you should securely wipe your hard drive before you sell a computer, but is there anything else you should do before youput it up on eBay?
Selling (or giving away) an old computer is often a little scary. You likely invested a lot of hours into using your computer, and it's packed full of all your personal stuff. You also want to make sure it's in tip-top running condition before you sell it off so you can get the most money. Here's what you need to do.
Step 1: Back up all your files
The first thing you want to do is make sure you back up everything you need. How you do this really depends on what you have on your computer. If you just need to hold onto a few files,Dropbox(or anycloud storage service) will do the trick. Alternately, you can easilyback up your data to an external hard drive.
If you're going to go a little while between computers, a cloud backup solution likeCrashplanmight be a good bet, and it'svery easy to back up and restore your data. Regardless of what method you choose, make sure you run the backup before you do anything else so all your files are up to date.
Step 2: Deauthorize any software
Next, deauthorize any digital software or files you have. This includes programs like theAdobe Creative Suite,Amazon's Kindle Apps, and files you download from online storeslike iTunes.
Likewise, it might be a good time to clean up the servicesyou enabled two-factor authentication on. While the chances of someone having your password after you securely delete your hard drive in the next step is slim, it's a good idea to make the process of someone logging into your accounts impossible from the start.
One last thing to note before we delete everything: If you're a Mac user running OS X Mountain Lion or OS X Lion, you mightneed to make your own USB or DVD boot discso you can easily reinstall the OS in step four. You can alsodownload and install the OS during the reinstallation process, but a physical copy of the OS will put your mind at ease just in case things don't go as planned.
Step 3: Securely Format Your Hard Drive
As we'vementioned before, the only secure way to clean out your computer's hard drive is to format it so you start from scratch. This process is time-consuming, but it's necessary before you sell your computer to stranger. You don't want any personal information remaining on the hard drive.
We'vewalked you through this process before, and it's very simple. On Windows, we like the programDarik's Boot and Nuketo format the hard drive, and on Mac the built-in Disk Utility works great.
Step 4: Reinstall the Operating System
Once your hard drive is formatted, you won't have anything on it. This means you need to reinstall an operating system before you sell it. The processis easy provided you still have your operating system discs. Reboot the system, and boot from the OS disc itself. Windows should automatically boot from the disc, but if not youcan change the settings in your BIOSto make it work. For Mac, hold down the Option key after you hear the startup chime and select your boot disc (the USB or DVD you made yourself in step two).
Once you're done reinstalling the operating system, it's up to you how far into the setup process you want to go. If you're selling a computer online at a site like eBay, you can stop at the new user creation screen. Just power off your computer when it asks your to create a user account and you're good to go. If you're selling on Craigslist, you might want to create a dummy user account so you can show the person buying the computer that it works.
You don't need to worry about registering the software or anything else, but if you have to prove the computer is in good working shape, just create an account with a simple username and passwords (admin/password works), and tell the buyer to delete the account once he or she decides to buy.
Step 5: Clean it Up
Finally, clean up the computer and make it as nice as possible before you sell it. Not only will it likely sell for more if it looks good, it might also run a little smoother. As we'vetalked about before, you should do a few simple things: Wipe down the computer, clean out the keyboard, clean the screen, and pop it open to clean out dust from the inside. This makes the computer a lot more aesthetically appealing, and that makes it easier to sell.
Once your computer is cleaned up and it's looking as good as new,take some great pictures of it, and thensell it online at the right time to make the most money.
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FAQs
The first step involves creating a backup, so you don't lose your files. Second, you want to wipe out the drive using a secure method to make sure you've removed your personal information and applications beyond recovery, and install a clean copy of Windows 10 to resolve performance and other potential issues.
What should I do to my PC before I sell it? ›
The first step involves creating a backup, so you don't lose your files. Second, you want to wipe out the drive using a secure method to make sure you've removed your personal information and applications beyond recovery, and install a clean copy of Windows 10 to resolve performance and other potential issues.
How to wipe a computer? ›
Go to Settings > System > Recovery and click Reset PC. When asked what you want to erase, select Remove everything. Choose Local reinstall to reinstall Windows from this device, since it will run faster than the cloud download. If that doesn't work, select the Cloud download.
Is it safe to sell a laptop after a factory reset? ›
It's important to clear all computer data before selling your system. It's not enough just to clean your cache and delete your files, however. Even a standard wipe of your hard drive may not be enough. Forensic software is getting better all the time and can recover data even on a computer that has been cleared.
What to do before donating a computer? ›
How To Remove Your Personal Information Before You Get Rid of Your Computer
- Step 1: Back Up Your Information.
- Step 2: Erase Your Hard Drive.
- Step 3: Dispose of Your Computer.
“Or you can miss deleting some important files altogether. Reinstalling your system before sale is a much safer alternative.” While a factory reset is generally sufficient, a determined hacker could, at least theoretically, use advanced data recovery software to retrieve your old files.
Does wiping PC remove everything? ›
A factory reset may fix recurring glitches or crashes, boost a sluggish system, and help remove malware and unwanted software from your PC. But keep in mind that a factory reset will also wipe out your applications, settings and preferences, personal files, and accounts.
Can you really wipe a computer clean? ›
You should use data destruction or disk wipe software to wipe your hard drive entirely and securely. This is the best way to prepare your computer for recycling and ensure the next user has a clean hard drive. Warning: This method will also erase any recovery partition imaged on the drive by the manufacturer.
How long does it take to completely wipe a computer? ›
The length of time it takes to perform a factory reset can vary depending on the size of your hard drive and other factors like processing speed. Generally speaking, most resets should take between 30 minutes and an hour.
Will I lose everything if I factory reset my computer? ›
Does factory reset delete everything? Doing a factory reset will delete nearly everything on the device, including: Personal data: This includes documents, photos, videos, music, and other types of personal files.
The average cost for shredding a hard drive, in an environmentally conscious way, is around $10–$20 per drive and that number will decrease as the number of drives you need shredded increases. Sounds like the best $20 you will ever spend, compared to buying a $250 gadget on Amazon of dubious erasure standards.
How do you factory reset my PC so I can sell it? ›
Reset a Windows 10/11 device
Under Reset this PC, select Get started, and then follow the instructions on the screen. Resetting your device removes your files, settings, and apps, then reinstalls Windows.
How to erase a computer before selling? ›
On Windows 11
- Right-click the Start button and select Settings in the menu.
- Select System on the left menu, and then select Recovery on the right.
- In the Recovery options section, click the Reset PC button next to the Reset this PC option.
- On the Choose an option page, click Remove everything.
Let's see what those steps are:
- Open the Settings of the system.
- Click on 'Update & Security'
- Go to 'Recovery' option in the menu on the left side.
- Choose the option 'Get Started' under the Reset This PC.
- Select 'Remove Everything' from the dialogue box that pops up like the one below.
Before recycling your computer, you must properly wipe your laptop, tablet, or desktop of all sensitive personal information. Most computers contain a return to factory reset option, which will erase all unoriginal programs, software, and files. Make sure to back up anything that you want to use on your new device.
How do you reset my PC so I can sell it? ›
Reset a Windows 10/11 device
Under Reset this PC, select Get started, and then follow the instructions on the screen. Resetting your device removes your files, settings, and apps, then reinstalls Windows.
What to show when selling PC? ›
Here is our formula for selling your desktop or laptop computer:
- Catalog - Find speed, memory, hard drive, video card, CD/DVD reader, motherboard (if a custom box) and any manufacturer.
- Wipe data - Erase all your personal information from the computer.
- Pricing - Search the marketplace to determine what it is selling for.
If you do decide to sell your CPUs, even if they're old, make sure you clean them thoroughly before sending them out to get rid of any leftover debris and dust. This will make them look like they are in good condition even if they're not new anymore, giving you a better chance of getting more money for your CPUs!
Should I clean the drive when selling a PC? ›
Completely Wipe the Hard Disk Data
Opting for professional software to permanently wipe out your drive's data before selling is beneficial. Because it supports permanently wiping out the data from the hard drive, the data becomes inaccessible to any random person.
