In a previous article titled "How to Know Your Computer Needs Upgrading or Replacing," I had pointed out that everything has an expiry date and that your personal computer is no exception. I then went on to describe tell-tale signs that warn you of possible impending computer crash which actually give you enough time to save your important work, documents and software like apps, games, etc.
This article gives useful suggestions and tips on how best to dispose or get rid of your PC after you begin to notice the tell-tale signs of aging that we earlier discussed in that previous article. You may read that article here: Signs to Know Your Computer Is Old.
How to get rid of your old laptop
If you have determined that your computer is old and needs to be replaced, I am sure you must have considered upgrading the individual parts of your PC. Aside that, here is what to do when your laptop starts to show signs of ageing:1). Back up
According to www.laptopmag.com, it is not always correct to assume that cloud services are so prevalent these days that the process of backing up files onto a physical hard drive seems unnecessary adding that it is always a good idea to have a physical backup. Before you get rid of that old laptop, back up all your files.Also read: 5 Mistakes You Must Avoid When Buying Cloud Services
2). De-authorise
Make sure to de-authorise any services that place a limit on the number of computers your licence supports. Different services have different limits, so de-authorise them all.For example, Adobe products typically allow for their software to be installed on two computers — home and office. To de-activate, open the programme, click on Help > Deactivate > Deactivate Permanently.
For iTunes, open up the application, click on Account > Deauthorize This Computer>Done.
3). Clean and restore
Do not just drag all your old files into the trash. Wipe the disk clean. Both the Windows 8.1 and Mac OS X include utilities that lets you delete your files and restore the machine to its original state.To reset a Mac
Follow these steps to erase your hard drive and reinstall a copy of OS X:- Make sure the machine is plugged in and you are connected to the Internet.
- Restart the Mac.
- Hold down Command + R as it boots.
- Select “Reinstall Mac OS X” from the menu that pops up.
To reset Windows 8.1 laptop
If you have a laptop running on Windows 7, the process of deleting files and restoring the machine to its original state can be tricky. Worse, it may vary slightly from vendor to vendor. Dell has a handy guide. If this is too intimidating, at the very least, make sure you use a utility application that erases all your data.If you have Windows 8.1, follow these steps:
- Swipe down from the right edge of your touchpad to reveal Settings.
- Click Change PC settings.
- Click Update And Recovery at the bottom of the list.
- Click Recovery. This will reveal the “Remove everything and reinstall Windows” on the right side of the page.
- Click ‘Get Started’ to remove everything and select ‘remove everything.’
- Click ‘Next’ when prompted to ‘reset your PC.’
- Select “Just remove my files” if you plan to give the computer to someone you trust because that process is much faster. If you’re going to sell or recycle it, click “Fully clean the drive,” which takes a lot longer.
4). Fully clean the drive
According to Microsoft, this process deletes all your files and settings. However, if you want to wipe your hard drive data, try Active KillDisk, and Softpedia DP Wipe. Both are free. For Mac, Paragon’s disk wiper is free, and also in compliance with government erasure standards.5). Sell
With your machine back to its original state, you can now trade it in at the Computer Village or to any of your acquaintances as second hand. This way, it becomes a win-win situation for everyone because you get some value and the buyer enjoys his second-hand gadget without much headache.Related: Most Recent Technology-related Articles and Updates
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