Disposing of
old tech isn’t a one-click solution; there are multiple things you have to
consider before moving on to greener pastures.
Black Friday,
Cyber Monday and even Christmas are behind us. Which means some of us may have
been fortunate enough to unwrap a shiny new laptop, smartphone or tablet. But
what about our old devices?
Some of us
keep our old devices as back-ups in case something goes amiss. On the other
hand, the majority likes either to share the holiday cheer and gift their old
devices or sell them. Whatever the case may be, there are some things you
should do before you can pass the device along safely.
Mind you, if
you’re more of a video person, we’ve got you covered, too. Otherwise just
scroll down to read the main part of this article.
General advice
The one rule
you should always adhere to is back
up your data frequently.
Usually, if it involves your smartphone, you can back up your data to the cloud
or your computer. If it involves your computer, you can use a combination of
cloud and external drive. Whichever suits you better, but just make sure you do
it so you will not lose any sensitive data you may need in the future.
Computers
Most computer
users think that formatting their hard drive means that they have wiped
their data from the drive, which
simply put, is untrue. The data is still recoverable from your drive even after
you format it. Wiping the drive on your computer differs from operating system
to operating system.
If you have a
Mac, the process is quite simple and straightforward. You can use the built-in
Disk Utility feature to wipe your drive; it even allows you to determine how
thoroughly you want to wipe it.
If you are
running Windows, there is no built-in disk wiper, but there are a variety of
options you can use. You can browse the web for the best reviewed tool to fit
your needs, but the free versions of some may only work with mechanical hard
drives.
For solid-state
drives (SSDs), then we suggest referring to the manufacturers’ websites for
their drive utilities. If you want to go above and beyond, then there is the
nuclear option of physically destroying your drive. If you’re comfortable and
are well versed in how drives work, you can destroy the necessary components
yourself.
The other
option is visiting a specialist service that has machines, such as shredders or
crushers to dispose of your disk. Fair warning though, not all computers have
easily removable drives. Macs, for example, have SSDs soldered to their
motherboards.
Smartphones
Smartphones have
their own utilities that are implemented in the system to make the process as
streamlined as possible. If you’re getting rid of your old iPhone, first sign
out of all your services such as iTunes, iCloud, App Store, etc. Then go
through your Settings, enter the Reset menu, and tap on Erase All Content and
Settings.
If you’re
planning on passing along your Android device, the process may vary a bit from
manufacturer to manufacturer, but the procedure should be roughly the same.
Start by removing the security measures like the Lock screen, then move on to
removing the accounts you are signed in with. To go the extra mile, encrypt the
data on your phone and after that’s done run the Factory Data Reset on your
phone. If you’re using an SD card, don’t forget to pop it out.
Recycle
Be
environmentally responsible. If you plan to dispose of the device, don’t just
throw it away. Look for places that recycle used electronic devices. They
contain valuable resources that can be used in manufacturing future devices. If
you’re not sure how to go about it, you can check with the manufacturer’s
website or your government should have reasonable advice.
If you are
not planning on handing a still functional device on to a relative or friend,
consider donating it. One person’s trash is another’s treasure and after all,
it is the season to be jolly, so why not share the cheer with someone less
fortunate?
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