19 Sep How can we safely discard an old computer?

Q. We have so many old laptops and computers. How can we safely discard them?
— Concerned

A. That’s a great question.

You’re smart to want to make sure you don’t put the personal information that may be on your hard drive out there.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers some helpful tips.

First, go through the machines and decide what information you want to back up, how much storage space you will need. It offers these options:

Option 1: Transfer Your Files to Your New Computer

If you bought a new computer, one option is to transfer information from your old computer to the new one. Most operating system manufacturers have support articles that tell you how to do this.

Option 2: Save Your Files in the Cloud

Another option is to save your files and data online. You might be familiar with some of these services — like Google Drive, Evernote, Dropbox, or iCloud — but there are many others out there. Many providers give you some free storage space and let you pay for more. Providers of cloud storage use encryption to protect your data — encryption is the process of scrambling the information to hide the contents of the file.

If you’re thinking about using cloud storage, find out what level of privacy or security the different services offer. Look for one that offers multi-factor authentication to protect your information.

Option 3: Save Your Files to an External Storage Device

A USB flash drive is an affordable option that offers a moderate amount of storage. Another option is an external hard drive. It might cost a little more than a USB drive, but it gives you more storage capacity and transfers data faster. You choose which files or folders to back up. You also might be able to schedule automatic backups.

Next, erase your hard drive.

The FTC said your computer’s operating system will come with a program that will erase the hard drive and put the machine back to its factory settings.
Then to actually get rid of the machine, you can’t just toss it in the trash.

“Most computers contain hazardous materials that don’t belong in a landfill,” the FTC said. “See the Environmental Protection Agency’s Electronics Donation and Recycling page to learn about recycling or donating your computer.

New Jersey also offers some options to recycle your computer for free.

Email your questions to .

This story was originally published in September 2024.

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