how to donate your computer

by Dr. Loren Kuhlman 7 min read

How To Donate Your Computer:

  • Make a copy of all files you will want to use on your new computer.
  • Next, you need to permanently erase all data from your hard drive. WipeDrive makes it easy. ...
  • Verify that your computer is clean. If you want to verify that your drive is clean, you can use options 2, 3, and 4 from the main menu. ...
  • Now go donate your computer! ...

Hardware Donation Tips
  1. Determine If Your Old Computer Can Be Reused. ...
  2. Consider Donating Newer Equipment to a Refurbisher (Not a Local Nonprofit or Library) ...
  3. Recycle Older and Broken Hardware. ...
  4. Choose a Responsible Recycler. ...
  5. Contact the Refurbisher or Recycler Before Donating.
Jun 17, 2016

Full Answer

Where can I donate my laptop?

Here are a few tips to keep in mind: Create a written description of the system including brand, processor, hard drive capacity, audio or video... Contact the charity to determine if the computer will be of use. If possible, provide the charity with a …

How to securely donate old Windows 10 PCs?

Nov 09, 2020 · Before donating any Windows 10 computer, you want to reinstall a clean copy of Windows 10 using the “remove everything” option. This process will …

What do we do with your donated electronics?

How, Where and Why to Donate Your Computer…and Do It 100% Safely. Thousands of usable computers are tossed into Iandfills or closets every week. There’s a way to donate your computer without a trace of who owned it ... Your used computer is needed. Help someone out! There’s no need to be not ...

Where can you donate computer equipment?

Donating a computer, gadget or tablet is simple and fast. Call us 888-228-7320 or fill out our very easy Computer Donation form. With your generous donation, individuals and corporate donors receive a tax deduction. IRS Tax Deduction. Donate a Computer and write it off on your taxes!

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How can I securely donate my computer?

You can recycle or donate your computer. Computer manufacturers, electronics stores, and other organizations have computer recycling or donation programs. Check out the Environmental Protection Agency's Electronics Donation and Recycling page to learn about recycling or donating your computer.

Is my computer too old to donate?

Generally speaking, if your computer is more than five years old, or in the case of a Windows system, has a pre-Pentium processor, it's unlikely most charities can make use of it.May 8, 2009

Can I donate a very old laptop?

Can I donate my old computer? The simple answer is yes you can! It all starts with you and your ethical and socially responsible decision to donate your computer to charity. However, when getting rid of your old laptop or PC, remember it's important to do so safely and securely.

How do I wipe my computer before donating?

Simply go to the Start Menu and click on Settings. Navigate to Update & Security, and look for the recovery menu. From there you just select Reset this PC and follow the instructions from there. It may ask you to erase data either “quickly” or “thoroughly” — we suggest taking the time to do the latter.Dec 4, 2020

How do I clear my computer for donations?

What to Consider Before Donating Your ComputerBack up your documents.Save important contact lists.Transfer your most important emails to your new computer; then delete them from your old one.Delete everything you have downloaded.Remove all installed software.Remove memory.Delete all photos.Delete all videos.More items...

How do you donate a laptop?

Find a local organisation you can donate a laptop to, or contribute your skills or cash.Catbytes (Lewisham) ... Community Laptops (Islington and Haringey) ... Don's Local Action (Wandsworth, Merton and Kingston) ... Community Tech Aid (Lambeth) ... Little Lives UK (London-wide) ... Mer-IT (Islington) ... Power to Connect (Wandsworth)More items...

What should I do with my old laptop?

What to Do With Your Old LaptopSell It. Believe it or not, there's a robust market for old tech. ... Recycle It. For those who don't have the time to list used electronics, don't fret; many municipalities schedule collection days year-round. ... Donate It. ... Gift It.Oct 13, 2021

How do I remove a hard drive from a laptop?

0:151:37How to Remove a Hard Disk from a Laptop in a Few Minutes - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipArea step 1 flip the laptop over and locate the hard drive screws carefully remove the screws andMoreArea step 1 flip the laptop over and locate the hard drive screws carefully remove the screws and place them somewhere safe.

Where to put old computer?

For most of us, the easiest thing to do is to put the old computer system in a closet, the basement or some other out-of-sight, out-of-mind location. There are, however, better solutions, particularly if the computer in question is still operable and less than five years old. Advertisement.

What is distributed computing?

A growing number of scientific and research organizations are using distributed computing programs that enable you to donate unused processing time on your computer. The idea is to solve extremely large mathematical problems by breaking them into thousands of small pieces.

What is TechSoup?

TechSoup provides technology services to nonprofit organizations, including forums, webinars, blogs and access to donated computers . Most computer manufacturers offer recycling services for free, or at minimal cost. Some will even provide shipping labels and instructions on how to send the computer to them.

Does Dell recycle?

Some will even provide shipping labels and instructions on how to send the computer to them. Many also accept computers from other manufacturers for a nominal fee. Dell, for example, doesn't charge to recycle any of its products. However, Dell will recycle other systems for a nominal charge when you buy one of its products.

Can you throw away an old computer?

Landfills are no place for the harmful chemicals, including lead, cadmium, beryllium and mercury, found in virtually all digital equipment. With many other solutions available, there's no reason to simply throw an old computer away. You might find someone else to whom you can give your old computer.

How long does it take to reinstall Windows 10?

The process of reinstalling Windows 10 and removing all your personal files will take at least a few minutes. Depending on your device, it could also take more than an hour.

What is a sdelete?

SDelete is a command-line utility that you can use to write over unused portions of a hard disk or other storage device with random and meaningless ones and zeros.

How many people don't have computers?

According to its website, 55 million U.S. households lack access to a computer at home, and tens of millions more don’t have enough computers to share among household members. This technology deficiency results in a lack of access to education, telehealth, and employment.

What is eBay for Charity?

eBay for Charity. If you have newer electronic devices, eBay for Charity allows you to sell them on the site and donate anywhere from 10% to 100% of the profit to your favorite charity. You can create a listing for just about anything on eBay, including any type of electronic equipment.

What is a WCE?

World Computer Exchange (WCE) is an international nonprofit organization that provides donated computers to organizations in developing countries. To accomplish its mission, it partners with 5,000 organizations throughout Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

Do libraries need technology?

Like schools, local libraries also have a constant need for technology. Patrons use computers to access library resources. Additionally, individuals who don’t have Internet access at home visit libraries to apply for jobs, send and answer emails, and browse the Web.

Can you throw used electronics in the trash?

Final Word. Even if your used electronics aren’t in good enough shape for charities to refurbish and reuse, avoid throwing them in the trash. According to Consumer Reports, toxic substances like lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries, mercury, lead, and cadmium fill our old computers, cellphones, and TVs.

What happens when you donate a computer?

When you donate computer you will gain certain tax benefits. All of us are looking for ways to pay less money in taxes. We go the extra mile to guarantee a write-off.

Why do people donate computers?

Why Donate Your Computer? 1 Help Others#N#One of the greatest reasons to donate to charity is to help the less fortunate. If you have been blessed, making a decision to donate to charity can help you give a little back. 2 Make a Difference#N#Our main goal is to provide a refurbished computer from one of our many generous donors towards an educational, needy individual, or future learning program. 3 Fair Market Tax Deduction#N#When you donate computer you will gain certain tax benefits. All of us are looking for ways to pay less money in taxes. We go the extra mile to guarantee a write-off.

How to donate a phone?

What should I do before donating my device? 1 Back it up. Be sure to back up your documents, photos, and other important information. Or transfer this data to your new device. This way you won’t lose it. To back up your data, you can make a copy in a physical location, such as on an external hard drive or thumb drive. Or you can make a copy that is stored in the “cloud,” or online, in a secure location. 2 Erase it. Once you’ve backed up the data you want to save, make sure you’ve deleted everything on your old device. This includes your download folder, photos, and the search history on your internet browser. You should clear your browsing history, cookies and site data, and cached files and images. It’s a good idea not to leave anything behind that might give someone access to your personal information. 3 Don’t forget about your apps. Delete all of your apps. This includes deleting app cache and data. 4 Wipe your hard drive. Deleting things like files from your device doesn’t mean they’ve been completely erased. Remember to completely wipe your hard drive as well. 5 Do a factory reset. Follow the device manufacturer’s instructions and do a factory reset, which should eliminate anything left on your device.

What is a medical mobile?

This public charity recycles cell phones and tablets in support of its mission to fund healthcare programs in 26 countries. Health workers use the recycled phones to help them perform tasks like tracking outbreaks, communicating emergencies, and monitoring medicine stock. If you’re still worried about any personal data being on your old device, Medic Mobile also promises to erase all device data safely and securely.

Is Firefox a trademark?

Firefox is a trademark of Mozilla Foundation. Android, Google Chrome, Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google, LLC. Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

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