Replacing your old computer with a new one that is faster and has more features can be an exciting thing but before you give away or sell your old computer, there are important things that you need to do to ensure that you won’t lose your important files that are stored in your old PC and you protect your sensitive files from getting into the wrong hands. Here are the things that you need to do before you dispose of your old computer:
- Make Backups of Your Files and Settings
You should secure a backup of your files and computer settings before you give away your old computer because you likely have documents and media files that you still need and want to be transferred to your new computer. You can use an external hard drive or a flash drive to seamlessly move your files from your old PC to the new one. Make sure that you also back up your old computer’s internet settings so you can use the same settings in your new computer. If you still need the bookmarks you have saved in your old browsers, you may use tools that will allow you to export your bookmarks hassle free. You can use the Firefox Environment Backup Extension (FEBE) to back up and restore your bookmarks and internet profile in your new PC. See to it that you do not forget to back up copies of your contacts as well. If you use Outlook, you should backup copies of your contacts in CSV format so you won’t have much trouble importing these to your new computer. It is also imperative that you secure the license keys of the software that you use. You will have difficulty installing some of your software on your new computer if you do not have their license keys.
- Delete Everything
It is very important that you verify that all your backups are accessible and working before you proceed to this next step. You need to ensure you already secured copies of your photos, videos and important files before you delete every file and data in your old computer. Once done, you can clean up your computer by deleting all your files and data. Remember that you need to remove all your files that contain sensitive information. If you used your old computer to keep copies of your passwords, for example, you need to ensure these are removed because if they fall into wrong hands, your security can be compromised. You can use the CCleaner tool to remove all the data in your old computer. Besides your documents and pictures, make sure that you also delete your emails and contacts that are stored in your computer. To prevent other people from snooping on what you do online, clear your browsing history and delete the bookmarks that are saved to your web browser.
- Emtpy Your Recycle Bin
Deleting files in your computer is one thing but you should not forget that deleted files can still be restored and accessed if they are not permanently removed from your computer. Some of the files you have previously deleted may still be in your Recycle Bin. Anybody with the sufficient know-how can restore your files if you have not thoroughly deleted them so double check to ensure that your Recycle Bin is empty before you give away or sell your computer. You can also use the Eraser software to ensure that all your data is truly removed. This program will overwrite your hard drive several times with patterns to ensure your sensitive data is erased and can no longer be restored.