Laptop to sell - adivce please!

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

I have a HP Pavilion N5461 that I'd like to sell. After having a read of a few threads on here I've decided to go down the removal of the hard drive (in stead of wiping it) route. I have the original instruction booklet and a small screw driver so that side shouldn't be too troublesome.

Is there anything I should check or do before removing the hard drive?

The laptop functions just fine except for a battery that doesn't charge (already been replaced once) but with the power lead it works fine. I'm thinking of advertising on ebay as I have very good feedback but obviously want to list it honestly and completely so maintain this reputation too. As the laptop is getting on a bit I'm aware its more likely to get bought for parts... what information should I include to make the advert as helpful as possible... and where can I find this information?

Also I read that it's advisable to take the serial number of the laptop too, right? Any other numbers/details I should record before shipping?

Any other advice?

inmypocketnottheirs

Are you replacing the hard drive?

If not a laptop without a hard drive and with a battery that doesn't hold its charge is not worth a lot.

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

I'm doing a bit of research to see how much it'll go for with and without the hard drive... and how much a hard drive would cost before deciding. By your post, it sounds like I'll make the money back and then some by replacing with a new hard drive.

amcluesent

Duff battery and no disk is 'spare or repairs' land with prices to match.

IMHO, taking out the disk is not necessary when a run of DBAN will clean a disk unless you fear GCHQ getting on the case.

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

Okay... I guess I was just being over cautious! Is it possible to download DBAN on a different computer to run on the old laptop? The other option is to try hook old laptop up to internet which I'm not too confident doing and would have to go in the attic for a suitable lead!

-TangleFoot-

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice wrote: »

Is it possible to download DBAN on a different computer to run on the old laptop?

Yes. In fact, that's pretty much the only way to get it!

Now, to avoid wasting a CD-R on what is essentially a floppy-disk's worth of data, I suggest you download the Ultimate Boot CD which - among other things - includes DBAN as part of a veritable menagerie of useful utilities.

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

Ok I might need a bit more help with this...

I've avoided the google ad that links to a UBCD version I'd have to pay for. Clicked through to a mirror site and there seem to be three options for download EXE, ISO and ZIP... which one/s do I need?

Browntoa

ISO

then burn with your CD burning software , or download IMGburn and burn the ISO image file

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

Ok... downloaded and burnt onto CD. Old laptop is starting up... is it as straight forward as putting CD in and following prompts?

spud17

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice wrote: »

Ok... downloaded and burnt onto CD. Old laptop is starting up... is it as straight forward as putting CD in and following prompts?

Yup, IIRC you may have to type 'autonuke'. I've only used the 'standalone' version.

Go off and have a cup of tea.

Ive used it several times on old stuff (not that I've got anything newer than 7yrs) and it can take a while depending on size of HD and spec of PC.

Another option if you're techie is to swap the HD into another PC with a higher spec.

This can dramatically reduce the time required, even allowing for swapping disks.

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

I can't get the old laptop to boot from the CD drive. I'm selecting it from the list and pressing F10 to save and exit but it keeps returning to default.


Also old laptop seems to recognise the ISO file as a zipped file and opened WinRAR.