Want to sell/recycle old laptop

DD265

I have an old Sony Vaio laptop that I'd ideally like to sell but will settle for recycling if it's not worth anything at all.

Can somebody advise me what I need to do to have it ready to sell? I'm conscious that I need to remove the data and think a re-format would achieve that? Do I have to take Windows or Office off it?

It's a Sony Vaio PCG-7M1M if that makes any difference what so ever in working order.

AJXX

Probably worth wiping the HDD before handing it over. You won't be able to re-install windows unless you have the disk though.

NiftyDigits

DD265 wrote: »

I have an old Sony Vaio laptop that I'd ideally like to sell but will settle for recycling if it's not worth anything at all.

Can somebody advise me what I need to do to have it ready to sell? I'm conscious that I need to remove the data and think a re-format would achieve that? Do I have to take Windows or Office off it?

It's a Sony Vaio PCG-7M1M if that makes any difference what so ever in working order.

Look for a model number such as this; VGN-FS515B....

tronator

DD265 wrote: »

I have an old Sony Vaio laptop that I'd ideally like to sell but will settle for recycling if it's not worth anything at all.

Can somebody advise me what I need to do to have it ready to sell? I'm conscious that I need to remove the data and think a re-format would achieve that? Do I have to take Windows or Office off it?

It's a Sony Vaio PCG-7M1M if that makes any difference what so ever in working order.

I doubt that you'll get much for it.

As for your data, download DBAN and securely erase your hard disk with it.

In a few minutes the paranoia brigade will turn up here advising you to destroy the hard disk with a hammer If you're really paranoid a do a more than 3-pass wipe and you'll be more than safe.

NiftyDigits

I wouldn't necessarily use DBAN either. In some cases it can make it more difficult to reinstall the OS.

gjchester

DD265 wrote: »

I have an old Sony Vaio laptop that I'd ideally like to sell but will settle for recycling if it's not worth anything at all.

Can somebody advise me what I need to do to have it ready to sell? I'm conscious that I need to remove the data and think a re-format would achieve that? Do I have to take Windows or Office off it?

It's a Sony Vaio PCG-7M1M if that makes any difference what so ever in working order.

Do you have Windows install disks? Or a way to create them?

They may be labelled as Product Recovery, Factory Reset, Factory Restore or something like that and in the box (or at least came in the box). Alternatively its more likely that you had an icon on the laptop that let you make "Make product recovery disks" as the files were probably stored on the hard drive.

If you have disks, or can make them, then using DBAN as mentioned before will let you safely and fully wipe the hard drive, and then use the disks to re-install windows.

If you don't then DBAN may wipe any recovery partition if not used with care. Its not hard to only wipe the OS section, but people tend to be unsure when they see DBANS dos type screens.

You may want to wipe the thing anyway, and leave it to the new owner to work out how to put a OS one, the Windows disks are not unique to any device and someone may have the appropriate disks.

You don't need to re-install Office, that does not come with many laptops, and you probably want to put it on your new device.

Consider your local Freecycle group, I've wiped and rebuilt friends old laptops and desktops and there is always someone who would like a computer but does not have one.

Space_Cowby

I disposed of a non working laptop on ebay recently and got £30 for.

I removed the hard drive and put in a caddy from ebay. So I made a portable USB hard drive for £5, sold laptop as non working and did not have to worry about any data loss at all.