Vista laptop to dispose of, how to reset it

longwalks1

Found an old Dell laptop from about 6 years ago, have moved the few items off it i want to keep, now its ready for the bin. (It will be smahed up with a hammer in a bag before being buried in the bin too), is there an easy (I'm a technophobe, as some of you well know) way to wipe it/clear everytihng from it/re-format it please?

WAYT

No need to smash anything up, just remove the HDD. That is where any and all data is stored.
You can choose to spend £4 on an external caddy for the HDD, once removed.
Then you can utilise it as a portable drive.



What is the Service Tag or Express Code of the laptop? It's written on the underside.

longwalks1

Hi WAYT

Service tag is:

8VD28H1

or express is:
19310649445

Does that help? Thanks again

longwalks1

I've got a couple of 2Tb drives already so dont really need the old drive in this laptop, just want to make sure i cant be used again, or snopped through (Kept things like passwords and log on detials on it many years ago)

WAYT

What wrong with it? Just upgrade it, for free to Windows 7.

longwalks1

nothings wrong with it other than its about 6 or 7 years old and i now have a newer faster laptop, this ones not been used for a couple of years so it worth nothing selling it on, its just in the way at home

WAYT

The HDD takes around ten seconds to remove. You don't even need to open the machine. You can sell it without a hard drive.
Perhaps even to local computer shop or to someone in need or...

You can put a new HDD in for £20. Then you can pass it on to someone who would like or need a computer for £20.

Lots of options. But do not destroy the machine itself, as the HDD is the only part that can contain your sensitive data.

WAYT

britishboy wrote: »

nothings wrong with it other than its about 6 or 7 years old and i now have a newer faster laptop, this ones not been used for a couple of years so it worth nothing selling it on, its just in the way at home

It's worth nothing to you, but perhaps everything to someone else. You can put a new drive in at the cost of £20, clean install Windows 7 and donate it to a local community centre or just eBay it for £40 to £50.
Destroying it just deprives someone of the chance of getting a laptop they perhaps could not ordinarily afford.

System

britishboy wrote: »

nothings wrong with it other than its about 6 or 7 years old and i now have a newer faster laptop, this ones not been used for a couple of years so it worth nothing selling it on, its just in the way at home

You're throwing away £50-£60.

WAYT

Tarambor wrote: »

You're throwing away £50-£60.

It's not even about the money.

Someone, on this thread, is talking about trying to get one of these running with Windows 7.

The Inspiron 1545 in this thread would be like a rocket ship in comparison. and instead of being disposed of, would be a perfect replacement for someone apparently unable to afford something better. £20 for a new HDD would be a worthy investment for them. £50 for SSD even more so.

firefox1956

Take the HDD out & offer it on Freegle / Freecycle folks will go mad for it.