Selling a PC

first78

I want to sell my PC. I've had it about 8-10 years...no idea what it's worth. Could anyone advise me how to find out what it's worth and also how to delete my docs and photos off it. Thanks.

ballyblack

not worth very much............best to take OUT hard drive out and smash it

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grumpycrab

ballyblack wrote: »

not worth very much............best to take hard drive out and smash it

Certainly take the hard drive out but don't smash it - offer it [the computer without hard disk] on Freegle (or other local free web give-away site); you'll be surpised what people will take.

Undervalued

grumpycrab wrote: »

Certainly take the hard drive out but don't smash it - offer it on Freegle (or other local free web give-away site); you'll be surpised what people will take.

I assume he meant smash the hard drive (not the computer) so that the data doesn't get into the wrong hands!

Yes, you can get free software that will wipe the drive well enough for most purposes but something of that age will be worth so little is it worth the bother?

So personally I would smash the hard drive and give the rest away if anybody wants it.

sk240

Yep i agree, remove the hard disk and physically smash it.
Offer it for free on facebook or equivilent.
Take it to the dump if nobody wants it.

grumpycrab

Yes, sorry, must read my replies BEFORE hitting the post button; despite the 2 Thanks I got the meaning totally wrong; I meant don't smash anything - put the hard drive in an external box and mark as "archive" but give the computer away - somebody will have it for nothing.

Le_Kirk

first78 wrote: »

....also how to delete my docs and photos off it.

Presumably you will save them somewhere else before you delete, then, as in another post external caddy and use as spare drive.

Spelunthus

An 8-10 year old computer will have very little resale value (especially without a disk, or OS). Give it away on Freegle or similar. If you could be bothered, and have the skill, you can do a deep re-format on the disk, reinstall the OS and give the PC away with a little more vlaue.

I_have_spoken

>Could anyone advise me how to find out what it's worth<

£0

esuhl

If you are interested in computers, you could try installing a GNU/Linux distribution on it, or use it as a NAS server to easily make backups of your new PC.

Otherwise, if you know any young-ish kids that are interested in computers and don't have a PC themselves, maybe it would make a great educational toy.

SouthUKMan

first78 wrote: »

I want to sell my PC. I've had it about 8-10 years...no idea what it's worth. Could anyone advise me how to find out what it's worth and also how to delete my docs and photos off it. Thanks.

Even in working condition, a standard PC of that vintage is considered near worthless as they are two a penny and the world has leapt forward in terms of specs.

If you really, really want to try and get some money for it then you could try placing an advert on your local classified website or in your local paper. You might be lucky and find someone who is willing to handover £15 or £25. But I doubt anyone will buy it unless it is 'ready to run' and that includes the hard drive and an installed operating system. Personally I don't think it's worth the effort. As others have said, people offer similar age computers (and newer!) for free on websites like Freegle.

As for what to do with the hard drive... and this is meant in the nicest way possible, if you're having to ask this question in the first place, then I would suggest there are only a few viable options for you. 1) Remove the hard drive and buy a USB disc caddy so that you can access your data by plugging the drive into your replacement computer. 2) Pay someone to backup your data for you onto a USB pen drive for example, 3) Learn how to perform a back up yourself - ideally to a cloud service like Google Drive, as well as to a USB pen drive.

There is software available (both free and paid for) that claims to destroy your data and preserves the hard drive ready for resale. It's up to you whether or not your trust such software. Personally I do, but I know the majority of people don't. Otherwise you will have to physically destroy the drive - which I hate.