Should I Erase My Computer, Tablet, Or Phone Before Selling Them?
There were 371,157 complaints of total identity theft to the US Federal Trade Commission in 2017. It is safe to say that we need to protect our personal and sensitive information especially on our electronics when we are donating or selling them.
It might be easier to just throw out that old computer, tablet or phone but don’t! It has a lot of materials that are hazardous in a landfill. Turn it in and get some cash from saving the planet.
Should I erase my personal and sensitive information on my electronics?
Answer 1 - Let Us Do It
It is not required to erase your information. We will erase and reformat your laptop storage before processing it any further. However, we cannot be held liable for any data loss or such, and we do encourage you to delete all personal and sensitive to your data from your laptop before sending it to us.
Answer 2 – Do It Prior to Sending It to Us
So it’s the end of the road for your PC, tablet, or smartphone. Before letting go, be sure to follow these steps to prepare your device for a new owner. If you don’t follow these steps, you may lose important personal data, run into issues authorizing purchases in the future, or have your personal data at risk of being recovered by the device’s new owner.
Steps to Take to Erase Information
Since there are so many devices, styles, models, years, etc. of the electronics, we highly recommend that you consult with a professional, knowledgeable family member or friend or google the latest information about your specific device on YouTube on how to erase your personal data.
Here are some basic steps you’ll need to do:
- Back Up Your Personal Data
- De-activate / de-authorize Your Software / Vendors
- Have a Copy of the Operating System to Reinstall
- Erase Your Data from the Hard Drive
- Reformat the Hard Drive
- Reinstall the Operating System
- Make the Computer or Device Shine
We purchase Laptops, iPhones, iPads and many more electronic devices. Check devices that we currently buy at SellMeLaptop.com If your laptop or other device is not on the list and you can’t find it, then you can fill out a personalized offer. We will get back to you with the offer with-in 1 to 2 business days.
