Get Rid of Old Computers...

A practical overview of the process of extending—or extinguishing—the life of old systems.

Predisposition

You have a bunch—maybe thousands—of old computers. Before you decide whether to redeploy, sell or junk them, you must figure out what kinds you have and the most valuable use for them. Some you can resell. Others are good for their parts. And still others can be made into recyclable materials.

Data Destruction

This step is crucial for security purposes. Companies have been burned by the data left on old machines; scavengers have literally taken those computers out of the trash or bought them as used equipment. Hard drive wiping comes in different security levels. The most secure process is the Department of Defense specification wipe, done several times. For even better security, you can wipe data onsite instead of sending the computers out, where they could be intercepted. Degaussing (erasing data from storage media using a demagnetizing electronic current), on the other hand, ensures that no one can retrieve the data. But it also ruins the drive, which must be chopped up for recycling.