It is easy for technology to become obsolete. However, it is a shame to let an old laptop sit in a closet when you can pass it to someone else. There is a ready market for old and broken laptops, so it's possible to sell broken electronics for cash while you declutter your home. If you are a freelancer who wants to sell just one device or a small business that needs to do bulk laptop disposal, here are things you should know.

Know What Machine You Have

Identify the machine you have by looking at the make and model number. The machine will usually have a spec label on the underside with this information. Also, know the screen's size, the type of processor, and the RAM's and the hard drive's capacity. A new machine might also have a solid-state drive or an SSD, which is faster than a physical hard disk. It also helps to know the operating system and the version the laptop uses.

Remove All Your Data From The Laptop

A laptop you've owned for a few years will have accumulated data like WiFi log-ins, passwords for online banking, and documents you don't want people accessing. So, it's vital to wipe your information from the device before selling your broken electronics for cash. Before doing this, though, you need to back up your information to the cloud or an external drive. After you have created secure copies of your sensitive information, delete the files and reformat the disk.

The reformatting process depends on how old the machine is and on the type. Older devices running on Windows 7, Vista, or XP need a third-party tool for deleting data. Search for reputable freeware from sites like Snapfiles; these allow you to create bootable CDs that can initiate the processes outside of the operating system.

If you use Windows 8 onward, you can use Microsoft's built-in disk wiping feature. Access it by going to Settings and selecting Change PC settings. There, you can select Remove Everything and Reinstall Windows. You can generally observe the same steps for Windows 10. First, choose Settings, then Update & Security, and then Recovery. You can reinstall Windows here, but only if you choose the option that allows you to remove files and clean the drive.

There are similar options on Apple systems. For ones before Lion or Mountain Lion, You need to pull up your system disk. When your machine boots up, hold down Command and R. This will bring up the recovery partition; choose Disk Utility, and go to the Erase tab. Choose the seven-pass erase, which overwrites the data several times.

Prepare The Laptop For Sale

If you are sure you have completely cleared your device of data, you can finally wrap it for sale. Collect any manuals, discs, and other materials that came along with it. If you have the box, even better—having the original packaging increases its value. Finally, make sure your machine is clean. Use a damp cloth to wipe over the surfaces, carefully getting into the crevices, and remove all the dust, oil, and grime.

Conclusion

When you are decluttering your home, you do not need to throw away your old electronics. You can get some cash from your discarded items; before you do, though, make sure your laptops are ready for use!

If you're looking for where to sell broken laptops, look no further than SellMyBroken. We are affiliated with the repair centre Gamer Tech, and we guarantee unbeatable prices for your old electronics. Sign up today or contact us for enquiries!