donating a used computer

I've recently updated to a laptop computer and would like to donate my old unit to a worthy cause. Does anyone have any suggestions? I would also inquire if I have done enough when I deleted all contact lists, favorite lists, cookies, history, and used the "cleanup program" Rustee I recommends. Should I do something more prior to passing this cpu on?

Local school or Little Geeks in TO.

Womens shelter right here at home! Help our own!!

Holy Trinity takes used computers and rebuilds them in their classes to donate to families in need.

Should I do something more prior to passing this cpu on?
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I have donated a few to the NACL group here in Simcoe. They operate many homes for the Mentally Challenged, and look for fairly simple computers to play games with. They normally require the tower, keyboard, mouse and monitor.

You should go through all of the "My Documents" folder. It will contain, music, pictures, videos and many documents, any of which may contain "personal" stuff.

Glad to hear you are making good use of a used computer!

Howard (Rustee)

Thanks for all of your suggestions. They all have merit and I would like to "keep it local". Thanks Rustee1 for your heads up also - yes, I had gone into various folders and ensured that data was deleted. It just reassures me that I've done everything that I should!

Depends what you have on there it might be safer to reformat

oh, oh. Retired 2 suggestion to reformat brings up question.....how do I do that? I don't want to remove any of the operating programs or games by mistake. Help please!

I was afraid you would say that Rustee. I'm going to have to think about this now, and will talk with a neighbour who is much more computer savy than I. I don't want to spend more money on this cpu but sure don't want to let it sit in the basement if someone else can benefit from it.

You can use Eraser (which is actually better than reformatting). It will permanently erase only what you want, including what appears to be free space (where previously deleted files once existed).

Note that if you take it to a school, such as Holy Trinity, wait until the school year is well underway (at least mid September) and call ahead to co-ordinate the drop-off with the computer teacher (or perhaps with the people in the office). You just have to drive up, tell the receptionist why you are there, and they will send some students down to your car to take the computer and monitor.