Winchester Computer Tutor

Recycling with trust

Recycling with trust

Safely wipe your old PC before recycling

On 14 October, Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10, leaving old computers vulnerable to new security threats. To stay protected you should upgrade to Windows 11 but that doesn’t work on older hardware leaving some people needing a new PC. If that’s you, what should you do with your old device once your shiny new machine is up and running? Don’t let it gather dust; clean it out ready for recycling. Here’s how – and no, giving it a bubble bath isn’t the way to go!

An AI-generated image of a computer monitor and tower a bathtub filled with soap bubbles. Above the bathtub, a sign reads 'Windows 10 End of support. October 2025.' The bathroom has dark tiled walls, a potted plant on the left, and another plant on the right. There are two bottles of soap on the floor next to the bathtub and a beige bath mat in front of the tub.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Open the Start menu and go to Settings. Select Update & Security and then Recovery from the left-hand panel.
  2. Under Reset this PC in the right-hand panel, click Get Started then Remove everything.
  3. For How would you like to reinstall Windows, choose Cloud download.
  4. Under Additional settings, click Change settings. Turn Clean data from No to Yes and, if the option is there, Delete files from all drives? to Yes, all drives. Click Confirm. This crucial step replaces your data with meaningless information making it difficult for anyone to retrieve or restore your old files. (You can read more about this on HowToGeek’s Everything You Need to Know About “Reset This PC” in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
  5. Click Next. After a few minutes, the system will be Ready to reset this PC. Click Reset. Then grab a coffee – or maybe read War and Peace – because this will take a long time. The PC will restart several times, so don’t be alarmed if you see the screen go black and flicker a few times. Just let it do its thing.
  6. Once complete, you’ll see the Windows setup screen. You can mostly just follow the on-screen instructions but if you’re given the option Let’s connect you to a network choose I don’t have internet then Continue with limited setup. That way you can complete the setup with a dummy account (I use anon for the username and password) instead of your Microsoft account to ensure no personal data remains on the machine.

Extra security: wipe Your drive with CCleaner

While Windows Reset does a great job of erasing your information, CCleaner’s Drive Wipe can provide an additional layer of protection. It’s especially useful if you’re extra cautious about sensitive personal information like old emails, financial documents or personal photos. It does take a lot more time so it’s optional but can help you feel more confident about handing over your computer. Download CCleaner for free and follow the Method 2 steps, selecting the Free Space Only option.

Ethical recycling

Your PC’s now clean and ready for disposal. Unfortunately, the hardware limitations that led you to replace it also make it useless for anyone else. I’d suggest donating it to somewhere like Jamie’s Computers. This charity will ensure your old device is recycled responsibly, breaking it down and turning it into funds for a good cause so giving your outdated hardware a meaningful farewell!

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Ann Jury

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