Donate Your Computer

How do I safely donate my computer?

Your donated computer could cost you thousands!

Formatting your hard drive DOES NOT erase your data!

Don't give away your personal information with your old PC when you donate your computer. Over the past five years, one in four households was victimized by some type of identity theft. If you do not erase hard drive data before you donate your computer, your identity could be stolen.

Identity thieves now target donated computers for good reason. Even a single carelessly discarded diskette could contain your entire personal identity.

Deleting a file, partitioning a disk, or formatting your hard drive will not erase hard drive data. By using WipeDrive, you can securely overwrite and erase ALL of your information, giving you the peace of mind you deserve.

How to Donate Your Computer:

1. Make a copy of all files you will want to use on your new computer.
   
   
2. Next, you need to permanently erase all data from your hard drive. WipeDrive makes it easy.
   
   
• Insert the WipeDrive CD into your CD-ROM drive and then restart your computer.
  
  
• You should see the WipeDrive screen shortly after you reboot.
  
  
• To wipe your drives, select option 1 from the main WipeDrive menu.
  
  
• You will then see your physical drives listed numerically.
  
  
• Select the drive you want to wipe or select the option to wipe all drives.
  
  
• You can then choose the number of overwrites to perform. One overwrite is more than sufficient for newer computers. If your computer is more than 6 years old, we recommend doing a DoD Level 2 overwrite which is three passes with a verify.
  
  
• Once you have selected the number of overwrites, answer yes to the confirmation prompts to begin the wiping process.
  
  
3. Verify that your computer is clean.
   
   
• If you want to verify that your drive is clean, you can use options 2, 3, and 4 from the main menu.
  
  
• Option 2 is a Complete Verify. WipeDrive will check every sector on the drive for uncleaned sectors.
  
  
• Option 3 is a Quick Verify. WipeDrive will spot check the drive for uncleaned sectors.
  
  
• Option 4 allows you to manually view specified sectors on the drive.
  
  
4. Now go donate your computer! You can rest assured that your hard drive data cannot be retrieved. For a comprehensive list of non-profit places across the US that will accept donated computers, click here.
   
   

Learn more about WipeDrive before you donate your computer

Common Questions about Donating Your Computer

Am I eligible for a tax break if I donate my old electronics?

• Yes, if you donate it to a library, school, or a nonprofit program -- including a nonprofit refurbisher. The tax laws pertaining to this are Section 170 of the Federal Income Tax Code, the New Millennium Classrooms Act, and the 21st Century Classrooms Act. Business donors can deduct the un-depreciated value of the computer, and individuals can deduct the current market value of a computer.
  
  
• Example: A computer and related software with a purchase price of $3,000, valued at $500 at time of contribution, receives a $500 deduction on Schedule A. A written receipt must be received and Form 8283 should be attached to returns. The tax receipt that schools or nonprofits provide should have your name on it, the name and identifying number of the recipient organization, and the model and type of equipment donated. Recipients are not authorized to appraise the value of the equipment. You need to find out this information and add it to the receipt.
  
  

Condition of Equipment - What computer equipment is best suited for reuse?

• Computer equipment that individuals or companies would like to pass on directly to schools, charities or low-income families should be no more than five years old, in working condition, and Internet-capable.
  
  
• Schools and nonprofits will use them mostly for the following applications: Internet browsing, e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and finances.
  
  
• Therefore, computers should meet the following standards: at least Pentium II computers with 32 megs of RAM and 2 to 4 gigabyte hard drives. Up to five-year-old working laptops and laser printers are in high demand, as are 15-inch or larger working monitors, mice, keyboards, and cables.
  
  

What might happen to you if you don't follow these steps before you donate your computer?

Read some of the popular articles below to find out:

• Erased Hard Drives Can Bite You - USA Today
  Imagine this chilling scenario: You buy a new PC and donate the old one to charity, knowing you've protected your privacy by deleting all your old files...Yet you later discover you're a victim of identity theft
  
  
• Discarded Computers Feature Story - Inside Edition
  Discarded computers, containing Social Security and tax information easily found in thrift shops, even town dumps
  
  
• Hard Drives Exposed - PC World
  Properly sanitize a hard drive before donating your computer requires only a small investment of time and an inexpensive disk-erasing tool