Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
If we do not hit our goal we will be forced to close the site.

Current status: https://keepboardsalive.com/

Annual subs are best for most impact. If you are still undecided on going Ad Free - you can also donate using the Paypal Donate option. All contribution helps. Thank you.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.

What to do with an old laptop?

  • 12-07-2014 02:16PM
    #1
    Faith
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,662 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    I've got an old Sony Vaio vgn-nr11s knocking about and I want to get rid of it. I bought it in late 2007, I think, and stopped using it in early 2010. Since then, it has pretty much sat in a cupboard.

    It still works fine (although the battery won't really hold a charge), but I assume it's too old for anyone to want to use. If I were to sell it, what's the best way to go about that (online/cash converters etc)? How do I figure out how much it's worth?


Comments

  • #2
    bonzodog2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,336 ✭✭✭bonzodog2


    http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Spares-Repair-Faulty-laptop-sony-vaio-vgn-nr11s-pcg-7z1m-screen-lid-/321410569768?pt=UK_Computing_Laptops_EH&hash=item4ad5901628
    is a faulty and incomplete one, it sold in June on ebay for 39 GBP

    Stick it on adverts/donedeal and see what response you get. I presume its running Vista, still good for OS support for a while. Some people don't need the latest and greatest kit.

    I'd ask 100 euro, but it would be a good idea to consider if you have any sensitive personal data on it, maybe do a factory restore on it or completely wipe it with Dban and do a clean reinstall. (If thats within your abilities)


  • #3
    solomafioso
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,095 ✭✭✭solomafioso


    This article might help too (for more ideas).

    http://lifehacker.com/top-10-ways-to-repurpose-your-old-laptop-1522986846


  • #4
    Faith
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,662 Mod ✭✭✭✭Faith


    Really helpful replies, thank you!

    It'd be fun to repurpose it, but I'm emigrating next month so it has to go.

    I'll wipe it with DBan shortly. I assume I have to reinstall Windows then?


  • #5
    Faith
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,662 Mod ✭✭✭✭Faith


    bonzodog2 wrote: »
    maybe do a factory restore on it or completely wipe it with Dban and do a clean reinstall. (If thats within your abilities)

    /sigh

    The laptop is running Windows Vista, and for some reason, it will not boot from a CD/DVD. I've done all the correct things, and this seems to be a problem with the Vaio. There's a suggestion that enabling Legacy boot will solve that, but that doesn't appear possible with Vista :confused:.

    I've wasted the whole afternoon on this now, and my fear is that even if I manage to wipe the hard drive, I won't be able to re-install Windows. Are there any other options for getting rid of sensitive information without wiping the OS?


  • #6
    bonzodog2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,336 ✭✭✭bonzodog2


    Its probably not as good as dban, but Ccleaner can do free space wiping too. Get it to remove all temp files, then check in C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Temp and other locations.

    Create a new Admin account, log in to that and delete all others

    If you've used a browser other than IE, all the better - uninstall it before wiping free space with ccleaner.

    If it weren't a VAIO (of that era anyway), you could just remove the HD, but with a slightly newer VAIO I acquired recently, you need to mostly dismantle the laptop to get to it. Nice one Sony, not.

    Have you checked if a factory restore is possible/easy?


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    Overheal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,683 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    Host a website/server with it?


  • #8
    woodturner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 879 ✭✭✭woodturner


    In a similar situation myself. Mine's a VGN N21e.


  • #9
    woodturner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 879 ✭✭✭woodturner


    In a similar situation myself. Mine's a VGN N21e.


  • #10
    woodturner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 879 ✭✭✭woodturner


    In a similar situation myself. Mine's a VGN N21e.


  • #11
    Faith
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,662 Mod ✭✭✭✭Faith


    bonzodog2 wrote: »
    Its probably not as good as dban, but Ccleaner can do free space wiping too. Get it to remove all temp files, then check in C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Temp and other locations.

    Create a new Admin account, log in to that and delete all others

    If you've used a browser other than IE, all the better - uninstall it before wiping free space with ccleaner.

    If it weren't a VAIO (of that era anyway), you could just remove the HD, but with a slightly newer VAIO I acquired recently, you need to mostly dismantle the laptop to get to it. Nice one Sony, not.

    Have you checked if a factory restore is possible/easy?

    Thank you! I'm using CCleaner right now, and it seems that a factory restore should be straightforward enough to do :)


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    woodturner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 879 ✭✭✭woodturner


    Could you let me know how to go about doing a factory restore? I wouldn't be very computer savvy. I've removed some stuff from it but want to completely wipe it.


  • #13
    Faith
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,662 Mod ✭✭✭✭Faith


    woodturner wrote: »
    Could you let me know how to go about doing a factory restore? I wouldn't be very computer savvy. I've removed some stuff from it but want to completely wipe it.

    It'll vary from computer to computer, but for the Vaio, all you have to do is hold Alt+F10 when the computer begins to load.


Advertisement