Upfront/TECH
Ask the Tech Guru
Question: I have several laptops I no longer use. I’d like to donate or responsibly dispose of them. How can I wipe them clean of all personal data? Is there a way to restore them to factory settings, like for a phone or tablet?
Jason R. Rich, author of AARP tech how-to books, answers.
After backing up any needed files onto an external hard drive or in the cloud, do this:
• Windows 11 PC: Click on the Windows button and select Settings. Click on System. Click on Recovery. Click on Reset PC. Choose Remove Everything. Turn on the Data Erasure option.
• Windows 10 PC: Click on the Windows button and select Settings. Choose the Update & Security option. Click on Recovery. From below the Reset This PC heading, select Get Started. Choose Remove Everything. Turn on Data Erasure.
For both of the above, the process will delete all your personal files and any apps you installed and restore the original settings. This could take up to two hours.
• MacOS Ventura: Click on the Apple icon. From Systems Settings, go to the General option from the sidebar. Click on Transfer or Reset. Select Erase All Content and Settings.
• MacOS Monterey: Click on the Apple icon. Choose System Preferences. Select Erase All Content and Settings.
For both of the above, you then must take these steps: When prompted, log in to the Mac using your credentials. When you see the message “You are about to erase all content and settings from this Mac,” choose Erase All Content & Settings.
Have a tech struggle? Send your question to personaltech@aarp.org, and it might be selected for a future issue of AARP THE MAGAZINE.