What to Do With Old Laptops in Perth (and How to Wipe Them First)
Working out what to do with old laptops is harder than it looks. The one sitting in your cupboard still holds years of emails, saved passwords and photos. It also contains a lithium battery and metals that should never end up in landfill, and it may even be worth some money. This guide walks Perth households and businesses through every sensible option, starting with the step most people skip: wiping your data properly.
The wiping steps below follow Microsoft and Apple's own instructions, and the recycling rules come from the WA Government and the Australian Government, so you can act with confidence. The same advice applies if you are deciding what to do with an old computer or desktop PC.
Quick answer: Back up your files, then wipe the laptop with a full factory reset, or a certified wipe for business machines. If it still works, sell it to a licensed dealer, hand it down or donate it. If it is broken beyond repair, take it to a free computer recycling drop off point or a licensed recycler. Never put a laptop in your kerbside bin.
Your Old Laptop Options at a Glance
| Laptop condition | Best option | Why it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| Works well and can run Windows 11 | Sell it or hand it down | It still has resale value and years of use left |
| Works, but is slow or cannot run Windows 11 | Upgrade it, donate it or sell it | A memory or SSD upgrade can revive it, and dealers still buy older models |
| Broken but fixable (screen, battery, hinge or keyboard) | Get a repair quote | A repair can cost less than a replacement |
| Dead, water damaged or very old | Recycle it | Free schemes recover the materials and keep the battery out of landfill |
Whatever you choose, the first step is always the same: protect your data.
Last updated 10 October 2026. Rules and steps checked against official WA Government, Australian Government, Microsoft and Apple sources.
Step One: Back Up and Wipe Your Old Laptop
Deleting files and emptying the recycle bin does not remove your data. The files stay on the drive until they are overwritten, and free recovery tools can often bring them back. Before your laptop leaves your hands, back it up and then wipe it properly.
Back up what you want to keep
Copy your documents, photos and anything else you need to an external drive or a cloud service such as OneDrive or iCloud. Then run through this short checklist, because these are the things people most often forget:
- Export saved browser passwords or confirm they sync to your new device.
- Move any authenticator app codes before you lose access to the old laptop.
- Sign out of Microsoft 365, Adobe and other paid software so you can reuse the licence.
- Note any software licence keys you paid for.
If you are moving to a new computer, our new computer migration service can transfer your files, email and programs for you.
How to wipe a Windows laptop before selling
Microsoft recommends the Remove everything reset when you are giving away or selling a PC. Turn on the Clean data option as well, because it cleans the drive instead of just removing the files.
Windows 11:
- Open Settings, then System, then Recovery.
- Next to Reset this PC, select Reset PC.
- Choose Remove everything.
- Select Change settings and switch Clean data on.
- Confirm and let the laptop restart. Cleaning the drive can take an hour or more.
Windows 10:
- Open Settings, then Update & Security, then Recovery.
- Under Reset this PC, select Get started.
- Choose Remove everything, then turn Clean data on in the settings.
- Confirm and leave the laptop plugged in until it finishes.
Source: Microsoft Support, Reset your PC.
How to wipe a MacBook before selling
On a Mac with Apple silicon or the Apple T2 Security Chip running macOS Monterey or later, open System Settings, then General, then Transfer or Reset, and choose Erase All Content and Settings. This erases your settings, data and apps while keeping macOS installed, and signs the Mac out of your Apple Account.
Older Macs do not have this feature. On those, sign out of your Apple Account, deauthorise your purchases, then erase the drive with Disk Utility in Recovery and reinstall macOS. Apple's guide, Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings, covers each step.
When a factory reset is not enough
A factory reset suits most home laptops, but it has limits. Microsoft states that its built in erase is designed for consumers and does not meet government and industry data erasure standards. Choose a certified wipe instead if:
- The laptop held client records, payroll, medical, legal or financial information.
- It belongs to a business that must prove how its data was destroyed.
- The laptop will not turn on, so you cannot run a reset at all.
For these cases, our secure data destruction service wipes or physically destroys the drive. If the laptop has failed and you still need files from it, start with data recovery before anything is erased.
What to Do With an Old Laptop That Still Works
A working laptop is worth more in someone's hands than in a drawer. Here are the best paths, starting with the one that puts money back in your pocket.
Sell it to a licensed dealer
In Western Australia, businesses that buy second hand goods must hold a second hand dealer licence and record every purchase. That is why a licensed buyer will ask you for identification. It protects you, because it means the business is accountable and regulated.
You can sell your old laptop to DV Computers under WA Second Hand Dealer Licence No. 1029. We buy laptops of any brand, working or not, from single units to whole office fleets. Send photos or a spec list for a quote within one business day, then drop the laptop at our Myaree store or book a pickup for bulk lots. Bring identification that meets the 100 point standard, and we pay on the spot.
A few things lift what your laptop is worth:
- Processor generation. Laptops that meet the Windows 11 requirements are in steady demand.
- Business grade models. Dell Latitude, HP EliteBook and Lenovo ThinkPad laptops tend to hold their value.
- Condition and extras. A clean case, a healthy battery and the original charger all help.
Selling privately on Marketplace or Gumtree can sometimes get a higher price, but you handle the advertising, the haggling, the strangers at your door and the payment risk yourself. Whichever route you take, wipe the laptop first.
Hand it down or donate it
An older laptop can still be perfect for a child's homework, a grandparent's video calls or a second screen at work. If nobody in your circle needs it, some charities and community programs accept working laptops. Call ahead, because many only take machines above a minimum age or specification, and always wipe the laptop before you hand it over.
Upgrade it
If the laptop works but feels painfully slow, the problem is often an old hard drive or too little memory. Swapping in a solid state drive and adding memory can make it feel new again for a fraction of the price of a replacement. Our guide to the signs your computer hardware needs an upgrade explains when an upgrade is worth it.
Running Windows 10 on a laptop that cannot move to Windows 11? It can keep receiving security updates until 12 October 2027 through Microsoft's Extended Security Updates program. Our Windows 10 end of support guide explains how to enrol.
Repair it
A cracked screen, a worn battery, a loose hinge or a dead keyboard does not have to mean the end of a laptop. These are common repairs, and it is worth getting a quote before you give up on the laptop. See our laptop repair service in Perth or our specialist laptop hinge repairs. If the repair costs more than the laptop is worth, a refurbished business laptop is often the better value.
How to Recycle an Old Laptop in Perth
When a laptop is beyond saving, recycling is the right ending, and it is easier than most people think. The one thing you must not do is put it in your kerbside bin. The WA Government asks households to take electronic waste to a drop off point instead. Laptops contain lithium batteries that can overheat and start fires when crushed in a bin or collection truck, along with copper, gold and other materials that can be recovered.
Use the free national computer recycling scheme
Since 2011, Australia has had an industry funded National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme, regulated by the Australian Government. It lets you drop off laptops, desktop computers, monitors, keyboards, mice and printers for recycling at no charge. Not every drop off point is part of the scheme, so some sites may charge a fee. Check before you go.
To find a drop off point near you:
- Search the WA Government's Recycle Right find my nearest tool.
- Check Planet Ark's Recycling Near You computer recycler finder.
Do not assume a drop off point will erase your data. Wipe the laptop yourself first, or have the drive securely destroyed.
Recycle it through DV Computers
If you would rather hand everything to one place, our IT recycling service accepts laptops and desktops, monitors, printers and scanners, servers and networking gear, and phones and tablets. You can drop items at our Myaree store, or we can arrange collection across Perth. Where a device can still be used, it is refurbished and rehomed rather than scrapped. Since 2001 we have recycled and rehomed more than 1,000 PCs a year.
Handle loose batteries separately
If your old laptop has a removable battery, take it out and recycle it at a battery drop off point. Cover the terminals with clear tape first so they cannot short circuit. Swollen or damaged batteries are a fire risk, so do not keep them in a drawer while you decide what to do.
What WA's E-Waste Landfill Ban Means for You
On 1 July 2024, Western Australia banned regulated e-waste from landfill. Regulated items include screens, IT and telecommunications equipment, and batteries, apart from batteries built into a device that the user cannot remove. In other words, laptops are covered.
Households are not legally bound by the ban, but the WA Government encourages everyone to use drop off points and keep electronics out of kerbside bins.
Larger organisations are bound. The ban applies to e-waste service providers, landfill operators and "significant" business or public entities. A significant entity has 200 or more full time equivalent employees, or created five or more tonnes of regulated e-waste in the previous financial year. These organisations must not send regulated e-waste to landfill and have record keeping duties.
The rules are being reviewed, with consultation on amendments held in April 2026, so check the WA Government's e-waste landfill ban page for the latest position. For Perth businesses clearing out several laptops, our IT equipment buyback page explains how selling equipment for reuse keeps it out of landfill and gives you a record of every unit.
How DV Computers Can Help
DV Computers has been a Perth computer store and repair workshop since 2001, based at 29 Hulme Ct, Myaree. Whatever condition your old laptop is in, we can take care of the next step:
- Sell it: our IT equipment buyback service buys laptops, desktops and office fleets under WA Second Hand Dealer Licence No. 1029.
- Recycle it: our IT recycling service takes equipment at the end of its life, with drop off in Myaree or collection across Perth.
- Wipe it: secure data destruction for drives that hold sensitive data or will not boot.
- Fix it: laptop repairs for screens, batteries, hinges and keyboards.
- Replace it: refurbished laptops ready for Windows 11, with new computer migration to move your files across.
Call (08) 9329 9028, visit our Myaree store (Monday to Friday 9:30am to 6pm, Saturday 9:30am to 1pm), or send us a message.
Frequently Asked Questions About Old Laptops
What should I do with an old laptop that still works?
Back it up and wipe it first. Then sell it to a licensed second hand dealer, hand it down to someone who needs it, or donate it to a charity that accepts working laptops. If it is only slow, a solid state drive and extra memory can often give it a few more years.
How do I wipe a laptop before selling it?
On Windows, open Reset this PC in the Recovery settings, choose Remove everything and turn on Clean data. On a Mac with Apple silicon or a T2 chip running macOS Monterey or later, use Erase All Content and Settings. Business laptops, or any laptop that held sensitive records, should get a certified wipe instead.
Does a factory reset delete everything on a laptop?
A Windows reset with Remove everything and Clean data switched on removes your files and cleans the drive, which is enough for most home users. Microsoft notes that this consumer erase does not meet government and industry data erasure standards, so businesses should use a certified wipe or physical drive destruction.
Can I put an old laptop in the bin in WA?
No. The WA Government asks households not to put electronic waste in kerbside bins and to use drop off points instead. Laptops contain lithium batteries that can start fires when crushed, and materials that can be recovered and reused.
Where can I recycle an old laptop for free in Perth?
Drop off points in the National Television and Computer Recycling Scheme accept laptops at no charge. Find one through the WA Government's Recycle Right website or Planet Ark's Recycling Near You, and confirm the site is part of the scheme, because some drop off points charge a fee. DV Computers also recycles IT equipment through its Myaree store.
Will DV Computers buy a broken laptop?
Yes. DV Computers buys laptops of any brand, working or not. Send photos or a spec list for a quote within one business day, then drop the laptop at the Myaree store or book a pickup for bulk lots.
What do I need to sell my laptop to a dealer in Perth?
Licensed second hand dealers in WA must record each purchase, so bring identification that meets the 100 point standard. Bring the charger if you still have it, and wipe the laptop first. DV Computers also processes every device it buys through certified data wiping or secure data destruction before resale.
The Bottom Line
Deciding what to do with old laptops comes down to two questions: is your data safe, and does the laptop still have life in it? Wipe it properly first. Then sell, hand down, upgrade or repair it if it works, and recycle it responsibly if it does not. Whatever you do, keep it out of the bin.
Not sure which option suits your laptop? Call DV Computers on (08) 9329 9028, visit our Myaree store, or get a quote online.