Things to be done before sending your Computer/Laptop For Repairs

Your computer has died and it’s still under warranty and you want to send it your vendor. If possible, there are some things you should consider doing before packing the computer/laptop into a box and shipping it off to Dell, HP, Acer or Sony.
There are two major concerns here. The first is privacy. The second is the concern for your data. There is a very real possibility the hard drive that returns to you will not be the same hard drive that came with it. Or if it is, the drive might have been reformatted to factory defaults and your data might
be gone forever.

Computer Shipping Security Checklist

Depending on the nature of your computer’s problem, you should consider doing the following before sending your computer away to total strangers.

• Check computer drives for removable media – Open the DVD drive to check for disks and make sure there is no disk in your floppy drive, as well.
• Backup and remove sensitive documents – Backup your files to another computer or an external hard drive. You have to assume that data might not be there when your computer is shipped back to you.
• Remove favorites from browser – Copy or export your favorites (bookmarks) from your browser and then delete them from your computer. This is less for privacy than for security.
• Remove browser history – Although you have removed your bookmarks, sites you have recently visited might be in your browser’s history.
• Remove stored passwords from browser – If they find your bookmarks, make sure you do not have any passwords stored in memory.
• Take notes – Write down the model and serial number of your computer. This is usually on the back, near the power supply.
• Take pictures – Take pictures of the computer. This will help you identify model / serial numbers, as well as document the physical condition the computer was in before you shipped it away.
• Pack it for shipping – Unless you receive a box from the manufacturer, try and pack the computer into its original box. If you still have the box, hopefully it contains the packing Styrofoam or foam inserts to keep it safe during the shipping process. Do not pack any input devices or cables unless they specifically ask for them.
• Documentation-  You should take steps to make sure all of your documentation are in order and that you have all the information you need to follow up on the repair.