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What does IT do with my old computer?

Asked by Jeruba (55847points) April 2nd, 2009

I work for a very large corporation that issues a laptop to everyone. Every two to three years, each of us undergoes a “refresh” in which our old laptop is replaced by a new one with all our old applications, folders and files, e-mail, etc., ported over to it. A little resetting of options and overriding of defaults, and we’re back in business.

What happens to my old one after I turn it in? I can’t blank anything out because it’s all used by the technician who sets up my new one, and I never see it again. Is any data salvaged or scanned? Is anything from my history archived? Is malware searched for and identified? Or is it all just wiped clean?

And then what? Recycled as e-waste? sold to a third-world company? cannibalized for reusable parts?

If you work in IT or know what’s usually done in corporate IT departments, please say so. Or are you just guessing?

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