Disposing of old devices properly: erase data, remove the battery, return the device - TUXEDO Computers

Even a well-maintained laptop eventually reaches the end of its service life. Then the question arises: what to do with the old device? Before disposing of it, it is worth considering the alternatives. An older computer often still works well as a second device, a small home server or for less demanding tasks. A repair, passing it on to family and friends or selling it also extends its lifespan.

Only once a device can no longer be put to good use does it belong in recycling – and never in household waste. In either case, you should remove your personal data beforehand and take care of the battery.

Delete personal data first

Before you pass on or dispose of a device, you should remove your personal data from its internal storage. As the end user, this is your responsibility. Besides documents, photos and videos, this includes browser profiles, saved credentials, emails, SSH keys and data stored locally by applications. A simple format is not necessarily enough.

If you pass the device on, we recommend removing the existing system completely and then reinstalling TUXEDO OS. Alternatively, remove the internal drive and keep it. This is a good option if it still holds confidential data that you do not want to hand over.

• In detail: Secure erasure of data disks

Encryption makes data protection easier

The best way to protect your data is full disk encryption during everyday use. On Linux, this is usually done with LUKS (Linux Unified Key Setup). Without the correct password, the data on the encrypted drive cannot easily be read.

Before passing on or disposing of the device, you should still set up the drive from scratch. Encryption provides additional protection in case remnants of the old data remain on the drive. We therefore recommend enabling encryption when installing TUXEDO OS. It also protects your data if the device is lost or stolen.

Batteries and rechargeable batteries

Batteries do not belong in household waste either. If they can be removed from the device without destroying it, you should separate them from the old device before disposal and return them separately. Collection points at retailers and municipalities are available for this purpose. You can find more information in our notes on battery disposal.

Lithium batteries can catch fire if handled incorrectly. Avoid damage, impacts and knocks, and tape over the terminals after removal to prevent a short circuit. Take particular care with damaged, swollen or leaking batteries: do not open the device yourself in this condition, and do not send it by post. Take such batteries to a nearby collection point in a separate, suitable container.

• What to do with a bloated battery?

A worn-out battery does not have to mean the end of your laptop, though. We design our devices so that you can replace the battery yourself if necessary, which is why we do without glued housings and permanently installed batteries. Replacement batteries are available for many models, including older ones. If you cannot find the right battery in the shop, our support team will help you find a solution.

• More about the concept of replaceable batteries

Disposing of waste electrical equipment properly

Waste electrical and electronic equipment must not be put in household waste. You can recognise it by the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol on the device. Old devices contain valuable raw materials, but also substances that harm the environment and health if disposed of improperly. Proper disposal ensures that reusable materials can be recovered.

The way there is often shorter than you might think. In addition to recycling centres, many towns and municipalities set up containers for old electrical devices in public places, which also take laptops and smaller PCs. Your town or municipality can tell you where the nearest collection point is, often via its waste app as well.

Retailers also take back old devices. In Germany, larger electronics retailers and supermarkets selling electrical goods must accept an old device of the same type when you buy a new one. It does not matter where you originally bought the old device: if you buy a new laptop at your local electronics store, it will also take back your old TUXEDO laptop. Small devices with no edge longer than 25 centimetres can even be returned there without buying anything.

• Legal information on the return of old devices and batteries

Free return when buying a new device

If you buy a new device from TUXEDO, we will take back your old device on request – whether it is defective or still works. We provide a free shipping label and pass the old device on to proper recycling. There is no time limit after the purchase.

Please contact our support team in writing. No special form is required. The offer is valid exclusively within the European Union (EU), so it does not apply to Switzerland, Norway or the United Kingdom, for example.