If you’re like most people, you replace your computer every few years. Whenever you get a new computer, you need to find something to do with your old one. You can either sell it to a friend or online, donate it, recycle it, or throw it away.

Regardless of what you decide to do with your old computer, there are some important steps you have to take to make sure your personal information is protected. You don’t want your credit card numbers, passwords, and other sensitive information getting into the hands of a stranger.

So what can you do to make sure your computer is wiped completely clean?

First, you need to transfer any files you wish to save to your new computer. Things like music, pictures, work documents, etc. can be either loaded onto an external hard drive or a USB drive so you can transfer them to your new computer. Make sure you thoroughly check your entire computer because this will be your last chance to get all of the files you need.

After that, it’s time to wipe your computer totally clean of all information. Simply manually deleting files isn’t enough. Your best bet it to wipe the drive clean, format it, and reinstall Windows. This essentially gets your computer back to how it was when you first bought it new.

However, this is not always a simple task. Reinstalling an operating system takes time, and you have to pay attention to make sure you do it absolutely right. Any mistakes could cause serious issues.

If you need help, you could enlist the services of a Houston computer repair company. With the right Houston PC repair company, you can let them wipe your computer clean for you. This way, you don’t have to worry about dealing with the hassle, and you can be certain that the job was done right the first time.

But now all Houston laptop repair companies are the same. You need to make sure you choose a company you can count on to do the job right and to do it at a price you can afford.

Spend time researching your options. Stay away from large corporate computer repair companies, like the ones that operate out of major electronics stores. They tend to overcharge and upsell their services.

Instead, find a small, locally owned computer repair company with a positive reputation. They should have a track record of doing great work at low prices that fit your budget.

You also want to make sure all work is performed in a timely manner. Before you take your computer in for service, ask how long it will take for the job to be completed. If they quote you a long time line, you may consider taking your business elsewhere.

Follow these tips closely when selling or discarding an old computer.

There are con artists everywhere. And these days, one of their favorite means of attack is your email’s inbox. Here are a few you should keep an eye out for.

• You’ve Got a Package—This scam involves an email from the UPS, or so you think. It will be titled something like “Packet Service” and will state that you have a package that was undeliverable due to an incorrect address. If you fall for it, you’ll follow the instructions and open the attachments. And then you’ll slap your palm to your forehead in agony because you just downloaded a virus! The result? You’re on the phone searching for PC repair services.
• Wire Transfer—Almost everyone has gotten one of these emails. Some generous person from a foreign land needs your help and will wire you thousands of dollars for it. All they need is your bank account information and they’ll get moving and you’ll be one step closer to wealth. Guess what? Not only are you going to be in the market for computer repair after this one, but probably reporting an identity theft case as well!
• Fake Order—After a bit of surfing and maybe even shopping, you get this email that confirms an order you don’t remember placing. You question yourself and think, “oh crap, did I accidentally click that buy button?” So you follow the cancel link from the email. And now you’ve given away your personal data and might have an infected computer. Better option? Delete it without even reading it.
• Lottery Winner—Do we need to even explain this one? Look, if you win the lottery, it’s safe to say you aren’t going to find out by email. And better yet, if you don’t even play the lottery, you surely are not going to win it. So any emails with subjects that imply otherwise, please disregard.
• Bank Update—These emails ask you to update your personal info. And we hate to say it, but they might even look totally legit. Of course, you’re going to need more than simple computer services to get you out of this one. But luckily it’s easy to avoid. Remember, your real bank will take great measures to protect your identity. You have to jump through quite a few hoops to gain online access to your accounts. If it seems too easy, then something is probably wrong.
• Unreal News—If you get an email announcing some groundbreaking, stop-the-presses type of news, be wary. Instead of clicking the link to go to the actual story, instead delete the email. You can always go to your favorite news site and see what’s happening in the world. That way, you won’t put yourself at risk and you’ll be aware if something big really went down.

Remember, your best bet is to not open emails from people you don’t know. This will keep you from destroying your computer and handing over your private information.

At this point there are so many different ailments that can infect your PC that it’s difficult to keep up with them. Three of the most common enemies of your computer are Trojan horses, adware, and spyware. And they often get confused for one another.

So how do you know what’s what and when you should search for computer repair to help remedy the situation? Below we’ll break down some of these three most common computer ailments so you can better know what’s going on.

• Trojan horse—Much like the ancient myth, a Trojan horse is an imposter file. You’ll think it’s something you want, and find out later that it could destroy your computer. You might get them from email attachments or other Internet downloads, but you had to do something to allow them onto your computer. Be wary, they’re sneaky! If your laptop picks up a Trojan horse, you might consider looking for a professional who specializes in laptop repair.
• Adware—Malicious programs that infect your computer with troublesome ads. You might find them to be annoying pop ups that just won’t go away. They can also change your homepage to something unwanted, or even change your search engine. You won’t necessarily need computer services to fix this for you, as you can probably find a free program online to fix it yourself. However, it doesn’t hurt to contact a professional.
• Spyware—Spyware is exactly what the name implies. Software that literally spies on you as you work online, recording information on you and your Internet browsing behaviors. Sometimes these programs come from installing other programs. And just as real life spies practice the art of secrecy, it’s rare that you’ll realize spyware has infected your computer. However, if you find that things are running slow, your computer just might be clogged up with spyware.

Now you know the differences between the three. However, just knowing about them is not enough to keep them safe. You need to take measures to block them from your computer. First of all, make sure you have a reputable antivirus program installed. Good programs will typically find and expel all of the above issues.

You can also take your computer to a computer repair specialist and see what they suggest for computer protection.  That way, you know that you pick the right software. Sometimes choosing from everything that is available can prove daunting.

Finally, stay away from sketchy looking sites. And that isn’t just limited to pornography. Sites with lots of pop ups often have spyware and other malware attached to them. Merely visiting these sites may place your computer in danger.

Remember, knowledge is power. Knowing how to spot Trojan horses and other forms of malware can help you keep your computer healthy.

If you’re having serious computer issues, you’re probably going to have to take your PC in to a professional. And while it would be nice to be able to trust everyone, the sad truth is you can’t. That said, you should take measures to protect your privacy before you take your computer in. You don’t want someone snooping around on your computer and uncovering personal information. Here are a few steps you can take just in case:

• Remove your saved passwords—Can you imagine if you got your computer back and someone was able to log in to your email or Facebook accounts? How about your Amazon account? What a disaster that would be. With that in mind, if you have your passwords saved on your computer, get rid of them before you get computer repair!
• Delete all financial information—No eyes other than your own need to see your financial information. So don’t have it on your computer where a repairman can look through it. Clear it off before taking your computer in.
• Save your personal photos elsewhere—You never know what someone would do if they got their hands on your personal photos. Imagine if you saw a picture of your son used online somewhere on a random blog post. Or what if you had pictures of your wife and someone decided to save them for their own viewing pleasure? You don’t want to compromise or objectify your family. Save your photos on an external hard drive and remove them from your PC before you obtain PC repair.
• Logout of all websites—Have you ever accidentally left your Facebook account logged in and one of your friends decided to mess with you by posting sill stuff on your wall? Now imagine if you took your laptop in for laptop repair and you accidentally leave it logged in. You could possibly have someone reading through all of your message or even contacting your friends and relatives.
• Backup your hard drive—You never know if something important on your computer might get accidentally deleted during the repair process. With that in mind, make sure you back up your hard drive before you take it in. That way, you don’t have to worry about losing important information.
• Clear history and cookies—What you do online is your own business. And sure you may have nothing to hide, but still, do you want someone analyzing your web surfing habits? Of course not. So take the simple steps to clear your history and delete your cookies before you take your computer in. It’s an easy way to protect your privacy.

Sure you’d like to trust your computer repair company. And choosing the right one certainly increases the chances that you’ll be able to. But regardless, take these simple steps to ensure your information is safe.