We wipe all of the hard drives donated to HTI with a DOD 5220.22M standard wiping process, so wiping your hard drive prior to donation isn’t necessary. However, if you want to do a quick restore of factory settings prior to donating, you are welcome to do so!

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 Here are some basic steps on how you can do that.  Please note each laptop is different.

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Windows:

1. Log into your Windows PC, then go to settings. (Click on the gear Icon).
2. Select Update & Security.
3. Next, Click on Recovery.
4. In Recovery, click the Get Started button under the Reset this PC option.
5. Select Remove everything.
6. Select Remove files and clean the drive.
7. Click “Next”, then choose Reset. It may take a few minutes to reset. Your computer should automatically restart when completed.

Mac:

1. Choose Apple menu  > System Settings, then click General in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
2. Click Transfer or Reset on the right, then click Erase All Contents and Settings.
3. In Erase Assistant, enter your administrator information and click Unlock.
4. Review items that will be removed in addition to your content and settings.
5. If your Mac has multiple user accounts, click the arrow next to your account name to review the items.
6. Click Continue, then follow the onscreen instructions.

Once a laptop is donated, we will remove data from all storage devices in accordance with the Department of Defense (DOD) 5220.22M standard.  Hard drives inside of non-operational devices will be removed and sent to our E-cycling partner for destruction. 

There is a donate button on our website home page where you can fill out our laptop donation form. Laptops may be dropped off at our office located at 501 S Chestnut St, Henderson, NC 27536. Depending on your location and quantity, we may be able to pick up your donation from you!

We prefer to only receive laptops but may consider other equipment, such as desktops and tablets, on a case-by-case basis. 

We are not able to use laptops with any kind of physical damage for our purposes. We only present fully intact laptops to our recipients so they are not hindered in any way by the operation of their computer. However, we do have an e-waste partner to help us properly dispose of devices we’re unable to use. 

We prefer laptops that can power on, but we do have an e-waste partner to help us properly dispose of devices we’re unable to use. When your donation is received, HTI will wipe the hard drive and install Chrome Flex OS. 

You can donate any brand and age of laptop. It doesn’t matter if it is two years old or 12 years old– we appreciate your donation!

No, we appreciate any and all monetary donations!

Yes! We are a  501(c)(3) non-profit organization; every donation made is tax deductible.

As a non-profit organization, we rely on donors such as yourself in order to acquire, convert, and donate laptops to those in need, fund programming, and cover the cost of our day-to-day operations! We couldn’t exist without you!

We prefer not to take cash donations through the mail. However, we will accept them if you are able to visit our office or attend one of our events in order to receive a receipt and make sure your money gets into the right hands!

You can find our donate button in the top right corner of our website home page and donate money via PayPal or credit card. There is also an option to make recurring monthly donations if you would like to be a continued supporter of HTI!

We will replace laptops within 6 months of receiving them if our technicians conclude it is due to internal components giving out. HTI is not responsible for computers that face physical damage due to recipient negligence. 

Yes, the laptops we present are free for recipients!  We are a non-profit organization and rely on financial support and laptop donations in order to help those in need.

Yes! We make sure Wi-Fi capabilities are operable on all of our laptops before presenting them to recipients. All you need is a wireless internet network available to connect to. 

Yes! All of our devices come preloaded with the Google Chrome Flex Operating System. This turns your laptop into an easy-to-use Chromebook!

We present just about any make and model of laptop. The Windows operating system is removed during our wiping process and we replace it with the Google Chrome Flex Operating System. Most features on the Chromebook will require an internet connection but should be fast, no matter how old the laptop is, assuming the internet connection is strong.

HUBZone stands for Historically Underutilized Business Zones, which are designated by the Federal Government as areas with high unemployment rates or low median incomes.  The Executive Director of HTI, Matt Raydo, has worked with HUBZones for quite some time and has felt compelled to give back to these communities.  While our focus is helping HUBZone communities, we are interested in helping any organizations that support those in need.

If you would like to partner with us, all you have to do is fill out the organization recipient application located on our website home page in the “Become a Recipient!” section.

HTI primarily partners with specific non-profits in our community for distribution to those in need. However, you may fill out an individual application located on our website homepage for consideration!