Final answer:
To safely recycle a Windows computer, use a data sanitization tool like DBAN or Eraser to securely erase the hard drive. This ensures your personal information cannot be recovered.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before recycling your Windows computer, you should delete its data by using a program that can securely erase the information stored on the hard drive. This process is known as 'data sanitization'. There are several software tools available that can perform this task, such as DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke) or Eraser. These programs overwrite all the existing data with random data multiple times, making it very difficult to recover any information. Remember that simply deleting files or formatting the hard drive does not completely remove the data, as it can still be recovered with specialized software.
After using one of these programs to sanitize your hard drive, you should also ensure that the operating system and all personal software are uninstalled. It's essential to follow these steps, as they help protect your privacy and prevent the potential misuse of your personal information.