What Happens To Your Laptop Etc When You Die!!!!

[alzheimer]

I know this is a silly question but what are you going to do about your laptops and PCs etc when you pop your clogs!!!
OK most of you will have "friend or family" who will clear/deal with it but what if you don't have anybody?
Any suggs guys?

[SlackAlice]

If I've 'snuffed it' don't suppose I'll really care ☺☺☺

[viv38]

Me neither !

[twofeathers]

Your laptop? What about all your other stuff!

[bookbinder]

If you are on your own, and nobody is likely to notice (for a while) that you're not around any more, you could leave a note of the 'To whom it may concern' type in a prominent place in your house/flat. The note could have full instructions on how to deal with your laptop, etc.

[weecalf]

seen some where that someone had to get a death cert because the owner died and the next of kin had to get proof before they could change they could change the pass word

[woofgang]

I will be dealing with it like paperwork. Dumping anything upsetting or embarrassing if I can.
Yes you may need to provide a death cert for certain things if you don't have login details. My late DH operated a website for a local motorbike organisation including paying for it and being refunded the costs by the group. The other person who had the login details (I didn't) emigrated unexpectedly and couldn't be contacted by the group (long horrible story) so I had to get on the Fasthosts and "claim" the account on the basis of being the owner's widow. Fasthosts were wonderful. I had to send a letter in stating the facts and enclosing a death cert and they reset the logon for me so I could pass it over to the group.

[alzheimer]

I do believe you can bequeath your email account to friends or family via Google's "Inactive Account Manager" I haven't tried it yet - but guess it wouldn't work on any stand-alone mailers - only web-based ones.
As you say - you should leave clear instructions - especially when you have thousands of photos that would be a shame to lose - not to mention lists of valuations of household items etc....oh well - nowt else for it but to pray for a long life...LOL

[SpikeyBush]

I only ever use cheap secondhand computers, for what I use them for personally spending big bucks on the latest technology would be overkill. Anything I need keeping safe like sentimental photographs, utility bills and email settings I burn to a CD that my better half can also access (they live in the filing cabinet next to the chequebooks). As for the machine itself, wipe it, stick it on ebay and put the proceeds towards a free bar at my wake. Might pay for half a mild if you're lucky. Does anyone still use Windows 3.1?

[Old_Geezer]

I shall be dead and thus not care. Much the same applies to other personal stuff.

[sandyRoe]

I have left instructions with my solicitor to come here to AB and announce to the world that Sandy Roe is gone.
I suppose my distant relatives will pick over the stuff I have.

[jomifl]

When my brother died I had no way to access his laptop so several people must have been mystified as to the sudden lack of email replies. Put passwords in a safe place where they can be found by whoever is administering the estate. I checked with a lawyer and there is no way that web servers etc., can be compelled to reveal passwords, even if you know the user name. A complete dead end.. ..literally.

[galeck1947]

This is an issue that could have serious problems and I would suggest that you appoint a next of kin or who ever is in charge of your will to take the necessary steps in removing all sensitive data from it.

[Maydup]

If everything is backed up to external devices, these can be left to loved ones to access photos etc. but hoe they get into online banking and insurances is a mystery, unless we are encouraged to handwrite lists of accounts and passwords.

[237SJ]

I remember reading about this at the time

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2234997/Rise-cyberwill-tie-online-affairs.html