Techno types - Ewaste

[sheets]

Taking old computer to collection center for disposal.  Took the hard drive out.  Do I need to smash it, or do something to it, so nobody can try and retrieve any data from the old drive device??  Files were "deleted" before being retired.  Twelve year old stuff (Windows 95 and 98), but something may still be there nonetheless.  Precautions?  What say ye?  Thanks, 

[..]

For your own piece of mind destroy it. Bust it up.

[Serk]

If you wanna be REALLY sure, if the computer's still operable, download and burn the Ultimate Boot CD:

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

Boot up off of it, and use one of the multipass hard drive wipe utilities on there... IMHO that's even more sure than physically smashing the drive...

A 3 Wipe pass is D.O.D. compliant (Or at least was when I used to keep up with such things)

[sheets]

One old drive is W-95 from my kids 'puter when he left home over ten years ago.  The W-98 version is mine that I retired two years ago.  Its been sitting in a corner ever since. Not going to rig it up again to mess with it.  Just want to dispose of it.  Both drives had all files "deleted" at the time of retirement.  Don't know what the left over electronic possibilities are.  Smash with a hammer?   . . . or whut.   

[BF]

Three pound sledge should be 'bout right.   

[Serk]

In that case, depends on your level of paranoia or what was on the hard drives... If someone was determined, the data could be recovered from physically smashing the drive quite easily...

But, if there's nothing of real value on there, there's no danger...

Just deleting the files, however, takes someone who knows what they're doing about 5 to 10 seconds to recover.

Another possibility is to open the drive up, remove the platters, throw the rest away. Keep the platters and turn them into some interesting wind chimes...

(And yes, I know people who do that, they're actually very cool wind chimes)

The magnets in the hard drives are fun to play with too... Rare earth EXTREMELY powerful ones... If you play with those, be careful, they can pinch the fire outta your fingers if you're not careful!

[sheets]

Hammer spoken here.  I'm qualified for that type of tech support.  Actually, I'll revel in the opportunity. 
"Hit any key when ready" = yee-haw!!  . . . or is that woo-hoooo!!  Thanks for the techno-input . . .

[Jess Tolbirt]

deleting the files does not actually delete anything, all it does is make that space writable again,,the files are still there until they are over written,,now to do a zero write or a low level format is the second best way to make sure the files are not readable,,,the best way is to open the drive and remove the platters and destroy them,, a 3 pounder works real good,,but a torch works even better...

[PAVALKER]

Wait ..... wait........ those Hard Drives don't happen to have any "vintage" porn on them do they???   

That stuff could be valuable..... 


Only kidding.......   

Sledge should do the trick.... but I would recommend you take the hard drive apart and remove the magnets... those are some powerful little suckers.

[sheets]

Don't have a hex or torx driver small enough to disassemble the hard drive container.  I just gave each one about twenty good whacks with a 2 pound hammer.  Nothing overly classified within.  I do have to say, those things are built tough!  Thanks for the insight.  sheets 

[sheets]

Waited in a single file line over a mile long for well over an hour . . . then a half-hour in a double file lane a quarter mile long.  An AMAZING amount of flotsam and jetsam E-waste being disposed of.  Multiple truckloads of old printers - 'puters - monitors - TVs and the like, of all shapes and sizes, and the hours of operation was only half way gone.  Imagine what could be collected across the country.  I do hope it ends up where it can be disassembled with plastics and other parts honestly and truly recycled . . . rather than end up being dumped in a shallow sea somewhere near the Indian ocean.  Incredible.