How to get rid of my computers?

Question

I have two old computers I have been charged to dispose of. I don't want anyone to get access to our personal information or whatever might be on our computer. So I what do I do to clean the computer and is there any point in keeping the hard drives for "extra memory"?

Answer 1

Old computers usually have tiny drives which makes their value questionable. In addition you should expect a several year old drive to have a much higher failure rate than a new drive.Often they are IDE type and new computers use SATA II hard drives. To use them as an external drive you need a $20 enclosure. You can buy a brand new 500 GB external hard drive for about $120. If you work out the cost per GB it is probably less expensive to buy a new one.

Using the Windows install disk to reformat does not ensure all the data is removed. In order to destroy all data you need to overwrite all the information (preferably several times) on the hard drive.

Use DBAN (free) to overwrite all data on the hard drive. It offers several options for overwriting the disk . DOD 5220-22.M (7-passes) is preferred. Will run 6 hr- 7 hr for a 120 GB drive.


Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN)
http://www.download.com/Darik-s-Boot-and-Nuke/3000-2092_4-10165154.html
http://security.calpoly.edu/docs/policy/Security_HardDrive_DBAN-Guide_120505.pdf
http://secure.nd.edu/disposal/index.shtml
http://dban.sourceforge.net/
http://dban.sourceforge.net/faq/
DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.

Burn DBAN ISO file on disk
http://dban.sourceforge.net/faq/CDBurnerXP.html

Or you could choose to destroy the hard drive
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGXh6RVTuq0

Answer 2

A really good way of disposing them is to donate them to a school, the most school programs i know either destroy or do a DoD level wipe of your HD befor reusuing them, and you can even get tax write offs and feel better about yourself knowing you helped some school get another badly needed computers.

Answer 3

Not unless they are 100GB or over.

Run a disk shredder program on the PCs and have them do at least 20 passes to make it insanely hard for someone to pull the data off that doesn't have a level 3 clean room.

Answer 4

First Remove the Ram inside the computer and Sell it on Ebay....Then you can remove the hard dives Wipe them by runing a windows XP setup and clear the Patrion then insert into your New Computer and just when ever you need to install any programs just install it on the Hard Drive

Answer 5

Ditto physical destruction mentioned by several answerers above!!! Besides, it's fun! I removed ours, took it to the garage, and played Captain Destructo! I put it in the vise, hit it with a sledge hammer, twisted it with vise grips, hit it again, twisted it, and on, and on, 'til it broke in a bunch of small pieces, and then disposed of the small pieces in several locations around town.

Answer 6

You can download Spybot Search And Destroy for free at
http://www.spybot.info/
In the tools drop down menu is secure shredder, that will erase and overwrite as many times as you like.
Also it wouldn't be a bad idea if they are fairly new to use them to back up drives or for extra storage. You can buy internal drive enclosures to convert them from internal drives to external drives from places like TigerDirect etc.
Or you could have them incinerated?

Answer 7

Seriously, I agree with StuArtNJ. Got a 20lb sledge hammer? Most available hard drive wipe programs don't work that well.

Answer 8

one way to do it is to open up the hard drives, remove the platters and grind them up on a grinding wheel. that should get rid of all your documents. if the machines are that old you may not want the drives or expansion cards because of slowness or compatibilty problems. hope you get more answers too..

Answer 9

BEST ANSWER RIGHT HERE BUB.

REMOVE the HD's.
REMOVE, not WIPE.

Anyone truly wanting your files (including the D.O.D.), will be able to recover your files.

I like to take my old HD's on boat rides and toss them overboard after leaving them on the side of my Televisions internal magnet for a few months before disposal.

Donating the rest of the hardware is the best bet.

Answer 10

You might be able to find some free software to erase your hard drive. http://www.download.com is a good site for free software I would search for "erase hard drive" or look through their categories.

Modern computers can hold multiple hard drives. If a primary hard drive gets full, a second one can be used, and you can shift stuff like your media and documents over to it.