Cinnamon Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 I have an old computer tower in my loft,which is no longer working. The computer I bought to replace it has itself been replaced now & that one needs to go into the loft as a spare,meaning we should really get rid of this old broken one....but how??? I am a bit unsure of what to do as,although it is bust,should someone manage to get it working,there is some quite sensitive material on it ...company accounts & the like. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sage Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 I take out the hard drive and smash it to bits with a big hammer. The rest I take to the local tip. Sage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millie Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 I took mine to the council recycling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 I take out the hard drive and smash it to bits with a big hammer. The rest I take to the local tip. Sage Good advice; it's the only way to really get rid of any information on it; just deleting files is not enough as they can easily be recovered by anyone with the right software. I am about to do the same to an old tower and a very old (ex-work) laptop. Do bear in mind that any software will need to be removed to as it is licensed to you not the machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Ooh good question, we have two in the loft that OH is planning on taking to the tip this week. Except he's just asked me how do you recognise the hard drive? Any clues? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 It generally looks like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Thanks - I've shown him the pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 1, 2011 Author Share Posted September 1, 2011 Great - thanks. I am sure the husband will enjoy smashing that up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 that's a cutaway shot of the hard disc - generally you won't see the disk platters themselves - you'll see a black cover instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banus Posted September 3, 2011 Share Posted September 3, 2011 Yep - As per Sage's advice. I took an old PC to the local authority depot to be disposed of. The weird thing is that I placed it in the car and drove really carefully so as not to cause it to tip over and be damaged, then I threw it into a skip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 I think the hard drives are pretty tough. We have one awaiting it's fate. I've been advised by a computer doctor that the thing to do is to heat it: that destroys the magnets in it and then it's useless. I'd have been worried about any fumes, but I guess if you can do it outside... Apparently its pretty impossible to open them up. If you do smash it, let me know how hard it is to do. Ours is just sitting here, accusingly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 I have a handy 7lb long-handled mallet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Isn't it amazing (in common with many things) how easy they are to smash when you DON'T want to !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
