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Author Topic: used computer disposal security ?  (Read 1405 times)

Stand_watie

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used computer disposal security ?
« on: September 06, 2014, 06:50:01 PM »
Giving away a computer that got power surged to someone I don't know well enough to trust (for parts). I took it apart a bit thinking I might replace broken part but after yanking and torquing away for a bit I don't want it repaired anymore, I'll just replace.

Is the silver rectangle that says "500 GB" on it the hard drive and will removing it remove all the data from the rest of the computer?

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41magsnub

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2014, 06:56:39 PM »
Yep - take that out and any others like it and you are good to go. 
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Doggy Daddy

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #2 on: September 06, 2014, 07:14:27 PM »
And don't forget to remove the sticky note from the front of the case that has your universal password on it.   :laugh:
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lee n. field

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #3 on: September 06, 2014, 07:24:48 PM »
Quote from: Stand_watie on September 06, 2014, 06:50:01 PM
Giving away a computer that got power surged to someone I don't know well enough to trust (for parts). I took it apart a bit thinking I might replace broken part but after yanking and torquing away for a bit I don't want it repaired anymore, I'll just replace.

Is the silver rectangle that says "500 GB" on it the hard drive and will removing it remove all the data from the rest of the computer?



Yes, that's the hard disk.   No other place (normally) that data would be stored.

If you leave it in, find a "boot and nuke" type disk wiper program to run on it.  Just formatting, or repartitioning, won't wipe to the level you ought to use.
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charby

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #4 on: September 06, 2014, 07:32:49 PM »
They are also fun to shoot at for destructive data removal. Make sure you shoot the thick part of the HD. Shoot it several times to make sure, chucks of metal should be coming out of the case.

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lee n. field

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #5 on: September 06, 2014, 09:10:22 PM »
or holes through.
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p12

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #6 on: September 06, 2014, 09:15:57 PM »
Keep it and get a case to convert it to an external hard drive.
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lupinus

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #7 on: September 06, 2014, 09:55:57 PM »
Yep, that be it. If you had other less likely options, they'd have likely been installed by you personally and you wouldn't be asking about it.

If the hard drive is in good shape I'm a fan of p12's suggestion, you'll need something like this- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182155

So for 20 bucks and the time to slide it in, do a couple screws on the case, and the time plug it in and format the drive you get a nice new external hard drive.
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charby

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #8 on: September 07, 2014, 12:25:13 AM »
Quote from: p12 on September 06, 2014, 09:15:57 PM
Keep it and get a case to convert it to an external hard drive.

Depending how old the drive is or if it ran for 24/7 you could be setting yourself up for an external HD that fails.
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cordex

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #9 on: September 07, 2014, 12:27:53 AM »
Quote from: charby on September 07, 2014, 12:25:13 AM
Depending how old the drive is or if it ran for 24/7 you could be setting yourself up for an external HD that fails.
I assume that of the ones I buy new in box.
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Calumus

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #10 on: September 07, 2014, 01:45:00 AM »
Judging by the sticker on it,  it was manufactured in Sept 2011 so the age isn't too bad. Just grab a trial of hdtune pro and run the health check.
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lupinus

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #11 on: September 07, 2014, 09:05:00 AM »
Quote from: charby on September 07, 2014, 12:25:13 AM
Depending how old the drive is or if it ran for 24/7 you could be setting yourself up for an external HD that fails.
All hard drives fail eventually. Why toss something that is perfectly good, and when stuck in a 20 dollar enclosure will serve a nice useful purpose, because it will eventually fail?
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Quote from: MicroBalrog on March 20, 2015, 03:39:21 AM
That is all. *expletive deleted*ck you all, eat *expletive deleted*it, and die in a fire. I have considered writing here a long parting section dedicated to each poster, but I have decided, at length, against it. *expletive deleted*ck you all and Hail Satan.

HankB

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #12 on: September 07, 2014, 10:09:01 AM »
When getting rid of my home computer, I always remove the hard drive(s). Before discarding the hard drives, I physically destroy them by dismantling them, roughing up (with a file) the actual HD surfaces, and hammering on them a bit. Not that I'm paranoid . . .  [tinfoil]

At work, I transferred data I wanted to keep to DVDs and then used a utility (like BCWipe) to wipe the hard drive of my old computer right before our IT people issued me a new one.

A colleague's "new" laptop actually came from the division VP, who made sure to clear his computer by deleting his confidential files. Needless to say, said colleague had a lot of "inside" information available for the next year on people's salaries, promotions, and appraisals.   :O
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RoadKingLarry

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #13 on: September 08, 2014, 05:03:00 AM »
I am seriously disappointed in APS.
This far into a thread about computer disposal and no mention of detcord.
Sad times these.
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dogmush

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #14 on: September 08, 2014, 06:11:55 AM »
I thermite my old drives. Less frag then detcord.

Come to think of it, I have a pile of drives at work that need to go. I wonder how much aluminium I have left.
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cordex

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #15 on: September 08, 2014, 08:05:14 AM »
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K Frame

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #16 on: September 08, 2014, 09:59:57 AM »
I've thermited two hard drives. That was fun.

The last couple I've simply tossed into a friend's fireplace in the winter and left them at full boil for a couple of hours.
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KD5NRH

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Re: used computer disposal security ?
« Reply #17 on: September 08, 2014, 10:30:20 AM »
Cutting aluminum into small pieces with an oxyacetylene torch is pretty, if not the safest bit of fun.
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