Old Desktop

[Nummy]

I'm getting rid of my old desktop. It was so decrepit that I couldn't download a program to wipe the hard drive, so I've physically removed it.

Is it ok to take the remains to the tip? Or does it need to be specially disposed of because of serial numbers on parts, etc?

And what should I do with the removed hard drive?

[SlackAlice]

If you don't want any of the info on it, just give it a couple of whacks with a club hammer.

On the other hand you could always 'caddy' it and use it as external drive, handy for backups.

[dave50]

JUst put it in the bottom of the dustbin, it will then get squashed in the bin lorry, nobody will ever know.

[ChuckFickens]

A club hammer won't make much of an impact on a desktop hard drive, and a bin lorry certainly won't touch it!

Either stick it in a cupboard and forget about it, or drill a couple of holes through the the drive.

[mungbeanz]

I heard that running a strong magnet over it can delete the data?

[ChuckFickens]

It can. if you happen to have an industrial strength electro magnet laying about (the kind of thing they'd use for picking up cars in scrap yards!)

The sort of magnet you are likely to be able to lay your hands on in an average house won't touch a hard drive.

[Old_Geezer]

Exactly what secrets do you have on it that it warrants this sort of concern ? If really worried keep it as an external drive as suggested. If it is still usable you can delete stuff from it using your new PC anyway.

As for serial numbers, what, did you buy a stolen one or something ? I think you are getting a bit paranoid about it all. No one's interested in the serial number.

[ChuckFickens]

It is a fair point that most people probably haven't got anything of "that" much concern on their hard drives, but I still always suggest destroying them by drilling them if they are going to be disposed of.

If it's of a worthwhile size then by all means put it in a caddy and use it as an external hard drive, but don't count on an old hard drive as your only backup, and if it's only a small capacity drive it won't be a lot of use as an external drive.

I didn't see the part about serial numbers, that's just being paranoid.

[Khandro]

Re. secrets warranting concern; I have my old one, and though there is nothing untoward on it, it will have bank account details and lots of addesses and information of other people which could be of use to an unscrupulous person. It just sits on my desk and like Nummy I don't know what to do with it. What if I gave it the serious hammer treatment and then put it in the fire for a while?

[Old_Geezer]

You can get software that will overwrite it so many times only the police or secret authorites will be able to get anything, and possibly not even them. It sure won't be worth some small time crook working on it 'on spec', hoping for something worthwhile. But if it gives you stress release then sure, destroy it.

[Nummy]

As I said Old Geezer, it's so decrepit, it won't download the software that could wipe the drive. There's nothing top secret on it, just my bank details, etc. Whilst I understand there's little chance of anyone trying to hack at it, but that's no reason to do nothing.

And re: serial numbers, I was just curious if it's advisable for them to be removed, that's all.

Thank you to everyone for their advice.

[Old_Geezer]

Aye but I assumed you meant the old PC was decrepit rather than the drive; which you can connect to your new PC. If the drive is that bad you probably have nothing to worry about anyway.