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Wiping the HD on an old computer

  • 24-08-2010 7:37pm
    #1
    Darkglasses
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,526 ✭✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    We've had a Windows 95 (Gateway 2000) computer hanging around the house for far too long, we'll be it sending to the "civic amenity" shortly. I'm just wondering whats the best/handiest way to wipe the Hard Drive on it first? Or should I just have fun and open it up and take it out manually? There would be some data on it that probably shouldn't be passed around!

    Thanks for any help!


Comments

  • #2
    Newtown90
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,615 ✭✭✭Newtown90


    Have fun and take it out some how!!

    Wouldn't like anyone getting my hard drive!!

    Its probably not worth turning into an external i suppose??


  • #3
    CiaranC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,300 ✭✭✭CiaranC


    Darkglasses wrote: »
    Hi all,

    We've had a Windows 95 (Gateway 2000) computer hanging around the house for far too long, we'll be it sending to the "civic amenity" shortly. I'm just wondering whats the best/handiest way to wipe the Hard Drive on it first? Or should I just have fun and open it up and take it out manually? There would be some data on it that probably shouldn't be passed around!

    Thanks for any help!

    http://www.dban.org/


  • #4
    Ghost Train
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,474 ✭✭✭✭Ghost Train


    you could drill a few holes in it, that's the quickest way to wipe it

    dban is also good


  • #5
    Darkglasses
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,526 ✭✭✭✭Darkglasses


    Nah I presume the HD is too small to be worth my while making it into an external, and I wouldn't really have the know-how about how to do that anyway! Thanks guys.

    Let the great experiment begin..


  • #6
    djrlittleton
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 255 ✭✭djrlittleton


    another vote for dban here


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  • #7
    monkeypants
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,386 ✭✭✭monkeypants


    I would have said simply use fdisk to delete the partitions and leave it at that, but that Dban definitely looks like the way to go.


  • #8
    Darkglasses
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,526 ✭✭✭✭Darkglasses


    Yup I just physically took the HD out this afternoon, didn't damage anything and got to have fun with a screwdriver :D


  • #9
    wobzilla1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 437 ✭✭wobzilla1


    Break open the hard-drive. They have two really powerful magnets in them that you can have fun with. You can use the disks as little frisbees aswell


  • #10
    MyPCisBanjaxed
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5 ✭MyPCisBanjaxed


    Run a strong magnet along the front and back of it a few times then leave it on top of the drive for a few hours, that'll totally randomise the magnetic particles on the drive making it totally unreadable.

    Drilling a hole in the HDD does stop it working, but doesn't clear the data on the platters. It would take a forensics team to get the data back off it, but it can be done.


  • #11
    Darkglasses
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,526 ✭✭✭✭Darkglasses


    Here's how they destroy the HDs

    http://green.camara.ie/business/data-destruction/


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