Laptop Disposal

Bredabe

My laptop died this day week, it had been failing for months.

There were still some files and photos on the disc so I'm concerned about just putting in the Weee.

It doesn't turn on anymore, so what would ppl recommend to make it as safe as possible for disposal?.

xhomelezz

Bredabe wrote: »

My laptop died this day week, it had been failing for months.

There were still some files and photos on the disc so I'm concerned about just putting in the Weee.

It doesn't turn on anymore, so what would ppl recommend to make it as safe as possible for disposal?.

Take the HDD out, you might still be able to acces your files.

Edit: maybe if you can share, what laptop is it and tell us more which way it was failing?

athlone573

Bredabe wrote: »

My laptop died this day week, it had been failing for months.

There were still some files and photos on the disc so I'm concerned about just putting in the Weee.

It doesn't turn on anymore, so what would ppl recommend to make it as safe as possible for disposal?.

You can take the disc out using a screwdriver usually

Then you could wipe the disc using another computer or you could physically damage it to hinder readability

Bredabe

athlone573 wrote: »

You can take the disc out using a screwdriver usually

Then you could wipe the disc using another computer or you could physically damage it to hinder readability

As its a Chromebook, would this still apply? as in physically damaging the keyboard half of the machine?

xhomelezz

Bredabe wrote: »

As its a Chromebook, would this still apply? as in physically damaging the keyboard half of the machine?

What Chromebook exactly you have?

Bredabe

xhomelezz wrote: »

What Chromebook exactly you have?

HP Stream I think, its about 4 years old.

xhomelezz

Bredabe wrote: »

HP Stream I think, its about 4 years old.

I guess memory is built in motherboard so, in that case I would suggest hammer method if there's anything stored you don't want anyone else to see. I don't follow laptops, netbooks etc. too much, more desktops interest on my side, so someone else might suggest better approach.

athlone573

xhomelezz wrote: »

I guess memory is built in motherboard so, in that case I would suggest hammer method if there's anything stored you don't want anyone else to see. I don't follow laptops, netbooks etc. too much, more desktops interest on my side, so someone else might suggest better approach.

If it's chips on the motherboard then yeah it's the hammer or crusher approach. unless you know which chips.

Unless there are bitcoin keys or seriously dodgy videos I'm not sure I'd bother.

Homelander

If it's a removable drive you can just take it out and destroy it before recycling the laptop.

If it's built in memory, it's fine unless there is actively sensitive material on there. No-one's going to spend painstaking time and effort to repair a faulty €200 machine on the off-chance its full of lucrative top secret files.

Failing that, just destroy it by drilling through the mainboard once or twice.

Bredabe

In the end, I broke it into two pieces and bashed as best I could the keyboard half(which was surprisingly strong)
It was dispatched to the recycler this am.

Thanks for all your help on this and the peace of mind this has given me.

I'll ask to close this thread in a few days, thanks again you two.