Disabling Former Computer

[Christian]

I now have two older computers to dispose of. Some years back I used a software program to destroy the Windows OS on one of my computers I gave to charity. I plan to give both of these to Goodwill but am uncertain if a software solution is the way to go. I am not knowledgeable enough to remove the hard drive and destroy it. Any ideas?

[Lee B]

I don't know how to either. What I have always done is have someone pull the hard drive for me and kept it or physically destroyed it.

It only takes a minute or two and no one has every charged me to do it. Surely you have a client  or a relative who knows how.

[Max W]

First, delete, or move to a backup all files.  Even though files are deleted, or moved, they can still be recovered.  So, the next step is to bleach the disc with software that overwrites the disc with zeros.   www.killdisc.com or anyother bleach software  does this.  There free versions.

[Roberts]

1 hour ago, cbslee said:

I don't know how to either. What I have always done is have someone pull the hard drive for me and kept it or physically destroyed it.

It only takes a minute or two and no one has every charged me to do it. Surely you have a client  or a relative who knows how.

It takes me about 3 minutes on a laptop. Reality is though without a working hard drive to boot it - may as well toss it in the recycle bin.

I have a 17 year old Sony laptop I still play old 32 bit games on occasionally. Makes me wonder why I never bought another Sony laptop.

 

[Abby Normal]

1 hour ago, Roberts said:

without a working hard drive to boot it - may as well toss it in the recycle bin

If I bought a used computer, the first thing I'd do is put in a new SSD and install whichever OS I wanted.

[Christian]

I think I used killdisc on one some years back. It completely destroyed the OS.  

[Jack from Ohio]

Giving a used computer to Goodwill, is the same as giving them a can of trash.  It will have no value to anyone, and will cost Goodwill to have it disposed of.

Remove the HD, take a ball peen hammer to it thoroughly, then dispose of it. and the rest of the computer at an electronics recycling center.

[DBerg]

This article has some software recommendations and other techniques you can use

https://datadestruction.com/how-to-dispose-of-hard-drives/

[FDNY]

On 8/8/2019 at 11:47 PM, Jack from Ohio said:

Giving a used computer to Goodwill, is the same as giving them a can of trash.  It will have no value to anyone, and will cost Goodwill to have it disposed of.

Remove the HD, take a ball peen hammer to it thoroughly, then dispose of it. and the rest of the computer at an electronics recycling center.

I remove the hard drive, put it in a vise and drill holes through it, a lot of holes and the process feels like therapy because I feel good that I have moved on to a new computer.

[Jack from Ohio]

On 8/10/2019 at 5:13 PM, FDNY said:

I remove the hard drive, put it in a vise and drill holes through it, a lot of holes and the process feels like therapy because I feel good that I have moved on to a new computer.

Perfect!  They also make good stress relivers, when me and my 9mm need relief.  Nice targets at 15', and you should see them spin as they take flight....