PDA

View Full Version : How to erase info from computer?


nosohandyman
Nov 26, 2009, 02:32 PM
Hi,

I am replacing my computer and I would like to erase all sensitive data before I discard the tower. What is the best way to go about it?

Thanks in advance

Clough
Nov 26, 2009, 03:56 PM
Hi, nosohandyman!

Is anyone else going to use your old computer, please?

Thanks!

nosohandyman
Nov 26, 2009, 04:12 PM
Hi, nosohandyman!

Is anyone else going to use your old computer, please?

Thanks!

I hope not. I am going to dump it.

Clough
Nov 26, 2009, 04:43 PM
Hi again, nosohandyman!

Then the easiest way to insure that no information can be retrieved, would be to remove the hard drive and just simply destroy it. Using a hammer on it should do the trick.

If you wanted the computer to be saved so that someone else could use it, then you would need to re-format the hard drive or use an eraser program that would over-write everything that you wouldn't want to be retrievable.

Thanks!

ScottGem
Nov 26, 2009, 04:44 PM
If you are going to dump it, just pull the hard drive and take a hammer to it

nosohandyman
Nov 30, 2009, 08:41 AM
Hi again, nosohandyman!

Then the easiest way to insure that no information can be retrieved, would be to remove the hard drive and just simply destroy it. Using a hammer on it should do the trick.

If you wanted the computer to be saved so that someone else could use it, then you would need to re-format the hard drive or use an eraser program that would over-write everything that you wouldn't want to be retrievable.

Thanks!

Thanks for the reply. So, I assume the hard drive is the thin rectangular shaped box? Do I need to destroy the RAM and any other stuff?

Thanks

phlanx
Nov 30, 2009, 08:48 AM
Afternoon

The Hard Drive is rectangle in shape, but then so is the disk drives, - it is often silver in colour and has a din plug connection at the back

If you are unsure of what is what, then just go nuts with the hammer, maybe a little saw, or even petrol in a metal container out the back, eitherway, wait till someone winds you up and take it out on the PC :D

ScottGem
Nov 30, 2009, 02:14 PM
The hard drive is a thin rectangular unit in the tower case connected by a ribbon cable.

And no, you don't need to worry about RAM.