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-   -   How to erase info from computer? (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=419596)

  • Nov 26, 2009, 02:32 PM
    nosohandyman
    How to erase info from computer?
    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
  • Nov 26, 2009, 03:56 PM
    Clough
    Hi, nosohandyman!

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

    Thanks!
  • Nov 26, 2009, 04:12 PM
    nosohandyman
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Clough View Post
    Hi, nosohandyman!

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

    Thanks!

    I hope not. I am going to dump it.
  • Nov 26, 2009, 04:43 PM
    Clough
    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!
  • Nov 26, 2009, 04:44 PM
    ScottGem

    If you are going to dump it, just pull the hard drive and take a hammer to it
  • Nov 30, 2009, 08:41 AM
    nosohandyman
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Clough View Post
    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
  • Nov 30, 2009, 08:48 AM
    phlanx

    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
  • Nov 30, 2009, 02:14 PM
    ScottGem

    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.

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