I am going to take an old HP laptop to the recycling centre but I want to ensure that the hard disk is wiped of any date. Am I right in thinking that if I reformat the hard drive this will have the desired effect?
Wiping a hard disk
- Thread starter Lord Snooty
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Good question, your Lordship... I also have an old HP laptop that needs the same treatment...
pretty much. Some forensic sleuth might get something off it, depends on whether the format was thorough or not.
I guess Sparky or someone will be along to explain (and correct me if necessary)
I guess Sparky or someone will be along to explain (and correct me if necessary)
Remove the hard disc? Then buy a kit off the internet that allows you to use it as an external drive via a usb port on your new computer?
Simple formatting won't erase anything but the Table of Contents. The data will still be there. You need a program that will overwrite the existing data, several times over preferably.
Or, take the disc out and drill a hole in it.
Or, take the disc out and drill a hole in it.
If you have confidential data and want to ensure no one will access it then do this ^^^ or belt it with a very large hammer.
I normally take the HDD out and smack it with a hammer - you can hear the plates rattling when smacked suitably hard.
That assumes it's not an SSD.
I think you can get bleaching software that should erase all data but i usually take the disc out and burn it with fire
I used the pointy end of a pick axe.
I'm liking the brute force and ignorance solution!
Crikey, you lot must work for MI5 lol
If your not just format it, the chances someone will install recovering software is unlikely.
If someone spends all day to recover your data, to find a picture of you smiling next to a bike.... you will get the last laugh
If your not just format it, the chances someone will install recovering software is unlikely.
If someone spends all day to recover your data, to find a picture of you smiling next to a bike.... you will get the last laugh
Just re-formatted a Mini Mac. Various options were given including Military Grade - seven wipes of the disc if I recall correctly!
If you have a hydraulic press such as for setting bearings in, it could be fun to film it in slow motion as it get crunched up.
A bit like this but in slow motion (tripod required)
A bit like this but in slow motion (tripod required)
Seriously, this is the way to do it....
Not only does it stop anyone accessing your data, you also get revenge on that miserable bastard computer that has so often pissed you right off. All the 'crashes', the endless faffing with menu systems trying to find where and when. The updates that have had you dragging your hair out and all that 'accept cookies' shit - this is paybback time....and there's only one winner !!!
Lump hammer, cold chisel and SMACK SMACK SMACK - Just like driving a stake into Dracula's heart. Die you miserable bastard, die.....SMACK SMACK SMACK......That'll teach you you [email protected] will NEVER piss me off again.....SMACK SMACK SMACK........
Who mentioned Basil Fawlty?.....
Pootler
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The last one I did I just drilled through the entire drive several times with an 8mm steel bit. Worked a treat bits flying everywhere.
And... we have a winner!Seriously, this is the way to do it....
Not only does it stop anyone accessing your data, you also get revenge on that miserable bastard computer that has so often pissed you right off. All the 'crashes', the endless faffing with menu systems trying to find where and when. The updates that have had you dragging your hair out and all that 'accept cookies' shit - this is paybback time....and there's only one winner !!!
Lump hammer, cold chisel and SMACK SMACK SMACK - Just like driving a stake into Dracula's heart. Die you miserable bastard, die.....SMACK SMACK SMACK......That'll teach you you [email protected] will NEVER piss me off again.....SMACK SMACK SMACK........
Who mentioned Basil Fawlty?.....
Just make sure you don’t have any bit coin on it. I heard a chap is trying to buy a land fill site where his multimillion pound laptop ended up
Easy Jonnie, is there something you want to tell us?Seriously, this is the way to do it....
Not only does it stop anyone accessing your data, you also get revenge on that miserable bastard computer that has so often pissed you right off. All the 'crashes', the endless faffing with menu systems trying to find where and when. The updates that have had you dragging your hair out and all that 'accept cookies' shit - this is paybback time....and there's only one winner !!!
Lump hammer, cold chisel and SMACK SMACK SMACK - Just like driving a stake into Dracula's heart. Die you miserable bastard, die.....SMACK SMACK SMACK......That'll teach you you [email protected] will NEVER piss me off again.....SMACK SMACK SMACK........
Who mentioned Basil Fawlty?.....
Took the HDD out and also found an old Samsung so have removed that one also. Will give them both the lump hammer and cold chisel treatment tomorrow. Revenge will be mine!
Hammer, the problem with formatting is the various levels of it. Sometimes it just removes the pointers not the actual data stored. Nothing like a good physical destruction. Other option is to fill the disk full of something else, but easier just to whack it with something heavy (get the disk out of the container and destroy it).
Ive done What Posh Pete said and removed the HD got an 8quid case and USB lead off fleabay and loaded some films on it for travel use and the odd time its shite on tv at home.
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