PC recycling help!

countrycook · 4 May 2006 at 12:28PM

I want to recycle an old PC. Can someone tell me how to remove all personal details from it. I tried looking on dept. of environment sites and recycling sites but haven't come up with the answer. If anyone knows I'd be very grateful if you could explain in simple language! I am not an IT expert!

MrsTinks · 4 May 2006 at 12:49PM

well you could do a format C:

depending on OS etc... if you have really sensitive information on it then you could try these which are recommended by Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/protectpurgepersonalfiles.mspx

(includes the article about why and how etc)

damo101 · 4 May 2006 at 8:44PM

this should do it -

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

think only intelligence agencies are the only guys who have the software and inclination to recover info on a drive that some one has run DBAN on.

albertross_2 · 4 May 2006 at 8:56PM

http://www.cbltech.ca/downloadform.php

Free.. just put your email address in, and they will send you a link to download.

pavlovs_dog · 26 September 2006 at 11:29AM

is there any freeware to do this to download? i want to clear the hard drive of a pc that isnt attached to the net, so i'd need to transfer the software via an usb key storage thingy

phill79 · 26 September 2006 at 12:21PM

Do you want to give the computer away or have another person use it, then you will need to reformat really, although a "format c" will not remove the files from the physical disk.

If you are just destroying it, then a blow from a sledge hammer would do the trick, although they are tough little things so it may take a few goes.

pavlovs_dog · 26 September 2006 at 12:26PM

i was going to give it to my brother, to tide him over until he gets a new pc.

its not him accessing the info that worries me, its in case he in turn passes it on to someone else afterwards

jpe20 · 26 September 2006 at 12:44PM

There is a program called "Eraser" (freeware). Download it onto your PC and create a "nuke disc". When you give your brother the PC you can then instruct him to run this "nuke disk" when he is finished with the PC.
This nuke disk will erase (properly) your entire hard drive by writing psuedo random data many times all over the drive making it impossible for any1 to recover data.

You could also give it away on "freecycle" but I would make sure you nuke the drive first. Simply formating or reinstalling window will not permenantly erase your data.

Or do what I have done in the past ... keep the hard drive and chuck away the rest of the PC. You can never be too careful about your personal data.

Or do what I will probably do next time ... (1) give it to a local charity which interests you or (2) take it to a local recycling centre.

HTH
Jules

albertross_2 · 26 September 2006 at 12:46PM

The link I posted is freeware, as is dban

jpe20 · 26 September 2006 at 12:46PM

The eraser program will also properly erases certain files/folders you specify and also useful is that it will erase your freespace on the hard drive.

Defraging your HDD does a half baked job of "erasing" data but use Eraser its free!

pavlovs_dog · 26 September 2006 at 1:16PM

where would i find this eraser programme?

PC recycling help!

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