Recycling laptop

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[Deleted User]
[Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
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in Techie Stuff
I've read that hard drives should be wiped before sending the laptop for recycling. How do I do that please?

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  • enfield_freddy
    enfield_freddy Posts: 6,147 Forumite
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    remove , throw against brick wall repeatedly , then refit


    QED


    no matter what method suggested , someone will come out with a statement that the "x" government could still get your data ,


    just destroy it and make it unreadable
  • tronator
    tronator Posts: 2,857 Forumite
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    enfield_freddy wrote: »
    remove , throw against brick wall repeatedly , then refit


    QED


    no matter what method suggested , someone will come out with a statement that the "x" government could still get your data ,


    just destroy it and make it unreadable

    ... or just use DBAN to wipe it.
  • stator
    stator Posts: 7,441 Forumite
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    Download a program called Darik's Boot and Nuke. You burn it to a CD, then boot from that CD and use it to wipe the whole hard drive. Problem solved.
    Then you can reinstall the original operating system using the manufacturer recovery CDs, if you want to provide it in a working state.
    Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.
  • henm2
    henm2 Posts: 721 Forumite
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    Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) always works for me either booted off CD or USB flash drive. (Care any connected drives such as flash or external hard disks will also be wiped). Data wiped is not recoverable.
  • googler
    googler Posts: 16,103 Forumite
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    Take the HDD out and keep it.

    Sell the rest on eBay or Gumtree.
  • Grumpysally
    Grumpysally Posts: 791 Forumite
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    Remove it, put it in a hard drive caddy and use for external storage.
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