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Can anyone help me remove memory/data/files from a laptop that doesn't turn on?

J20BABY
J20BABY Posts: 2,025 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
in Techie Stuff
I have two laptops that will not turn off and want to get rid of them. One of them has a damaged motherboard and the other one is damaged. How can I make sure that no personal files or details can be retrieved from the units? Shall I remove the hard drive, or do I need to take the memory out too?

TIA for any help :)
«1

Comments

  • weegie.geek
    weegie.geek Posts: 3,432 Forumite
    Just the drives, the RAM gets wiped when you turn it off.
    They say it's genetic, they say he can't help it, they say you can catch it - but sometimes you're born with it
  • J20BABY
    J20BABY Posts: 2,025 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thanks very much :)
    Shall I just chuck the hard drive away then or can it be wiped?
  • closed
    closed Posts: 10,886 Forumite
    Put them in a usb caddy and use them
    !!
    > . !!!! ----> .
  • alanrowell
    alanrowell Posts: 5,392 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Large hammers work quite well at destroying data on hard drives.
  • KillerWatt
    KillerWatt Posts: 1,655 Forumite
    alanrowell wrote: »
    Large hammers work quite well at destroying data on hard drives.
    You have obviously never seen a forensic examination take place ;)
    Remember kids, it's the volts that jolt and the mills that kill.
  • J20BABY
    J20BABY Posts: 2,025 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    closed wrote: »
    Put them in a usb caddy and use them


    Thanks. I don't even know what one of them is and I don't need the data so will go with the hammer idea ;)
  • closed
    closed Posts: 10,886 Forumite
    edited 6 July 2010 at 8:05PM
    do you backup?

    it's a little box, that plugs into a usb port, slip the hard disk in, then you can access, erase the data, or reuse the disk for backups
    !!
    > . !!!! ----> .
  • J20BABY
    J20BABY Posts: 2,025 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    closed wrote: »
    do you backup?


    Ummmm no:o

    The laptops are from a couple of years ago and only just getting round to getting rid of them but as I say, didn't want to risk my data getting into unsavoury hands lol.
  • closed
    closed Posts: 10,886 Forumite
    what's wrong with the laptops, which models, how old exactly?

    Bit of a waste throwing two newish hard drives away, when you could use them, a caddy costs less than a fiver.
    !!
    > . !!!! ----> .
  • Donnie
    Donnie Posts: 9,862 Forumite
    As mentioned before, don't throw them away. That is just useless destruction. Here is an example of a USB Caddy(link) for £3.40.

    25-IU-SlimB_Det.JPG

    It effectively turns the formerly 'useless' hard drive into useful portable USB External Storage. You can then use it to store pictures, videos etc in case you have a problem with your main working machine.

    Just let us know the make and model of the laptops to ensure we point you towards the correct caddy.
This discussion has been closed.
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