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Safely Dispose of Ancient Computer Equipment

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Jo4
Jo4 Posts: 6,839 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
Can anyone please advise me how to safely dispose of the following two ancient computer items?

-An ancient tower unit, the screen belonging to it no longer works.

-An ancient laptop that no longer works.

How can I delete the information on these two devices so no one can get any personal details off these items?
«1

Comments

  • DoaM
    DoaM Posts: 11,863 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    Take the hard drives out (might be useful as backup drives, or smash them to pieces) and dispose of the remaining kit at your local recycling/waste disposal centre. (Ours takes TV/Computer equipment)
  • Slithery
    Slithery Posts: 6,046 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Just remove the disks and destroy them (a lump hammer and bolster usually does the trick), and take the rest to your local household waste recycling centre.
  • Nasqueron
    Nasqueron Posts: 10,723 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    As above, our local council tip has monitor recycling (even the old CRT) and electrical waste


    Data on the PC is easy enough, remove a couple of screws usually (maybe 4 for an all over case rather than side panel) and remove the HD (silver / grey rectangular item, about 5" by 3") - disconnect the cables in the back (will come out with a wiggle) and unscrew from the case. Smash with a hammer then recycle. Laptop HD - you may need to take the bottom of the device off, it could be easily accessible from a panel, depends on design. HD in a laptop is physically smaller, maybe 3" by 2")

    Sam Vimes' Boots Theory of Socioeconomic Unfairness: 

    People are rich because they spend less money. A poor man buys $10 boots that last a season or two before he's walking in wet shoes and has to buy another pair. A rich man buys $50 boots that are made better and give him 10 years of dry feet. The poor man has spent $100 over those 10 years and still has wet feet.

  • Jo4
    Jo4 Posts: 6,839 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thanks for all the responses! :T I will put it on tomorrows to do list when I have to go to the recycling centre any way.
  • Stoke
    Stoke Posts: 3,182 Forumite
    What equipment? Are you sure none of it can be salvaged? Old PC's can be surprisingly useful. How ancient is ancient?
  • stator
    stator Posts: 7,441 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Take out the hard drives and destroy yourself.


    Take photos of the rest and list it on Gumtree for £1.
    Check your local area for PC recycling charities.
    If none exist, take it to local council facility for WEEEEEEEEE disposal
    Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.
  • googler
    googler Posts: 16,103 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 7 January 2019 at 6:39PM
    Remove the hard drives.

    If they are in good working order, KEEP THEM to use as extra drives with other PCs or laptops.

    THERE IS NO NEED TO DESTROY A PERFECTLY GOOD DRIVE

    Even if they are ancient, small capacity drives, if you keep them, there is no security risk, as there is nothing else in a PC which can hold your data. Tuck them away in a drawer, cupboard, attic or garage
  • RumRat
    RumRat Posts: 5,012 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    stator wrote: »
    Take out the hard drives and destroy yourself.


    Take photos of the rest and list it on Gumtree for £1.
    Check your local area for PC recycling charities.
    If none exist, take it to local council facility for WEEEEEEEEE disposal
    That's a bit harsh.........
    Drinking Rum before 10am makes you
    A PIRATE
    Not an Alcoholic...!
  • datostar
    datostar Posts: 1,288 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    If you are destroying the drives, open them up first and carefully extract the very powerful little circular magnets inside. They can be very useful. Don't let them get together or you'll never separate them again.
  • S0litaire
    S0litaire Posts: 3,535 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    If they are Very old and use a ribbon instead of a thin SATA cable, you could take the old drives apart, Might be interesting for you to see the insides of one.
    :D
    Also added value of destroying the drives in the process.. :D
    Laters

    Sol

    "Have you found the secrets of the universe? Asked Zebade "I'm sure I left them here somewhere"
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