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Disposing of a Desktop PC Safely (embarrassed to ask?! )
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OnAndUp
Posts: 981 Forumite
Hi all! 
Embarrassed to ask this... but not quite sure, and it's too important not to ask!
I want to dispose of my old desktop PC. Either selling for parts, giving it away, or taking to recycling centre.
If I've removed the hard drive from it to keep. Is that everything I need to be concerned with in regards to security / my details / data etc?
ie there will then be nothing left related to me, or anything anyone would be able to access on the rest of the machine?
Thanks in advance for any help, it genuinely is appreciated - as have no one to ask these things!
Embarrassed to ask this... but not quite sure, and it's too important not to ask!
I want to dispose of my old desktop PC. Either selling for parts, giving it away, or taking to recycling centre.
If I've removed the hard drive from it to keep. Is that everything I need to be concerned with in regards to security / my details / data etc?
ie there will then be nothing left related to me, or anything anyone would be able to access on the rest of the machine?
Thanks in advance for any help, it genuinely is appreciated - as have no one to ask these things!
"Things can only get better.................c/o D:Ream #The 90's 
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Comments
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Yes, all your personal data is held in the hard drive. The rest of the computer doesn't hold any software or data at all - apart from the motherboard, but that's to keep itself running (firmware).
If you want to sell your hard drive one day, you should do a low level format before giving it away. This is different from a normal format, and there are free programs online which can do it for you.1 -
Yes, they can even restore everything it was stored in the HDH, especially with Windows if you had no encryption...
Run any Linux live distro and then:
- shred in the best way , online there are many examples
- A combination with wipefs is advised as well1 -
We use a tool from blancco to clear hard disk drives - there is no need to drill, smash with hammer etc. (apart from maybe a bit of anger release)I don't care about your first world problems; I have enough of my own!1
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op is keeping the drive4.8kWp 12x400W Longhi 9.6 kWh battery Giv-hy 5.0 Inverter, WSW facing Essex . Aint no sunshine ☀️ Octopus gas fixed dec 24 @ 5.74 tracker again+ Octopus Intelligent Flux leccy2
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Thanks for the responses everyone.
I'm keeping the hard drive as it seems to be ruined, I had a copy of things on it, so all ok.
I borrowed a disk caddy to try and access it just to delete stuff off it. Tried loads of times but it wouldn't read / show what was on it. Not getting rid of the HD with the machine - in case someone else can somehow access things on it!
It is either going to end up in the cupboard forever, or I probably am going to get a hammer to it! "Things can only get better.................c/o D:Ream #The 90's"0 -
Hi,what make/model is it?You could stick it on ebay, even without an HD, somebody might jazz it up with an SSD.1
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Works out a tad expensive for a consumer.IvanOpinion said:We use a tool from blancco to clear hard disk drives - there is no need to drill, smash with hammer etc. (apart from maybe a bit of anger release)1
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