How to safely dispose old laptop

[Rayblewit]

Calling all computer nerds . .

I have two old lap tops.
Been gathering dust for years.
I have transferred all the relevant data to my current system.
Now I want to donate or trash both safely for my own security. What is the best way?
Format the hard drive?
Smash the hard drive?
Any advice?
Thanks Ray

 

[happyrat1]

To safely wipe a hard drive for resale or recycling the final step should be to run Darik's Boot and Nuke on the hard drive and then remove any BIOS passwords from the machine if it will ever be reused.

Darik’s Boot and Nuke – DBAN

Erase hard drives, desktops, laptops or servers free with a Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN) download. Try it now.

dban.org

AFAIK no one has ever successfully recovered data from a hard drive that's undergone this treatment.

Gary

 

[Rayblewit]

Thanks Gary, but both pc's are not connected to internet so cannot download. Besides one has win95 driver and one has vista. So they will not be compatible.

 

[happyrat1]

It's available as a bootable image suitable for CD or USB thumb drive booting Ray.

Download it and install on ANY machine.

Gary

 

[happyrat1]

Secure Deletion with DBAN | Columbia University Information Technology

cuit.columbia.edu

 

[Rayblewit]

Thanks again.
I will certainly do the copy to CD.
Appreciate your help Gary.

Moving house this week.
Been busy to say the least and found these laptops buried in the back cupboard.

Cheers
Ray

 

[Biggles]

Me, I would take out the hard drive and take out any frustrations you have on said hard drive with the largest hammer you have.

If they had Win 95 or and Vista on them they will not be of a good enough spec to run any modern operating system or software.

 

[happyrat1]

Some schools and church organizations can still make good use of them Col.

Gary