Before the advent of inexpensive cd/dvds, flash drives and usb thingies, many of us relied on zip disks for backup. I've got several boxes of them and am trying to figure out how to dispose of them without leaving myself open for data mining. They've been reformatted but that's not really secure.
Any suggestions?
Hmm - like any other computer storage stuff - I'd say demagnetize them. That should work. Or you could inquire if your county does any recycling special stuff - they do that here, and if they do they might do the demag thing before recycling/destruction. You might also see if there are any local computer users groups, or if there's a local University/Comm College - contact their compsci dept and ask. Or just get a big magnet - like one of those toy/hobby shop big U magnets....
Ellice
My disposal technique for hard disks involves a concrete floor and a large, heavy hammer.
Any time I get a new computer or want to get rid of anything with data on it, I physically destroy the item. With an old computer I remove the hard drive, beat hell out of it with a hammer on the driveway, and then squirt Super Glue into it -- every hole, every nook and cranny. With old disks and CDs I break them into pieces with a hammer, and then put half in the trash one week and half the next week. Several years ago a friend who is a computer engineer told me that is a secure way to avoid anybody going after data successfully. She said that erasing and reformatting can actually be undone, and that some very high-level law enforcement labs can do it. We never talked about the magnet technique.
A hammer.
"anne" wrote
On a complete tangent, I saw pictures yesterday of someone who had used old hard discs to make a "scrapbook". She covered the disks with patterned paper, glued on pictures and text bits, then drilled holes in the corners of the discs and strung them on a piece of ball chain. A really dedicated recycler.
Dawne
hmmmmmm... instead of a byob (bring your own bottle) party, I should hold a byoh (bring your own hammer) one. T'would be a great way to vent one's frustrations
I've used CD's for pinkeeps and heads
Ask me - I feel like hammering something at the moment !
Now What?????
Aayeee - you make it sound like I am always complaining, maybe I am lol
No--I was thinking in terms of appliance breakdowns, shitty weather and general qvetches and groans that come with being "older."
OK - well it is a perfectly beautiful day today weatherwise and I hope it is the same for Marg W and people further west. Touch wood, all appliances behaving themselves lol
it's about time you got good weather. Now ours is dreadful with pouring, noisy rainstorms and generally crummy.
I'm glad to hear that your appliances finally learned their lesson and are treating you well. Every so often they need to be put in their place.
L >
Does that mean they can't land the shuttle today, I heard there were three windows of opportunity, if not, it's California for them.
I just heard they cancelled it for today but I don't know if they are going to send them to CA or what? It's supposed to clear a little tomorrow but I don't know how long they can stay up there.
Nah- you're just feisty
C
How timely. The weather is beautiful, but tooo hot. Godson's graduation BBQ party this afternoon/evening - and it's 88 F here. We're just getting ready to head out in a bit.
But the appliance thing - we just decided to renew our warranty policy on all the appliances in the house - what a decision. But, after pricing out the replacement of anything - and getting Whirlpool to offer us a 15% discount and then another 7% based on the multiple appliances and multi-year we went for it. About $1000 but covering the washer/dryer, dishwasher, double ovens, cooktop, hood, fridge, microwave. Even to replace the built in micro - about $600. Of course the cook-top is KitchenAid, the rest Whirlpool, But the dryer thing is Maytag. All the same coporation - but we had to pay separately for the Dryer. Anyhow - we figure that with the cost of service - it was worth it - especially as, well, the washer handle has now been replaced by DH with a special temporary. We had put off doing this, figuring we should be good for some years with these - however, lo and behold - the handle on the front loader starts to crack, so we decided (well, DH not happy I had let this all lapse) to go ahead and take Whirlpool up on and offer and bargain with them. Then, after the payment - she tells me - oh, by the way - your coverage won't start til July - as you had a lapse. Thanks. Great. So, keeping fingers crossed that DH's clever temporary lasts....
Ellice
Phew, that's a relief lol
I refuse to buy those things and take my chances. I buy appliances from Sears and expect them to, within reason, stand behind their name. They always have and though I recently had a fix on the microwave/exhaust combo and then the dishwasher, I am still nowhere near what I would have paid in insurance over five years.
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