OT OT how to destroy

Tell me which Windows version please?

NightMist

You don't need to kill the whole computer. Assuming it is a desktop (not a laptop) - just take the cover off and pull out the hard drive, put the cover back on and contact your local recycling center to find out what to do with it.

Then take a hammer to the hard drive. (Put it in a zip loc back -- so the pieces don't fly all over the place.

The data is on the hard drive. The other stuff would not have data on it.

Happy smashing!

Once you have bashed it to bits, dispose of the pieces in a few bins in different areas. Then even a determined jigsaw enthusiast cannot put it back together again.

Yes, I watch too much television.

No, I've never done it.

But I HAVE tried to ressurect some wiped files. And couldn't.

Nel (Gadget Queen)

Delete ALL files, including the operating system. Format the disk. Then take it out and break it up as Nel suggests.

Take the rest in for recycling.

Dunno, NM. Whatever came before Vista I guess. Polly

"NightMist"

You underestimate how clueless I am but I like the way you think. What does the hard drive look like? Polly

"Kate in MI" <

OH! Polly, guilty of computer'cide'? I'd just re-format the hard drive. I believe that wipes it all clean. We give our ole parts away on Freecycle.

Nana

Computer'cide? I like that. I just didn't want some slug having access to my memoirs and financial records. It is no surprise to me that you quilters have such great ideas on destroying. You all are really something. Polly

"Nana.Wilson" <

Such drastic measures aren't necessary. We've used a program (free) used by many security agencies that wipes and overwrites every byte of the drive so that nothing is recoverable - even by experts. See this:

Doc

okay, the words on the link went right over my head, and Polly's also, I suspect.

Physical destruction just feels better to the psyche and is proof visual that the info is gone.

Too bad you don't live closer. Our local law enforcement are having a shoot this Saturday, they could use the target. No, they won't let me shoot with them. I told them I'll sign a waiver. But their response in the negative has confirmed to my mind that they are afraid of being beat "by a girl" - which is very likely.

G> Such drastic measures aren't necessary. =A0We've used a program (free)

ttp://

y- Hide quoted text -

Back in The Olden Days I was a reserve police officer and the only female officer in the department. I shot in the 96 percentile and that irked many of the men. (Many wives refused to let their husbands work with me, too.) LOL Good for you, Ginger! Strut your stuff and phooey on insecure men who can't take the competition. They should try harder instead of refusing to shoot with you..... ;-)

Leslie & The Furbabies in MO.

Physical destruction just feels better to the psyche and is proof visual that the info is gone.

Too bad you don't live closer. Our local law enforcement are having a shoot this Saturday, they could use the target. No, they won't let me shoot with them. I told them I'll sign a waiver. But their response in the negative has confirmed to my mind that they are afraid of being beat "by a girl" - which is very likely.

G> Such drastic measures aren't necessary. We've used a program (free)

DS's significant other is a police woman. I don't know how well she shoots but I wouldn't think irritating her would be a good plan. I bet she shoots pretty well but am sure she shoots well enough. Pretty bad when they won't even let you play along with them. Shame on them. : ( I hope there is a full report coming on the computer destruction. Taria

Physical destruction just feels better to the psyche and is proof visual that the info is gone.

Too bad you don't live closer. Our local law enforcement are having a shoot this Saturday, they could use the target. No, they won't let me shoot with them. I told them I'll sign a waiver. But their response in the negative has confirmed to my mind that they are afraid of being beat "by a girl" - which is very likely.

Ginger in CA

Well, it begins this way - the computer was a dud to begin with. Had lots of little annoying quirks. One of them was that it just might start and probably would not. Way too many dollars was spent on that rascal. I'll probably just open it, remove what looks like a hard drive and bash it. What does a hard drive look like? Can I take all the other parts and weld them into some sort of arty object? I guess I could create a door stop but the doors stopped here years ago. Polly

"Taria" DS's significant other is a police woman. I don't know how well she shoots

It's a box-shaped piece inside your case, with usually a big flat cable coming out of it. If you have a 2nd rectangle with a fan thingie, that's not it. The hard drive just sits there looking inscrutable.

Beware the heavy metals when you get out your solder>Well, it begins this way - the computer was a dud to begin with. Had lots

;) What is funny is when a deputy who knows I shoot says something to another uniform, who then looks incredulous and sputters and disbelieves "she shoots? she doesn't look like she's ever held a gun!" I actually keep one of my better targets squirreled away in my desk, to pull out to show them.

The element of surprise is priceless!

G> Back in The Olden Days I was a reserve police officer and the only female

- snipped-for-privacy@s17g2000prh.googlegroups.com...

Switch it off at the mains.

Get a screwdriver and unbolt any screws you find on the back and sides of the main case.

Take of the main case: it usually gives up to a hefty shove, pull and slide motion.

Look inside, near the front and look for a rectangular metal box, or two sheets of metal enclosing a cylindrical thing, like an undersized CD, but up to an inch thick.

It will be attached with more screws and a few pluggy things (flat with lots of holes, like a miniature bar of chocolate) usually its got a fat wire looking like unstretchy elastic attached.

Haul that out and destroy. That was the hard drive. Your machine is now brain dead. Check if it has a donor card and dispose of its innards to the charity of your choice. They will make good use of it.

Ours go to the boffins at the local university, who patch them up, insert new hard drives and so on and ship them out to Africa, India and other places who need them. They enjoy the challenge. It keeps them off the streets and the computers get a new home. Win:win.

Does that help?

Nel (GQ) who has disembowelled more of these than is strictly healthy!

Assuming it is XP, go to the system recovery menu and reformat C:.

Alternatively, you may need to click the start button, go to my computer, right click "c: drive", select format, and proceed from there.

After that you can install any software from anywhere and it will overwrite the memory making it nearly impossible to recover anything. I suggest trying to install linux over whatever is left of your system. That will scramble the artifacts beyond all hope. The installation does not have to succeed, just write a lot of stuff into the memory.

Another alternative is to reformat, then stick an old speaker magnet into the case. Just lay it right on top of the hard drive. A big magnet will trash it better than almost anything else.

There is software out there that will do much the same thing. Can't bring titles to mind at the mo, but if you want them I can do brain surgery on myself until I remember.

NightMist

i have a dell desktop tower and there are no screws, just two big buttons, push both at the same time and lift. j.

Get a screwdriver and unbolt any screws you find on the back and sides of the main case.

Take of the main case: it usually gives up to a hefty shove, pull and slide motion.

Look inside, near the front and look for a rectangular metal box, or two sheets of metal enclosing a cylindrical thing, like an undersized CD, but up to an inch thick.

It will be attached with more screws and a few pluggy things (flat with lots of holes, like a miniature bar of chocolate) usually its got a fat wire looking like unstretchy elastic attached.

Haul that out and destroy. That was the hard drive. Your machine is now brain dead. Check if it has a donor card and dispose of its innards to the charity of your choice. They will make good use of it.

Ours go to the boffins at the local university, who patch them up, insert new hard drives and so on and ship them out to Africa, India and other places who need them. They enjoy the challenge. It keeps them off the streets and the computers get a new home. Win:win.

Does that help?

Nel (GQ) who has disembowelled more of these than is strictly healthy!