Can I just smash my hard drive?

I have a VERY old computer (98?) that is just sitting here, taking up space, because I'm concerned about security and afraid to throw it out. I have no time to figure out how to erase it, and I really don't think anyone would want it anyway. Can I just open it up and take a hammer to the inside? Will I be exposed to anything dangerous, and would this be effective? :confused Your advice would be appreciated.

 

Thank you! Finally, a simple solution for a high-tech problem!

 

You can take a blow torch to it and smash it with a hammer.Or take a Key to it like plodr said then blow torch then smash it hehe:-D.Id like to see any body get any info after that.

 

I'm probably weird...I mean, I AM weird, and this is perhaps an unusual pass-time, but I like to cut them apart (not particularly easy) and keep the very strong, rare-earth magnets from inside of them! :-o

But yes...plodr's advice/suggestion here is SOLID!

 

If you smash it, wrap it in a towel or strong plastic bag to avoid pieces flying off and potentially hitting you in the eyes.

You can also use a STRONG magnet (available at Home Depot or Harbor Freight Tools for a few bucks) to erase the data by passing it over both sides of the drive several times. Just remember to keep the magnet far, far away from any good hard drives or it will erase them too.

 

You could use DBAN (http://www.majorgeeks.com/Dariks_Boot_and_Nuke_d4596.html) and erase the drive that way.

Seems a shame to destroy a working hard drive when any data on it can be securely erased and the drive repurposed or the entire computer donated to charity. You could DBAN and then load some version of Linux on it and have a second computer to fall back on if your current one trips. Linux is fun to play with too . . .

Just a thought.

 

I agree, there are so many really good erase tools
Most you can get for free, from the maker of the hard drive's site.

If not melt it down

 

I also take the magnets out for fun uses later. Also, I drill holes in the platters.

 

I belong to a computer users group that conducts a semi-annual recycling drive. They remove all hard drives from computers received. All smaller drives (I forget their exact size criteria) are, indeed, smashed with a sledge hammer. Larger drives, that can be used in refurbished systems, are wiped following DoD standards.

 

Building a "Frankenputer" has to be one of my favorite things to do. Many people out there these days could use a helping hand, and setting them up with a free PC can help with everything from creating a resume with Open Office (freeware), to electronic communications to help with a job search.

The "Great Recession" isn't over for everyone, just Wall St. and their 87 billion a month in fiat currency, butterfly ink injections. Heck, if butterfly ink was smack, these guys would qualify as dope sick every lunar cycle...

 

Darn! I should have thought of this before. But to be honest, I have a special needs child that takes almost every minute of my time (autism, seizures, etc.), and hooking up the old computer to the internet and going thru the rigamarole of erasing it would have eaten into my few hours of sleep. So I'm very grateful to all of you for your suggestions, but I'm glad I was able to take care of it quickly. I do other things to be socially responsible, so I'm not a total creep!

 

Google does it all the time, so does the military. Only with the military, they take them out to a shooting range, and fire .50 cal's at them.