Old computers - how to dispose

[Corpse Cruncher]

I have a couple of old computers that aren't working. How do I dispose of them and ensure that stuff that is on them is safe. Both computers I can't access but they have hardrives full of stuff.

[Beady]

I've had this problem before. You're going to get all kinds of advice about software tools; for me, it's easiest to just remove the hard drives and wallop them with a hammer.

[Rasmus]

Use a large hammer on the harddrives?

If you want to be fancy, see if you can connect the old harddrives to a working PC and pick a formatting method that is secure enough for your purposes.

[Beady]

Use a large hammer on the harddrives?

You don't think it would work?

[nimzov]

I have disposed of old computer parts on freecycle:

http://www.freecycle.org/

Some people are looking for old computer parts.

nimzo

[Nick Bogaerts]

The casing can be pretty sturdy so use a torx screwdriver to open it and remove the plates. Use Beady's sledgehammer to smash those to smithereens. Alternatively, use them as coasters.

Scavenge the rare earth magnet.

[thrombus29]

You can use a hammer,

I like to take a hand drill and drill 5 or 6 holes around the drive.

[Rasmus]

You don't think it would work?

I am certain this would work if done right. I wasn't certain if the harddrives were supposed to remain usebale, though.

[BenK]

The casing can be pretty sturdy so use a torx screwdriver to open it and remove the plates. Use Beady's sledgehammer to smash those to smithereens. Alternatively, use them as coasters.


I do that and keep them on my desk at work, people love playing with shiny things ;)

[Soapy Sam]

I thought this was a question about ecology and envirinmental awareness.

Silly of me.

[Corpse Cruncher]

So I have a smashing time ahead of me then.:D I can deal with that, work the agression thing and save my data at the same time.

[bruto]

If you're sure that none of the stuff is stuff you want to keep, hammer away. It's also fun to disassemble them. The platters are very shiny and rather decorative. Some of them ring with a very nice tone too.

However, unless the drives are really antiquated, pre-IDE era drives, if they still contain data you might want to keep, consider getting an external IDE drive adapter. Places like Staples and Best buy sell an enclosure that will turn any standard IDE drive into a USB external drive for about $40. If the drive is still any good, you can simply stick it in the case. If you have several, you leave the case open and swap them. Read the data off and burn it to CD's or something. Of course it may depend on how much, if any data, you have to save, but a drive that's reasonably large can be pretty handy in USB form anyway, and if you don't mind the bulk it may be cheaper per gigabyte than flash drives.

[Beady]

Both computers I can't access but they have hardrives full of stuff.

If you're sure that none of the stuff is stuff you want to keep, hammer away.

One of us seems to have missed something.

I say, Hammer!

[bruto]

One of us seems to have missed something.

I say, Hammer!

My reading is that it is the computers that are dead, not the drives themselves. Even if the computer is dead, and even if the OS is so corrupted it can't boot, if the drive is physically workable and the stuff on it is worth keeping, then it might be worthwhile saving the drives.

[Corpse Cruncher]

My reading is that it is the computers that are dead, not the drives themselves. Even if the computer is dead, and even if the OS is so corrupted it can't boot, if the drive is physically workable and the stuff on it is worth keeping, then it might be worthwhile saving the drives.
One the inbuilt graphic card has given up. The other one, the power supply unit started to belch smoke. Everything else I assume works, I'm just not technically minded to attempt let alone know how to fix them.

But hammer is good, hammer is my friend:D

[bruto]

One the inbuilt graphic card has given up. The other one, the power supply unit started to belch smoke. Everything else I assume works, I'm just not technically minded to attempt let alone know how to fix them.

But hammer is good, hammer is my friend:D

Biggish ball peen works nicely. Wear safety glasses. Hard drives can scatter a bit.

[MortFurd]

You can use a hammer,

I like to take a hand drill and drill 5 or 6 holes around the drive.
I prefer a plasma cutter. Slice the whole drive into 3/4 inch squares. What the cuts don't destroy, the heat will.


Overkill, I know. But it is FUN to slice things up with a plasma cutter.

[bruto]

I prefer a plasma cutter. Slice the whole drive into 3/4 inch squares. What the cuts don't destroy, the heat will.


Overkill, I know. But it is FUN to slice things up with a plasma cutter.

Is that a good enough excuse to get a plasma cutter? Well, you see, dear, there's a security issue, and we don't want the terrorists to win, do we?

[Upchurch]

You are all very wasteful. I dispose of all my old computers by striping out all the various components, placing the various components in different boxes and stacking those boxes in a room never to look at them again.

That way, they are still useless and continue to take up valuable space. Everybody wins!

[bruto]

You are all very wasteful. I dispose of all my old computers by striping out all the various components, placing the various components in different boxes and stacking those boxes in a room never to look at them again.

That way, they are still useless and continue to take up valuable space. Everybody wins!

I have a barn for that. This has the added advantage of allowing the stored computers and boxes of useless components to become dusty, corroded, damp and contaminated with mouse and bat droppings, raising their uselessness to a higher plane.

[xenxabar]

You are all very wasteful. I dispose of all my old computers by striping out all the various components, placing the various components in different boxes and stacking those boxes in a room never to look at them again.

That way, they are still useless and continue to take up valuable space. Everybody wins!They make great furniture, too. In the background you can see Zenon and Zenon Jr. supporting Harmon (the receiver).

http://forumpics.baconchocolatetacos.com/Images/Kidz2.jpg
BTW, that's Ahanix on the left and Alien on the right.

[Corpse Cruncher]

furniture - no thank you.

[SezMe]

In my area, there is a program where kids on the wrong side of the law are trained to repair old, busted compters. The hardware they work on comes from donations of discarded machines. The kids get a skill to use to enter the workforce when they get off probation and the rehabed computers are given to local families who otherwise couldn't afford a machine.

Win-win.

Look for a similar program in your area.

[xenxabar]

furniture - no thank you.Awe, but look at how happy they are holding up a vital component. Granted they don't get any of that delicious electricity anymore.

[bigred]

Is anyone else sometimes still amazed that PCs that orig went for thousands and were cutting edge are now considered so worthless they're barely worth the material they're made out of, if that? Back in the 80s, who'da thunk it?

[Pro7]

Ill be interested in buying old computers, specifically the AST computers.

[bigred]

Yeah I think I would buy say a 386 or 486, but it would have to have a working copy of DOS, at least about a 10MB HD, and a working VGA ("SVGA" preferred) monitor. Oh yeah I'd have a CD drive too cuz I don't have ANYTHING on floppies anymore.

[Pro7]

Whats odd about these old computers with these old mobos, is that they used to have bus switches and were adjustable. Modern computers do not have them, as the hardware bus speed is permanent as in minimum to max and cannot be adjusted.

Old AST computers got those bus switches.

[~enigma~]

Use the Steven Jones method and destroy the HDs with thermite :)

[bigred]

Whats odd about these old computers with these old mobos, is that they used to have bus switches and were adjustable. Modern computers do not have them, as the hardware bus speed is permanent as in minimum to max and cannot be adjusted.

Old AST computers got those bus switches.
My old 386 could switch between 10MHz and "fast" 33MHz. oooooh :)

[~enigma~]

My old 386 could switch between 10MHz and "fast" 33MHz. oooooh :)Maybe he want's old AST's cause he thinks they go with his free energy bs.

[Pro7]

Enigma,

That statement belongs in another screwed up thread.

[~enigma~]

Enigma,

That statement belongs in another screwed up thread.No that statement belongs right here. It was why i think you want old AST's. Are you suddenly embarrassed over your multipage screwup?

[bruto]

No that statement belongs right here. It was why i think you want old AST's. Are you suddenly embarrassed over your multipage screwup?Maybe if you fiddle with the bus speed switch (you know, a few resistors in the right place), instead of switching from dead slow to just annoyingly slow as it normally does, you can make that old AST go faster and faster and faster until it's, like, really really fast!

[Pro7]

No that statement belongs right here. It was why i think you want old AST's. Are you suddenly embarrassed over your multipage screwup?

Are you implying that you are going to harass me in every thread I make a comment in?

[Pro7]

Maybe if you fiddle with the bus speed switch (you know, a few resistors in the right place), instead of switching from dead slow to just annoyingly slow as it normally does, you can make that old AST go faster and faster and faster until it's, like, really really fast!

From what I read, a bus switch such as those can be maximized. I havent seen one of those kinds yet nor have ever experimented on them. Does anyone here have ever experimented on such mobos?

[~enigma~]

Are you implying that you are going to harass me in every thread I make a comment in?
How is giving my opinion harassing? Tell you what, if what I did is harassment, tell the admins otherwise take your stupidity and shove it up your [rule8].

Free energy...:dl::dl:

[Pro7]

How is giving my opinion harassing? Tell you what, if what I did is harassment, tell the admins otherwise take your stupidity and shove it up your [rule8].

Free energy...:dl::dl:

cute doggie. OK then....

[~enigma~]

cute doggie. OK then....Is the kitten cute?

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/2508/catvivv4.jpg

[bruto]

From what I read, a bus switch such as those can be maximized. I havent seen one of those kinds yet nor have ever experimented on them. Does anyone here have ever experimented on such mobos?

I'm not sure how you're using the term "maximized." I may be wrong, but I think you'll find that although the bus speed may be selectable, the choices are very limited, in part by the fact that most ISA bus cards would not work above 12 mhz. anyway.

[Pro7]

I'm not sure how you're using the term "maximized." I may be wrong, but I think you'll find that although the bus speed may be selectable, the choices are very limited, in part by the fact that most ISA bus cards would not work above 12 mhz. anyway.

Hmmm...

You could be right about that. I was referring to the method of how it is to be used at maximum.

[peteweaver]

Maybe if you fiddle with the bus speed switch (you know, a few resistors in the right place), instead of switching from dead slow to just annoyingly slow as it normally does, you can make that old AST go faster and faster and faster until it's, like, really really fast!

Ah another old time overclocker :)

I used to do that with my old pc, worked quite well too... :)

Good heatsinks are needed though, if anyone tries this...