Cleaning an old computer...

I am not sure if you call it cleaning or just getting things off of your hard drive. We are deleting programs and all information that I have on it. Can I trust no one will get into the information on it or should I keep trying to get it all off? I was going to give it to someone but after thinking about it, what good would it do with no programs on it? I can just pay to junk it but I would really like to know if the hard drive is empty. Just personal information, we kept medical files on it and budgets, no banking or anything like that but the suze orman program might have a social security # in it...can't remember for sure..

Would it be best to just take the side off and destroy things inside or is it dangerous to do that? We know nothing about doing it..of course it would be unplugged for sure. any tips will be appreciated.

I love windows 7....so far I think it is great.

To hide these ads please register / sign in

_________________

Hi Sherry8, I think this is a good site to get further info on your subject and yes Smile

many people do refer to it as cleaning. http://www.microsoft.com/business/smb/en-au/harddrive.mspx

I personally had gone thru a couple of hard drives and I don't store important info in them. But then again computer is becoming more and more a part of our daily life and personal confidential information will definitely get into the hard drive some how or other ........ come to think of it I do have some confidential info in my hard drive Embarassed

My rule is very simple for my used hard drive, if it is dead err...I mean broken I will dismantle it, send the circuit board to recyclers, break the disc and use the magnets in my car oil filter to hold back the iron filing in the oil filter to make sure it does not go back into the engine to cause further wear and tear. The magnets are really powerful and the way it is shaped it fits right on a car oil filter casing.

For those that are still working I had them installed as a secondary hard drive for backup purpose and data storage. If you do not want to install it as a secondary hard drive you can get a casing and use it as a external hard drive. Cool

Finally as for the remaining part of the hardware you can give it away without the hard drive or install a pre-owned hard drive from a second hand dealer. You can even sell it on the internet cause I am sure there are looking for parts to cannibalize Idea

I guess by doing that you can be sure of whatever private and confidential info in your hard drive will be with you. Smile

_________________
Morning in the Garden is Paradise Smile

Life n Memories
Malacca Daily Photos