[Caymus]

What is the safest way to dispose of non-working laptops that may contain financial data on hard drives? Can computers shops be trusted? Don't want to get in a situation like a "certain politician's" son did. When I was working, I would remove the drives and put them in one of the hydraulic presses at work.

[PoolBrews]

Wiping your hard drive on a Windows machine:

1) Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset PC.
2) Select Remove everything, and then Remove files and clean the drive.
3) Click Next, Reset, and then Continue.

As long as you select the "clean the drive" option there will be nothing recoverable left on the drive. It takes a while, but it overwrites all data portions of the drive.

No need to physically destroy the drive, and it can be reused.

[retiredguy123]

The safest way is with a sledge hammer.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by PoolBrews

Wiping your hard drive on a Windows machine:

1) Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset PC.
2) Select Remove everything, and then Remove files and clean the drive.
3) Click Next, Reset, and then Continue.

As long as you select the "clean the drive" option there will be nothing recoverable left on the drive. It takes a while, but it overwrites all data portions of the drive.

No need to physically destroy the drive, and it can be reused.

However, the OP titled the thread "Safest way to dispose of non-bootable laptops?"

[onfire]

Remove the drive and physically destroy it, the easiest method is an old flat blade screwdriver and hammer. Just drive it through the very thin cover and into the discs (not in the center where the motor is).

[jrref]

Drill a couple of holes in the hard drive.

[CarlR33]

3 Ways to Recycle Old Computer Hard Drives - wikiHow

[MrChip72]

Get an old cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 350. Put laptop on cookie sheet lined with tin foil for 45 mins. Tried and true recipe.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

The safest way is with a sledge hammer.

That’s exactly what I would do, then bag the pieces and toss it out with the trash.

[SFSkol]

install Linux Mint on it.
Just dl the iso. Install, wipes hard drive. Then you have a new secure PC
Easy to do, take you a half hour. Many YouTube install videos.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by SFSkol

install Linux Mint on it.
Just dl the iso. Install, wipes hard drive. Then you have a new secure PC
Easy to do, take you a half hour. Many YouTube install videos.

How do you do that when the laptop is non-bootable and non-working?

[SFSkol]

Kinda really means by non-working. If it turns on you can use my solution. If not, pull the drive and wait till garbage day and have the truck run over it.

Another poorly written original post that does not really explain the issue.

oh well....

[MikeN]

Hard drives are easy to remove and destroy. Hope you have a backup for your info

[Berwin]

There's a computer guy on 441 in the strip mall with Francesco's where I've taken some old laptops to get rid of. I think it is Troy's Computers. He said he'd remove the hard drives and destroy them but I had already removed them and taken care of it. Personally, I've helped several friends by bringing my toolkit over and taking their hard drives out for them to dispose of.

[Pachine58]

Originally Posted by PoolBrews

Wiping your hard drive on a Windows machine:

1) Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset PC.
2) Select Remove everything, and then Remove files and clean the drive.
3) Click Next, Reset, and then Continue.

As long as you select the "clean the drive" option there will be nothing recoverable left on the drive. It takes a while, but it overwrites all data portions of the drive.

No need to physically destroy the drive, and it can be reused.

===============

You can do this and even format the drive, I will be able to pull all your data back. You can even wipe out the partition, I can pull back the data.

Only way is to physically damage the HD. Put a Nail thru it.