[Wilharm]

Is there a group or person in The Villages that can use computers and accessories? Text me if you want this stuff. Free.
Ron 251-979-3680

[JohnN]

FYI, once a quarter, Sumter County has an amnesty day for electronics, if you can't find any takers.
The dates and places are on the county website.

[keepsake]

Almost impossible to wipe computer drives these days. Only way I know of it with a drill, punching holes in the platter. Not easy.

[Pinball wizard]

Originally Posted by keepsake

Almost impossible to wipe computer drives these days. Only way I know of it with a drill, punching holes in the platter. Not easy.

I know you said "almost impossible" but there is plenty of free military grade erasure software that wipes drives clean. The software erases the drive in the first pass, then in consecutive passes writes a full drive of "0"s followed by a full drive of "1"s followed by a full drive of random characters. Then it does a verification of the drive.

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by Pinball wizard

I know you said "almost impossible" but there is plenty of free military grade erasure software that wipes drives clean. The software erases the drive in the first pass, then in consecutive passes writes a full drive of "0"s followed by a full drive of "1"s followed by a full drive of random characters. Then it does a verification of the drive.

What about a solid state hard drive?

[EdFNJ]

Originally Posted by New Englander

What about a solid state hard drive?

Metal shears, saw, drill, 240Volts AC, sawzall, power saw, remove 4 screws then cut the circuit board. Any 1 or all of the previous will do the trick, or if it's an NVMe type of SS drive a good pair of bone scissors or metal shears will do the trick. The simplest as mentioned above is software. Maybe the CIA could crack that but doubtful.

[Pinball wizard]

Originally Posted by New Englander

What about a solid state hard drive?

Good question... No difference in the process.

[JoelJohnson]

I install Linux Mint, it wipes out ALL data and formats the drive differently (from FAT32 to EXT4). Linux does not (directly) run Windows programs and is immune to Windows viruses (yes, Linux "can" get a virus, but for a personal computer to get one is VERY, VERY, VERY rare). Linux Mint is easy to use and can use Google Chrome, or FIREFOX or a number of other browsers.
I've converted a number of people here in the villages to Linux and, so far, none have asked to go back to Windows.

[candyco33]

Originally Posted by Wilharm

Is there a group or person in The Villages that can use computers and accessories? Text me if you want this stuff. Free.
Ron 251-979-3680

Hi Ron. What do you have available? I just lost my newer laptop to a hinge issue that makes it not usable. :.(
Candy 321-945-0668

[Pinball wizard]

Originally Posted by candyco33

Hi Ron. What do you have available? I just lost my newer laptop to a hinge issue that makes it not usable. :.(
Candy 321-945-0668

Did you try plugging in an external monitor/keyboard/mouse? It may still be useable but not mobile.