My old computer is totally dead. What is the safest thing to (re disposal)?

Question

It's so old, was playing up, not worth cost of repair. So far I have taken the battery out, but cannot get at anything else, like the hard drive, which I am told it is safer to destroy. There are bank details on it.

Our council recycles batteries so that's ok.

So far I have dropped it down some steps onto concrete and jumped on it. It might be knackered but it's holding together. I have no appropriate screwdrivers to tackle the screws with a cross on the top.

Answer 1

Unplug the disk and kept it somewhere. Better if you can copy the important data from it to your new computer before destroying it.

Answer 2

Borrow an appropriate Cross-head screwdriver, remove the HDD, disassemble it by taking off the top plate (usually 4 screws or so) and then destroy the platters completely with a hammer.

Then take the rest of it to the local council recycling centre where they are disposed of properly (they're actually quite valuable as scrap due to the metals that are extracted).

As long as you smash the HDD platters you're OK. No amount of superglue will make the bits readable!

Answer 3

Good grief!  BORROW a screwdriver!

If you've got stuff on the hard disk you don't want others to see, you had better remove it.

Answer 4

Hi  when you say you have taken the battery out I take it you are talking about a laptop.  the hard drive is usually contained in the side of the machine and should come out after removing a couple of screws

why not borrow a screwdriver from a friend or buy one that will fit.

If it is a desktop you need to remove the four screws at the back of the case and remove the cover then you can get at the hard drive, dvd/cd drive, ram and cpu etc.

the local council tip will have a  section for the disposal of  computers, tv's etc

Answer 5

get a set of screwdrivers take the hard drive out hit it with a big hammer

then take it to the council tip.no one will read that hard drive.