OT: Disposing Old Computer Parts

[Colin McGregor]

--- Alex Maynard <amaynard-vQ8rsROW2HJSpjfjxSPG1fd9D2ou9A/h at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> I had similar questions since I'm moving soon,  so
> I'm really glad
> this was asked.  One other question I had
> is how to really wipe the hard-drive so it couldn't
> be recovered.  I
> don't like the idea of personal info on a disposed
> computer eventually
> falling into the wrong hands.  I've heard of
> something called blaster.
> I don't know if that's the best choice.
> 
> Alex

Sad to say, given the quality of firms that specialise
in data recovery, if I were REALLY concerned about a
hard drive falling into the wrong hands my advice
would be to remove the hard drive from the system,
then make liberal use of a sledge hammer.

A small step below that, there are free floppy based
hard drive wipe utilities like:

   dban.sourceforge.net

Colin McGregor

> On Wed, 6 Jun 2007, Colin McGregor wrote:
> 
> > --- Ansar Mohammed <ansarm-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> > > Hello All,
> > > What's the standard way to dispose of old
> computer
> > > parts in the GTA? I have
> > > some old cases and motherboards to get rid off.
> Can
> > > I leave them curbside?
> >
> > Before getting rid of them to the likes of a
> landfill
> > let me note some other possible options.
> >
> > I (and I know at least one other member of this
> list)
> > have been involved in projects that take old PCs,
> fix
> > them up and then pass them on to charities and
> > individuals that would otherwise  be unable to
> afford
> > computers.
> >
> > There are a few members of this list (who I will
> not
> > name :-) ), whose home PCs are surprisingly old,
> > though I not sure in some cases if that is due to
> a
> > lack of cash or a perverse pride in how old a
> machine
> > you can use to run a current Linux...
> >
> > There are groups in the GTA that specialize in
> finding
> > ways to keep stuff out of landfills, for example:
> >
> >     groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecycleTO/
> >
> > My suggestion would be to e-mail a note describing
> > what you want to get rid of to the mailing list.
> > Assuming the equipment in question isn't ancient
> > chances are good someone here will be willing to
> come
> > and pick it up from you. Alternatively, at least
> for
> > some of the smaller items, bring them to a TLUG or
> > NewTLUG meeting and you will likely be able to
> find
> > some folks happy to take the parts away (I've done
> > this and it has worked well...).
> >
> > Colin McGregor
> > --
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> 
> 
> 
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