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Disposal of a laptop that won't load OS

SolventSolvent Econ-artistกรุงเทพมหานครRegistered User regular
in Help / Advice Forum
Hi all
I have an old laptop that I can't get to load its OS. I can get to that screen that asks you to set up stuff about the processor etc. I suspect that the hard disk is dead.
I've tried various options with a Windows restore USB and nothing seems to be happening.

What things would you try to securely dispose of a laptop like this? I don't really want some stranger sorting through my family photos etc. if I just dump it.

I don't know where he got the scorpions, or how he got them into my mattress.

http://newnations.bandcamp.com

Posts

  • aiouaaioua Ora Occidens Ora OptimaRegistered User regular
    open it up, find the hard drive, pound a nail through it

    nobody is getting that data after that

    life's a game that you're bound to lose / like using a hammer to pound in screws
    fuck up once and you break your thumb / if you're happy at all then you're god damn dumb
    that's right we're on a fucked up cruise / God is dead but at least we have booze
    bad things happen, no one knows why / the sun burns out and everyone dies
  • japanjapan Registered User regular
    edited November 2024
    Won't boot its os or won't boot any os?

    I used shredos to deal with a fried laptop recently:
    https://github.com/PartialVolume/shredos.x86_64

    Failing that, yeah, physically destroying the disk is the best bet

    japan on
  • HevachHevach Registered User regular
    Aioua wrote: »
    open it up, find the hard drive, pound a nail through it

    nobody is getting that data after that

    Save the nail and just pound it with the hammer until it jingles.

    Unless you're a fucking CIA operative physical disk damage is the point where the cost of recovering usable data exceeds the possible value of anything recovered.

  • GilgaronGilgaron Registered User regular
    I used a drill press to retire some old hard drives just because it was something I had on hand already, then if you want to be slightly more paranoid you could take off the controller board and dispose of them separately. But that's all overkill after destroying the platter.

  • Eat it You Nasty Pig.Eat it You Nasty Pig. tell homeland security 'we are the bomb'Registered User regular
    depending on where you live there may be a place around you that recycles old electronics; they will generally dispose of such as old HDs for you

    hold your head high soldier, it ain't over yet
    that's why we call it the struggle, you're supposed to sweat
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