Destroying your own Data:

(You may want to print this page for reference)

If you wish to dispose of your old computer at a local Council recycling center, we stongly suggest (we can't emphasize this enough) that you destroy the data on your hard drive. Dragging your files, folders and everything else to the waste basket DOES NOT DELETE IT.

An understanding of where a recycled computer can potentially end up and how easy it is to un-erase data really does drive home the IMPORTANCE OF DATA DESTRUCTION.

Household users have 2 options for destruction of their personal data but before you begin, please ensure you have at least 3 blank burnable cds or dvds. If your computer cannot burn cd's or dvds, please skip this section and go to section 2.0.

1. Data Destruction via Software

1a. Insert a blank CD or DVD into your computer and copy ALL files that you want to save onto that media. Please ensure that you have backed up everything you want using this method. It may be wise to make 2 cds or dvd (ie 2 copies) of everything.

1b. Create a CD or DVD from the ISO image you have just downloaded.

1c. Boot your computer from the CD or DVD. This will then bring up a window as follows:

1d. At the prompt, type DOD and hit return. Your computer will not be binary wiped using a 7 pass system which meets the US Department of defence standard (5022.2M-ECE).

That's it for data wiping. If on the other hand you want to completely destroy your hard drive, we suggest the following:

2. Hardware Destruction.

You will require at minimum a philips screwdriver for this option. If you have not or are unable to back your data onto a CD or dvd, simply put your hard drive in your new computer, on the cable that usually connects to your CD rom drive. Boot your computer and copy files from the old drive onto your new one. If this is not possible, you may want to keep your hard drive for future use.

2a. Unscrew the casing to your computer and remove the side panel (opposite side to your connectors on a tower or the top part of the case on a desktop)
2b. Locate and remove your hard drive from your computer
2c. Once the hard drive is removed from your computer, you have three options: Remove all the screws from the case, take out the platters (these look like records or cds) and slide them on a concrete surface to scratch them. Drop the drive onto a very hard surface a number of times- this will not destroy the data, but will make the hard drive useless to third parties (they need to repair the drive before they can access your data- which is a little harder than just un-erasing files!) Send the hard drive to us for data destruction.