How to Expunge Information on a Computer
When disposing of a computer you must remove your data completely; otherwise, sensitive information -- bank account information, personal letters and photographs, login details for your online accounts -- can fall into the wrong hands. Sending files to the Recycle Bin and emptying it isn't enough because those "deleted" files are still present on the hard drive; your system doesn't display them, but they can be recovered. Even if you format the hard drive, it's possible that your data could be retrieved. To really expunge your information you must either physically destroy your hard disk or use special software to wipe your files for good.
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Things You'll Need
- Writeable CD-ROM or DVD-ROM or USB stick drive (also called an inch drive, jump drive, pen drive or flash drive)
- Screwdriver
- Your old computer
- Workbench or other firm surface
- Scrap wood or several layers of cardboard (optional)
- Electric drill with drill bits
- Security goggles or other eye protection
- Downloadable utility software such as Darik's Boot and Nuke or Active@ KillDisk
Instructions
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Physical Method
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This is the single-most fail-safe way to do it, but also requires a lot of safety precautions and a power tool. Back up any and all data you wish to keep onto removable media. You will not be able to get it back later if you do not have a backup. Put the media containing the backup in a safe place.
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Remove the screws holding your computer's case. Open up the case and look for the hard disk drive or drives. Carefully remove the drives.
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Place the drive you wish to destroy on a hard surface such as a workbench. If you use a table or other piece of furniture you must protect it with a piece of scrap wood or several layers of cardboard.
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Place a bit in your drill and secure it with the chuck key. The size is not crucial, but the larger the bit, the better. Connect your drill to the electricity supply. Put on your eye protection.
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Drill several holes in different places all over the drive. Repeat for every drive you need to destroy.
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Dispose of the drives in accordance with local regulations -- you may be able to dispose of them with household waste, but you should check the requirements for your area. Alternatively you can pass them on to a professional recycling service that deals with computer hardware.
Software Utility Method (All Drives)
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Back up any data you wish to keep onto removable media such as a writeable CD-ROM or DVD-ROM or a USB drive and store it in a safe place.
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Download a disk expunging utility such as Darik's Boot and Nuke (also known as DBAN). Open your browser and navigate to dban.org and then get to the download page by clicking on the "Download" link. Click on the link marked "DBAN 2.2.6 Beta for CD-R and DVD-R media" (the version number may change if Darik upgrades the software). Download the software and save it to your computer's hard drive.
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Place a blank writeable CD-ROM or DVD-ROM in your computer's drive. Follow the instructions onscreen to burn the software to the blank disk.
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Shut down your computer and reboot it from the disk containing DBAN. A DBAN prompt will appear. Type the word "autonuke" without quotation marks at the DBAN prompt and press "Enter." DBAN will look for hard drives and wipe them all. Note that this method expunges all your data on all of your drives and all partions on every drive. This includes the operating system.
Software Utility Method (Individual Drives)
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Back up any data you want to keep onto removable media and put it somewhere safe.
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Download a software utility that will let you expunge data from selected drives or partitions alone, leaving the information on other drives or partitions intact. An example is Active@ KillDisk. Open your browser and navigate to killdisk.com. Download the version for Windows.
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Run the file called KILLDISK-SETUP.EXE by double-clicking the filename. The setup wizard will launch. Follow the instructions on the screen to install the program.
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Run Active@ KillDisk for Windows from the programs menu. The application will scan for drives in the computer. Look for the drive you want to wipe on the list of devices. Be careful not to make a mistake and wipe the wrong drive, as your data cannot be recovered. You can preview the drive using the Data Viewer option on the toolbar. Select the drive to be wiped. Follow the instructions on the screen to erase the data.
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Tips & Warnings
There are commercial services that can take care of recycling your computer professionally. A good computer recycling service will make sure your data is irretrievable.
Be careful when unscrewing the case of a computer not to remove the screws supporting the heavy power supply; if you do it could then fall and smash other elements inside the computer's case.
The described methods will completely erase every single piece of information you have stored on your computer, including all your software, photographs and documents. Make sure that you have taken copies of any files you want to keep before you destroy the data, as it will be lost forever.
Do not wipe the drive on a shared computer unless everyone else who uses the computer is aware of what you're going to do and has backed up any data they wish to keep. You might destroy other users' important files.
If you plan to salvage the hard drive, do not physically destroy it by drilling holes through it. You will not be able to use that drive ever again.
References
Resources
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