Jim in Seattle's post about turning your old PC into a TiVo or a DVR got me thinking about what other uses do old computers have that people have come up with (other than "computer art" or "recycling them") so here's an article that talks about it

The Ultimate List of Uses for Old Computers | geekyprojects.com

I have an old tower PC (3 GHZ P4) running linux for HD backup. Works pretty well and helped me learn how to use Linux.

I have 2 laptops and 2 towers stacked up in the closet of my bedroom right now. Haven't had time to check into recycling or using as a Linux box. Do any of you actually throw away hard drives? I've been wondering what to do about my leftover HDs since most of them used to contain my banking information which I have since deleted but I know there are ways that people can still pull that information back up.

Originally Posted by CptlA

I've been wondering what to do about my leftover HDs since most of them used to contain my banking information which I have since deleted but I know there are ways that people can still pull that information back up.

Two words of advice: "physical destruction." Rendering the recordable surfaces useless is the only sure-fire way to make the data irretrievable. First, remove the screws (or, on older drives, drill out the rivets) securing both covers to the frame. The recordable surfaces are the reflective silver discs under the top and bottom covers; scratch both of them deeply, from center to edge, about a dozen times each -- any screwdriver will do the trick -- and you're done.

Originally Posted by Trip

CptlA:

I would write zeroes to the drive (there's software for this), then take a ball-pean hammer to it. That's what we did when I worked for the computer shop at the public school system.

- Trip

Originally Posted by Don_M

Two words of advice: "physical destruction." Rendering the recordable surfaces useless is the only sure-fire way to make the data irretrievable. First, remove the screws (or, on older drives, drill out the rivets) securing both covers to the frame. The recordable surfaces are the reflective silver discs under the top and bottom covers; scratch both of them deeply, from center to edge, about a dozen times each -- any screwdriver will do the trick -- and you're done.

Thank you both for your answers. That's what I was afraid of. It's sad that this must be done. Why hasn't anyone come up with a way to destroy data??

Well, humans have been making locks for a few centuries now, but the one capable of defeating every determined burglar hasn't been invented yet. The principal is the same with hard drives: If someone really wants that data, they can get it if the platters haven't been destroyed.

Trip's ball-peen hammer method is superior if you also happen to have some frustrations you'd like to work out

[QUOTE=CptlA;59909]Do any of you actually throw away hard drives? QUOTE]

I mount 'retired' hard drives in my bench vise, take a ball peen hammer and a chisel and knock the heads off of the cover plate screws and remove the cover. They use peculiar heads and I don't have an appropriate tool or the time to remove them as if I intended to reinstall them. Then, I stick a large screwdriver between the discs and bend the heck out of them and complete the job with the liberal use of the above mentioned hammer. Works for meeee!

Jim