Destroy an Old Computer
Need to throw out a computer, but don't want someone to garbage pick it? It is not recommended to do this. Please check with your computer dealer - they may be willing to pay for it.
Steps
- Consider reviving an old PC with Linux
- Place the computer in your garage, or in another safe area.
- Get a 10lb. sledgehammer. If you can't carry a ten pound sledgehammer, then try a lighter one. Perhaps three or four pounds. Still can't lift it? Try asking a few of your friends. Most of your friends would love this DIY project.
- Set a towel on top of the monitor. This is to protect some pieces from flying everywhere and possibly wreaking havoc. Smash the monitor screen in with the hammer. Then, drop the hammer in to smash internal components.
- Use a screwdriver to pry off all the keys in the keyboard. Then smash the internal components in the keyboard.
- Pry the side off of the tower.
- Pour a glass of water into the open tower's internal parts. Then smash them with the hammer.
- Remove the hard drive, RAM, and disc drives. Dismantle them and burn/smash the parts.
- Set the mouse on the floor.
- Raise the sledgehammer above your head and smash it down on the mouse.
- Put all of the destroyed parts into a contractors' garbage bag.
Using DBAN
- Download Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN).[1]
- Put DBAN on to a floppy disk, CD, or flash drive (USB).
- Boot to the disc (possibly by pressing whatever button your BIOS asks you too). (Usually is F8, F10, F12, or sometimes F2)
- When DBAN has loaded, type in "Auto nuke" or "Quick".
- This will then destroy the information on the hard drive, with a DOD 5220-22.M passes 1, 2, and 7.
Tips
- You don't have to smash it up, you can always donate the old computer to charity. If the computer is reeking of acids and is defective, then dispose it at the city garbage as soon as possible.
- You can also Recycle-a-Computer the computer.
- You don't need to use a sledgehammer. You can use other methods of "destruction".
- Make sure you dispose of the hazardous parts appropriately.
- If a ten pound sledgehammer is too heavy, try a lighter size.
Warnings
- Be sure to protect your eyes with goggles!
- The high-voltage anode inside a CRT monitor holds an extremely high charge, even when the monitor is powered down and unplugged. NEVER mess around with the anode if you don't know what you're doing, or you will get electrocuted. If you know how to discharge the anode, do it before you take the sledgehammer to the monitor -- or bribe a technologically-inclined friend to do it for you.
- Be really careful when smashing the computer, you don't want any injuries!
- Make sure that you really don't want the computer before you smash it, this includes any parts that could be savaged and sold; be weary of selling something that may contain data you might not want out.
- CRT monitors implode when you break them, because they have vacuum tubes inside of them. Be careful!
- If you plan to resell it for parts or donate it, consider removing the hard drive to be sure no information is given away by accident.
Things You'll Need
- An old computer
- A sledgehammer or other tool to destroy the computer
- Some friends
