Hard drive disposal

jj4091 said:
So my plan to buy another cheap PC and fit the hard drive into it might be a feasible option
Click to expand...
As it's an old XP machine, is the drive SATA or IDE - (connected with a small cable or a wide ribbon cable)?
And do you currently have a laptop? then you could use an external hard drive enclosure.
 
Diver Fred said:
extract the HDD. Buy a HDD 'Dock' (e.g. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335298431665?chn=ps&_ul=GB&_trkparms=ispr=1&amdata=enc:11w9mOHe2Qbu-wom4mBazxg59&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=335298431665&targetid=1647205088520&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9180720&poi=&campaignid=17206177401&mkgroupid=136851690655&rlsatarget=pla-1647205088520&abcId=9300866&merchantid=5332345944&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1frc-LsaQdCDsdw4qIuf9hTf&gclid=CjwKCAjwwr6wBhBcEiwAfMEQs_jR8vhWh8YA45Q9Kn8rR-VLPBtI0TtluUJ6SL8veAi0Sy4ML-4fQhoCV24QAvD_BwE)
That will secure the HDD into your possession and give you additional storage capacity. If you hadn't 'formatted the drive the old data would still be available to you.

Whilst you have the computer in pieces also remove the memory 'sticks' - they may fit your new computer or are saleable.
Click to expand...
Thanks but the only thing I have that I could transfer the data to is a MacBook Pro which I don't think will be compatible would it. I was thinking of getting something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276368724926?itmmeta=01HTPR3MA00J1KDF01SJWBM7X1&hash=item4058dc13be:g:rnYAAOSwGtRl6KKb&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAAwFB11rGVEzD+V6N3n0VKnMj2s+9dXRB1L6AcHVJtegRhxE4IBFsaB6sdk7PGeBdKxyHS8CUxP43/8izDeFRo6zKT7eNROBPXT15n2WlkvKyyll/kQqxtPQQamn5CraRvvI+7hDBPxKuqW7+czNyfzaLo/Fx6rlNq1ZlJPYAOSTIg8BLVsrTHCcWWL5a2vQaM0CARdsIJk1CBC4seg/Su50+3MkAI5L/ovckt87mbTlkJ545BYQLnO1/qvcDUrS7dBQ==|tkp:Bk9SR8rFjtjVYw
 
Last edited:
Just noticed that machine I linked to has an SSD so won't be able to fit my hard drive into it so I'll have to look for one with HDD instead
 
jj4091 said:
Just noticed that machine I linked to has an SSD so won't be able to fit my hard drive into it so I'll have to look for one with HDD instead
Click to expand...
SSD or HDD won't matter, what will matter is if you have IDE, or SATA! :)
 
RandomGrinch said:
SSD or HDD won't matter, what will matter is if you have IDE, or SATA! :)
Click to expand...
There are 2 slim flat plugs going into the hard drive but no ribbon cable. does the mean I need to get one with the same connections?
 
Last edited:
jj4091 said:
There are 2 slim flat plugs going into the hard drive but no SATA cable.
Click to expand...
It sounds like they look like...
1712309938258.png
If so, it's SATA and you're fine.
 
Yes that is how mine is. So a PC with SSD will have the same connections and can be swopped with my hdd, is that correct.
Thanks for your efforts
 
ETAF said:
i always remove the harddrives from devices and then use a sledge hammer and break them up , making sure the disc are broken as well
not yet dumped any phones or other devices that have data on

NOT sure of the risk, just something i have always done , as then 0% risk
The people at some dumps often recover items and put them in a shed to sell , and then maybe whoever buys may fix - just depends on the fault and if they can be bothered - loads of people tinker around withj electronics
Click to expand...

A friend of mine used to work for the Met as a data forensics officer. When he left the plod he started working for a Danish company. On day one, he was shown a shattered HDD platter that they were recovering data from.

He once told me that a HDD that had been left in a bucket of water could only be partially read by the likes of Mossad or the US military.
 
If you use a caddy, your Mac will be able to access the files. Offhand, I don't know what free Mac software exists but natively, the Mac OS should be able to read the drive.
 
opps said:
If you use a caddy, your Mac will be able to access the files. Offhand, I don't know what free Mac software exists but natively, the Mac OS should be able to read the drive.
Click to expand...
Thanks I'll look and see what apps are available so I could have an alternative
 
jj4091 said:
Thanks but the only thing I have that I could transfer the data to is a MacBook Pro which I don't think will be compatible would it. I was thinking of getting something like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276368724926?itmmeta=01HTPR3MA00J1KDF01SJWBM7X1&hash=item4058dc13be:g:rnYAAOSwGtRl6KKb&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAAwFB11rGVEzD+V6N3n0VKnMj2s+9dXRB1L6AcHVJtegRhxE4IBFsaB6sdk7PGeBdKxyHS8CUxP43/8izDeFRo6zKT7eNROBPXT15n2WlkvKyyll/kQqxtPQQamn5CraRvvI+7hDBPxKuqW7+czNyfzaLo/Fx6rlNq1ZlJPYAOSTIg8BLVsrTHCcWWL5a2vQaM0CARdsIJk1CBC4seg/Su50+3MkAI5L/ovckt87mbTlkJ545BYQLnO1/qvcDUrS7dBQ==|tkp:Bk9SR8rFjtjVYw
Click to expand...
A Mac will be able to 'Read' data from the drive - just won't be able to 'Write' to it.

Buy a Caddy/HDD Dock. The connection should (will) be USB. You may need to buy a USB-C to USB-B adaptor to connect the devices together.
 
RandomGrinch said:
As it's an old XP machine, is the drive SATA or IDE - (connected with a small cable or a wide ribbon cable)?
And do you currently have a laptop? then you could use an external hard drive enclosure.
Click to expand...
AS we agreed in a later post, the drive is SATA. I had it tested locally and the guy showed me that the XP operating system a lots of files were on the old HDD. So I have bought a caddy and turned it into an external hard drive but when I connect it to my MacBook Pro it does not see it. I read on the internet that it is probably because it is not formatted to be compatible with the MacBook (ex-fat, fat32, rtfs or something like that). Is it possible to reformat it without destroying/corrupting all the files etc. that are on it. Thanks. By the way I have another external hard drive that is more recent and works perfectly when plugged into the MacBook
 
I take mine apart harvesting all kind of useful screws and then end up with the actual silver disk which is mirror like and looks good dangling in a tree catching the light or fixed to your fence or you can stand on it and spin on some slabs or whack with a hammer.
 
Diver Fred said:
A Mac will be able to 'Read' data from the drive - just won't be able to 'Write' to it.

Buy a Caddy/HDD Dock. The connection should (will) be USB. You may need to buy a USB-C to USB-B adaptor to connect the devices together.
Click to expand...
So I have bought a caddy and turned it into an external hard drive but when I connect it to my MacBook Pro it does not see it. I read on the internet that it is probably because it is not formatted to be compatible with the MacBook (ex-fat, fat32, rtfs or something like that). Is it possible to reformat it without destroying/corrupting all the files etc. that are on it. Thanks. By the way I have another external hard drive that is more recent and works perfectly when plugged into the MacBook
 
Reformating would damage any data present. Do not do that if you want to try to recover anything.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top