computer question:removing hard drive

[airhead]

How difficult is it? Can I do this myself? Anyone know how?
I'm giving away my old Gateway2000 but I need to remove the hard drive first. Do I just unscrew the back and pull it out?

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

To physically do it, you remove the power cord and IDE or other cord from the back. Then unscrew it and it should slide out. Make sure you ground yourself first. Electronics and static shocks do not mix well together.

Do you plan on using it again? If so, be very careful when removing it. One good jolt and all the information could be lost. Trust me, this happened last Christmas and I was very not happy.

 

[airhead]

No,I'm going to throw it out,after I destroy it. Is it easy to find once the back is off?

 

[safetymom]

There will probably be some screws securing the hard drive to the frame of the case. You should be able to see it when you take the back off.

 

[Towncrier]

You could simply download a program that would completely wipe the contents of the hard drive and then give away the whole thing. Those programs are pretty easy to find and do a thorough job (if the hard drive still works).

 

[jfulcer]

You could simply download a program that would completely wipe the contents of the hard drive and then give away the whole thing. Those programs are pretty easy to find and do a thorough job (if the hard drive still works).

I agree with TownCrier. The compuer isn't much good to anyone that you would donate it to - most places don't have the staff or $$$ to do this. Do a Google Search to find a few free tools to do this.