Author Topic: Computer Donations (Read 566 times)

BlckMgk · « **on:** May 10, 2004, 10:57:41 PM »

Well I decided to do some cleaning around the house and I found that I have quite a few old computers, monitors, keyboards etc.

So I figured I'd donate them somewhere but don't know where.

Secondly I'm worried about any information on the HD's is there a program that I can run to wipe them completly clean other than a format?

Any information would be helpful.

Thanks
BM

Sandman · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2004, 11:01:16 PM »

Hmmm... can you degauss a hard drive?

Octavius · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2004, 11:02:05 PM »

I'm accepting computer donations

but seriously, Goodwill might be a good choice. Be sure to get a receipt. You can always write them off for much more than their worth.

Octavius · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2004, 11:04:33 PM »

Degaussing might damage them. Just hold a really strong magnet over them for a few minutes

Overwriting all of the files on the HD several times *might* work. Depends on who you're donating them to though. I don't think the average joe knows how to navigate a wiped HD...

NUKE · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2004, 11:06:58 PM »

I think you can do a low level format and write all 1's and zero's to the drive.....If Im not mistaken, that will wipe out (overwrite) anything that was ever on the drive

I'd ask Skuzzy...he should know for sure.

Arlo · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2004, 11:12:35 PM »

I think I know a guy or two running some pretty antiquated systems on the Subsim forum. May direct them this way if ya don't mind.

Hawklore · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2004, 11:22:29 PM »

Hardrive magnets = danger while in pants and sitting down at metal desk, fun while playing with magnet of opposite pole, and helpful when looking for cap or any metal object in the grass or on the floor.

I miss my hard drive magnets..

BlckMgk · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2004, 11:45:59 PM »

yeah I know about writting 1's on all the bytes in the HD will overwrite and wipe the data.. but is there a program that will do it?

Otherwise I was thinking salvation army, or goodwill. We'll see.

Any other suggestions?

Roscoroo · « **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2004, 12:08:59 AM »

I take my old 486's 200-500 mhz and p-2s and i ussually give them away to friends and family members with young kids .

I keep the programming simple and load a pile of children games on them .

Dr seuss abc, blues clues, reader rabbit just to name a few .

my own son (who just turned 3 in january) already knows his abc's, numbers to 10 (he can read them and is starting to read the words ) along with being able to navigate thru all his games by himself .

its rewarding in its own way .

Im always taking hard drive contributions though, 2-6 even 10 gig is plenty for a young one .
I built 7 new pc's last year and gave away 3 , ive got one more to get together to give away to a needy young girl but im still shy a good hd. (ive got a 2 gig that rattles and a 129mb drive laying around basically junk)

Chairboy · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2004, 12:10:35 AM »

Sure, you got Norton SystemWorks? It has Norton Utilities, and NU has WipeInfo which will do exactly what you want. Not only that, but it can do it to military spec.

capt. apathy · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2004, 12:14:02 AM »

I think most hd manufacturers have a lowlevel format utility available at their site. I haven't used them myself but I've d/l'd a few for friends who's computers where down.

Tarmac · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2004, 12:33:43 AM »

An old but still applicable article from PCworld on donating:

http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,58266,00.asp

ed: and another: http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,18329,00.asp

gofaster · « **Reply #12 on:** May 11, 2004, 09:15:59 AM »

You'd be surprised to know that some air museum's don't have a flight simulator program running for guests because they don't have the funds to buy a computer for running simple flight sims.

If you have an old PC that runs, you might consider donating to a museum so they can run basic flight sims for entertainment/education.

Even an old copy of MSFS98 on a first-generation Pentium can keep a sim pilot happy for awhile when visiting a museum.

edit: Imagine 4 Pentium 1's LAN'd together running EF2000.... that'd be a real treasure in an air museum.

Defiance · « **Reply #13 on:** May 11, 2004, 12:59:09 PM »

Hiya's,
Try the HD Format Tool (not sure correct name) off IBM Site

I've used it on IBM/Fujitsu/WD/Maxtor hd's

And it has low level format/zero fill etc etc

Hope this helps

If it's not supported nomore email me and i can send it (floppy sized prog)

Raubvogel · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2004, 02:50:13 PM »

We use DiskEraser to wipe DoD drives before turning the computers in. I think you can dnload a trial copy of it for free.