Author Topic: Computer Donations (Read 556 times)

Chairboy · « **Reply #15 on:** May 11, 2004, 03:46:16 PM »

Of interest with DoD hard drives, even though you ran a high grade eraser on them, policy dictates that the drives be fed into a metal shredder. The thought it, "Sure, as far as we KNOW nobody can read this.... but... what if we don't know everything?"

The department of defense is like a roach motel for hard drives. They check in, but they don't check out....

Raubvogel · « **Reply #16 on:** May 11, 2004, 03:55:41 PM »

Yeah they have a huge degausser and shredder that they run all the drives through. I don't recommend that he do that if he wants to donate em

Maverick · « **Reply #17 on:** May 11, 2004, 11:47:51 PM »

Format the HD's more than once. Then look for a local school to donate them to. You can take a tax deduction and the school could use the hardware!

BlckMgk · « **Reply #18 on:** May 12, 2004, 12:04:58 AM »

Ok I think the problem I'm going to have now, is once I've formated I don't think I have all the software/drivers for all the computers... maybe have for 1 of them. 4 others I've got didley.. Going to have to search the net and put em on a cd or something. What should I do about Windows installation? Think it'll make much difference if I use my home version of WinXP? or put my old copy of Win98SE?

-BM

Chairboy · « **Reply #19 on:** May 12, 2004, 12:20:35 AM »

Legally, you can't install your copy of windows. Even if you're providing the original copy of Windows that came with the machines, Microsoft has somehow put into effect a bunch of laws surrounding transfer rights that can make them illegal.

Safest bet is to either give them to the schools formated and suggest they look into educational discounts for donated computers, or install a Linux distro that's set up to be a web browser and has StarOffice installed and such.