Dh says we can't just throw it away because the private stuff on it can be stolen or something.

It's shot - the hard drive is just kaput.

Call your local recycling facility.

My dh would say you never throw them out - at least that's what I'm assuming from our collection of old computers. :hahaha:

Actually they are considered hazardous waste like paint, etc. Call your garbage disposal company and they'll tell you what to do.

Take out the hard-drive, open it, mess it up and recycle/toss it. Freecycle remaining computer for parts on Freecycle or pop in a new drive.

:ditto:

Take out the hard-drive, open it, mess it up and recycle/toss it. Freecycle remaining computer for parts on Freecycle or pop in a new drive.

I was thinking before, wonder if dropping the harddrive in water would work to destroy the info on it (after you take it out of and it has no power going to it of course lol)

Anyone know? Because I think we are due to throw an old one away.

DH and BIL have mentioned before that the only way to rid the hard drive of private/sensitive info would be a hammer. I think they even said fire would still leave something there, so if you're throwing out the whole computer, just keep the hard drive until you can smash it into teeny tiny bits. I'd even throw out only a few of those at a time, different garbage cans/bags or whatnot - that'd be my personal "failsafe" :)

We found a local recycling drive for them :)