Dear Computer Lady,
First a big thank you for all that I’ve learned from your letter.
Now, I am having to get rid of a lap top computer. The screen is no longer good.
My question is, is there a hard drive on a lap top that can be removed before you dispose of it? I am concerned about security and have learned from somewhere YOU? that you should remove the hard drive from a computer before disposing of it for security reasons.
I would appreciate your comments.
Gwendoline
Dear Gwendoline,
Yes, there is a hard drive on your laptop computer that you can either erase, or remove before you dispose of the laptop.
Most laptops have fairly easy access to the hard drive, just remove one of the small access panels on the back of the laptop and remove the hard drive. It is just about the size of a deck of cards.
Occasionally, I come across a laptop where the hard drive is not easy to access, so if you can’t easily find it, google the model of your laptop and you can usually find directions for how to access the hard drive.
If you have any problems, I can either erase, or remove, or even save your files that are on the drive for you, just give me a call to set up an appointment (if you live in the area)
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth Boston is a Web designer, Social Media Consultant and managing editor of, “Ask The Computer Lady”.
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Gwendoline’s laptop with the failed display is a candidate for many other uses that she could consider before scrapping it. Not being a computer expert, the most elementary use I can think of is to merely attach another display and use the laptop as a desktop. I am sure you and others more conversant with computer can conjure up other usages, e.g., server, DVR?
Just run DBAN, Darik’s Boot and Nuke, It will overwrite everything to military grade so it is not recoverable.
(https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CC4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dban.org%2F&ei=rd4QUtb3D4nmyQH1pYHwAQ&usg=AFQjCNGQVn59SRGInFm2phhrg1K8FGejhA&sig2=FyQhgSTGpjQBaxkguDY23Q&bvm=bv.50768961,d.aWc)
Some laptops have a VGA output that can be connected to a monitor. If there are no other problems, you still have a working laptop. Chas