From TNPC issue #4.21...

Recycling PC Components and Paraphernalia: Part 2 (Recycle/Reuse Options for Whole, Functional PCs)

by Lee Hudspeth
October 18, 2001

This article focuses on how to responsibly recycle whole PCs. There are several different categories of functionality for whole, recyclable PCs. A PC that you're considering recycling could be obsolete (from your point of view, perhaps not so for others) or it could be marginally useful to you in a special role. Also, if you run a PC wholesale or retail operation then you might have an overstock situation. Note that in this and subsequent articles when I say "recyclable PC" I mean "a PC you don't want any more." Any PC, even your latest hotrod PC, is a candidate for recycling.

If the PC you want to recycle is fully functional then consider these options:

* keep it for a while

* sell it

* donate it to a charitable organization

* recycle (dispose of; scrap) it in an environmentally appropriate way

In any of the above cases--except if you continue using it, say, as a telecommunications server--you should completely sanitize its hard disk (more on this in a moment). Optionally you may want to go the extra mile and render the drive MS-DOS bootable after sanitizing it, as a courtesy to whomever the recipient may be. Even in a "keeping it for a while in storage" scenario, sanitize the drive since you might forget about it while it's in storage. When you stumble across it years later and it doesn't boot up due to some lack-of-use hardware failure, you won't have any worries about proprietary data sitting exposed--but not easily erasable-- on the belly-up PC's drive.

While it's true that you can scrap a fully functional, obsolete PC, I encourage you to try and keep it in service if at all possible. This way someone continues to extract value from it as an operating device, not just scrap metal or spare parts, and this minimizes inefficient, premature recycling.

If the PC is not fully functional then you'll need to make a judgment call. If the problems aren't too severe, you may be able to repair the PC yourself for just a few dollars. Even with severe problems, there may be a market for it in the used component channel. If you're fortunate to have a PC donation/recycling organization nearby, contact them and see if they accept dysfunctional PCs.

Here's how to sanitize a whole, recyclable PC. Folks, always sanitize a PC before you sell it or give it to someone else, even if you're giving it to a scrap heap!

Boot into Windows and manually clear the Recycle Bin, clear your browser caches, delete proprietary data, delete password files, uninstall programs, delete Registry keys containing sensitive or confidential information, and so on. Then run a Windows-based tool like Norton Utilities WipeInfo.
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/421/tr.cgi?lee1

Note that if you're working with a hard drive that is beginning to fail, since a deep government-level wipe operation may tax it, I recommend you take the precaution of first manually deleting everything you can so at least you get that far in the event the drive crashes during the wipe.

Although I have not yet personally evaluated any of these file/disk sanitizing tools, there are plenty of them. Go up to ZDNet Downloads and search on "erase".
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/421/tr.cgi?lee2

These tools that popped up repeatedly during my Internet searches:

* DiskSanitizer, FormatSecure 2001, and Eraser 2000
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/421/tr.cgi?lee3

* Disk Amnesia
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/421/tr.cgi?lee4

* Zdelete
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/421/tr.cgi?lee5

Alternately--and ideally for an older Windows 9x (or prior, including even MS-DOS-only) system--you have a copy of the now defunct but extremely cool Norton Utilities MS-DOS tool WIPEDISK. There's also a version called WIPEINFO that supports a "Wipe entire drive" option.) I have kept copies of my Norton Utilities v4.5 diskettes around for years, with the masters safely tucked away; in fact, these tools' timestamps date back to 1989! This tool scrubs the entire drive to U.S. Department of Defense specifications, and eradicates the system areas, so when you're done you'll have to format the drive for it to be usable again. That's exactly how well scrubbed you want your hard drive to be before it leaves your possession. You don't have to do any manual deletion from within Windows with this tool, just run it from "Restart in MS-DOS mode."

If you want to sell a whole, recyclable PC, you can always try your local newspaper and other printed media channels. Here is a list of Top10Links' current top ten (by popular vote) computer auction Web sites:
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/421/tr.cgi?lee6

Here's a listing of computer scrap companies in the U.S. (list maintained by "Share the Technology," a nonprofit corporation). You may be able to locate other similar firms in your region either through the yellow pages or by searching the Internet.
http://www.TheNakedPC.com/t/421/tr.cgi?lee7

In future articles I'll provide resources for donating and recycling (disposing of; scrapping) a whole PC.

I welcome your comments on recycling techno-trash.

You can reach Lee Hudspeth at:
mailto:LeeHudspeth@TheNakedPC.com

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