Disassembling an old Desktop PC-questions

[Mosbonian]

As part of my retirement fun, I am delving in to learning more about salvaging old computers/computer parts, to see if it is something I would like to do.
I am starting with one of my old desktops that I kept around for many years.... and old HP 6470 desktop.

But I have questions that I am sure many of the computer geeks can assist me with...so here goes:

1) It was pretty easy to disassemble save for one part....a storage drive that I swear must have been welded to the frame or front plastic casing. Any of you tech geeks know how that thing is installed?

2) I have read a couple of books, watched several vids on Youtube and I am still a bit confused about which parts of the PC could still have bits of data that I wouldn't want to get out there if I piece out the parts to computer guys who may buy them from me. It has a zip drive and an old CD player which I don't think would have any resident data on them...but what about things such as ribbon cords, RAM, etc that I have taken out? I know there is software supposedly that you can install that clears out the data, but this old PC wouldn't boot up anymore.

3) This also has 2 fan motors.....are those things useable anymore?

I realize asking these questions makes me the possible butt of many jokes...but would like some of you who might assist/educate me to weigh in if possible.

Thanks,

[Mephistopheles Janx]

1. need photos

2. the hard drive or any storage drives would be the only source of recoverable data

3. unlikely

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Mephistopheles Janx

1. need photos

2. the hard drive or any storage drives would be the only source of recoverable data

3. unlikely

Thanks.....so should I just trash the 2 fan motors?

Also....it sounds like the zip drive and CD player are probably not useful to anyone either?

[Fish]

HP 6470 is a laptop model. Are you sure that's the correct model number? You mentioned it being a desktop.

Pics would help. I can't imagine an unremovable storage device.

Just know that with the incredible leap in computer tech over the last decade, anything older than that is basically junk at this point. Old parts don't hold value like they used to.

[Mephistopheles Janx]

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

Thanks.....so should I just trash the 2 fan motors?

Also....it sounds like the zip drive and CD player are probably not useful to anyone either?

Correct... as pointed out by Fish, that whole rig may just go into the trash along with the fan motors. Can you double check the model number again because, as pointed out by Fish, that is only pulling up laptop specs.

[crayzkirk]

if you are worried about data being recovered, you can delete all of your files and then run the cypher program to write 1's, 0's and random data to the drive. Or, remove the drive and smash it with a hammer.

I will usually create a new admin account, delete the old account and then run the cypher program to wipe out the personal data.

I have several old Phenom II systems still running Win10; they work just fine however won't work with Win11 without a lot of jumping thru hoops to get it installed. Maybe I will install Linux on one and see what I think of that.

Most everything is not usable in a new system. Take it to a place like MRC recycling instead of just throwing it in the trash. If it's still usable, perhaps donate it.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Fish

HP 6470 is a laptop model. Are you sure that's the correct model number? You mentioned it being a desktop.

Pics would help. I can't imagine an unremovable storage device.

Just know that with the incredible leap in computer tech over the last decade, anything older than that is basically junk at this point. Old parts don't hold value like they used to.

6470z is definitely a desktop...I am not at home right now but will take a Pic when I get home.

Sounds like I should take this thing to the e-waste recycling center her in the county.

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by crayzkirk

if you are worried about data being recovered, you can delete all of your files and then run the cypher program to write 1's, 0's and random data to the drive. Or, remove the drive and smash it with a hammer.

I will usually create a new admin account, delete the old account and then run the cypher program to wipe out the personal data.

I have several old Phenom II systems still running Win10; they work just fine however won't work with Win11 without a lot of jumping thru hoops to get it installed. Maybe I will install Linux on one and see what I think of that.

Most everything is not usable in a new system. Take it to a place like MRC recycling instead of just throwing it in the trash. If it's still usable, perhaps donate it.

I could no longer get this thing to boot up...the Iomega zip drive and the CD-Rom drive show as being manufactured in 1998....this is a very old desktop that I just kept because I just didn't take the time to get rid of it. Also....just kept it out of curiosity with the intention of disassembling it in my free time.

I have been told that the frame/box might be something a recycling center might use.

[Mosbonian]

Thanks for the info....this is my first foray into tearing down old computers and probably the oldest one I will dig into.

I have one other computer that is less older I will be tearing down. I might reach back out when I do that.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Mosbonian

6470z is definitely a desktop...I am not at home right now but will take a Pic when I get home.

Sounds like I should take this thing to the e-waste recycling center her in the county.

Z series? Where the hell did that come from? LOL

I found it though.



Pentium 2 400Mhz
256MB RAM

Hoo boy.

Props for running Doom though...

[Mosbonian]

Originally Posted by Fish

Z series? Where the hell did that come from? LOL

I found it though.



Pentium 2 400Mhz
256MB RAM

Hoo boy.

Props for running Doom though...

My wife keeps everything....and I was trying to find the paperwork on when I bought that thing but I am guessing around 1999 or 2000. I got it for the Zip drive more than anything else. It served me well for about 4 years then I got a new one.

For some reason this one had sentiment attached to it so I never tore it down although I have since had others that I have either donated or destroyed.

My next task will be taking my son's last 2 gaming computers and figuring out what to do with them. One of them is only 2 years old....an Alienware gaming computer that just stopped working. I am guessing it still has value and may still work properly if I can figure out why it won't boot.

[Mosbonian]

Finally got this one disassembled completely....never saw so many small screws in my life now taking all the useless parts to the e-waste center and keeping the drives to drill holes in them before disposal at the same e-waste center.

Now on to the Alienware gaming computer....