Hard Drive Removal

[bulldog]

We have an old desk top computer(at least 20+years old).We wish to dispose of it and are advised to remove the hard drive before disposal.
Can anybody give information as to where the hard drive may be?
It is a Packard Bell with a Compaq Deskpro tower.
Is it vital to remove the hard drive?
Please keep advise simple-computer novice.
bulldog

[bulldog]

Hard drive removal-not all printed please read extra for info.
Bulldog

[SlackAlice]

Highly recommended to remove and destroy, because it may well contain personal details.
They look like this
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://static.commentcamarche.net/en.kioskea.net/faq/images/0-Ts1aLezM-western-digital-raptor-10-2c000-rpm-80gb-sata-hard-drive-q0z-detail-s-.png&imgrefurl=http://en.kioskea.net/faq/2544-installing-windows-xp-on-a-sata-hard-drive&h=300&w=300&sz=100&tbnid=2jXIN2VvTtM4vM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=93&zoom=1&usg=__Qb0e2ZWRYxp0qPLVGDFRgmjLgiQ=&;docid=NtZ8HTsqmo3qbM&sa=X&ei=G2nAUah4xvk8-veA2A8&ved=0CGoQ9QEwCQ&dur=1979

Use a drill through the HDD casing to destroy the platters. You might be lucky and find you can use the drill without having to remove the HDD from the case.

[Buenchico]

The tower should be fairly easy to get into, simply by undoing a few screws. (I'm glad that you didn't say that it's a Dell computer; they can be a nightmare to open up!).

The hard drive is easy to spot. It's just a metal box with a ribbon cable and a power cable attached to it. There are two of them in the cradle in this picture:
http://everythingaboutideharddisk.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/everythingharddisk-post-2.jpg
(Getting a hard drive out is usually very simple. Just unplug the cables and remove the small screws which hold it in its cradle).

To destroy the hard drive, either bash it with a hammer or (as I do) prize the metal case open and empty a tube of superglue into it.

[WyeDyed]

http://az413224.vo.msecnd.net/img/39313/m_39313_1.jpg
Is it one like this?
If so, it's just a matter of removing the side panel (the left hand one as we look at the photo), there should be 2 screws at the rear. The panel should come off easily (you may need to pull it to the rear a little).
The Hard disk will be located at the front, on the end of a wide cable coming from the mother board.
Having retrieved it, bash the bejaysus out of it with a hammer.

[SlackAlice]

^^^^
'bejaysus' what a nice word, conveys exactly what it means ☺☺☺

[WyeDyed]

^^^
I think it's Irish but, as you say, it conveys so much ;0)

[bulldog]

Response to all.
Many,many thanks to all three.Followed all the advice.I shall now 'knock the bejaysus' out of it.Can now get rid.
Again thanks for advice.
Worth a drink.Cheers.
bulldog