Member Avatar for sophie999

I have a Compaq Presario 2500 laptop and the hard drive has "died", taking with it all my data, photos etc.

I have been to a computer repair shop who charged me an arm and a leg to tell me they could not extract the data from the hard drive. I took it to PC World where I bought it from and they told me to buy a new one (this one is 23 months old and out of warranty).

I now have a new laptop and want to sell the Compaq for spares/repairs, but just to be on the safe side I want to take the hard drive out to make sure that any potential buyers never access my data.

How do I remove the hard drive?? People have told me it is a simple job to do. Is it really that easy or should I just use a sledge hammer and bin the laptop?

Any advice would be welcome.

thanks

  • 3 Contributors
  • 2 Replies
  • 111 Views
  • 1 Year Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by fieldsde

Dani AI

Generated

Brief, practical follow-ups for based on the thread: you have two realistic paths — try to recover the photos, or make sure nobody can ever read the drive before selling the machine. ’s point about replacement drives making the laptop more sellable is useful; ’s observation about model quirks is also worth keeping in mind if you or a tech decide to open the case. The choice comes down to data value vs cost and effort.

If the photos are important, stop powering the drive and seek a reputable recovery lab (costs can be several hundred pounds/dollars depending on damage). Do not attempt repeated DIY fixes if the drive is clicking, not spinning, or emitting unusual smells — that can make professional recovery harder. Ask any lab for a written quote and success-rate estimate before handing the drive over.

If recovery is not worth it, follow accepted sanitization guidance rather than relying on guesses. The NIST media-sanitization document lays out clear options (clear, purge, destroy) and is the right reference for deciding what method is appropriate: NIST SP 800-88 Rev. 1. For a non-working HDD, software wipes aren’t possible, and degaussing requires industrial equipment — physical destruction of the platters is the practical approach. If destroying at home, take safety precautions (eye protection, gloves) and use a method that makes the platters unreadable; otherwise, use a certified data-destruction or e-waste service.

Quick checklist

  • Decide: recover (professional lab) or render unreadable (sanitise/destroy).
  • If recovering: stop powering the drive; get quotes from reputable services.
  • If destroying: follow NIST guidance; use a recycler/service if unsure.
  • When selling the chassis: disclose that the drive has been removed and keep a record of sanitisation.

Recommended Answers

All 2 Replies

Member Avatar for nizzy1115

You can buy a new hard drive from ebay for pretty cheap for your laptop. To remove it/replace it, look on the under side and you should see 2 screws together near the edge holding a piece of plastic down. Unscrew these and push the plastic down a tad to unclick it and it will just slide out.

A quick search of ebay shows hard drives ranging from $40 +shipping to $120 plus shipping depending on the size you wish. You will probably get more out of the laptop by selling it working than broke, but that jsut my 2 cents. :)

Member Avatar for fieldsde

Actually there are probably 3 screws -- 2 near the front edge and a third hidden beneath a rubber plug.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.