Has the hard drive been removed from this laptop?

Dxc712 · Post by **Dxc712** » Sun Dec 01, 2024 8:48 pm

Hello

I found a very old Asus laptop when doing a bit of tidying. I switched it on and a message came up saying that it needed to be repaired.

I thought I'd have a look at it myself and it looked as though the hard drive has been removed.

I know this is probably a very stupid question but has the hard drive been removed? I've attached some photos below.

It looks to me as though it has been removed but I just don't remember removing it although it would have been several years ago.

Thanks.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sun Dec 01, 2024 9:05 pm

It does look like a mini hard drive was mounted on the large grey plate in the 2nd picture, the black long connector looks like it is an IDE connector.

Although its not my laptop, I would be inclined to put it in the bin, as without its HD obviously it will not work, a new HD can be had for less than £20, you would then have to buy an operating system to load on it, and hope the processor can run it, yes it's sad, yes it's a waste but as you yourself said, it's old. You can get a brand new laptop for less than £150 Click me

Dxc712 · Post by **Dxc712** » Sun Dec 01, 2024 9:12 pm

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Sun Dec 01, 2024 9:05 pm It does look like a mini hard drive was mounted on the large grey plate in the 2nd picture, the black long connector looks like it is an IDE connector.

Although its not my laptop, I would be inclined to put it in the bin, as without its HD obviously it will not work, a new HD can be had for less than £20, you would then have to buy an operating system to load on it, and hope the processor can run it, yes it's sad, yes it's a waste but as you yourself said, it's old. You can get a brand new laptop for less than £150 [url=<span class="skimlinks-unlinked">https://amzn.to/3B7huGi</span>] Click me [/url]

Thank you. Is the hard drive definitely gone or could it still be there when looking at the first picture?

Dxc712 · Post by **Dxc712** » Sun Dec 01, 2024 9:15 pm

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Sun Dec 01, 2024 9:05 pm It does look like a mini hard drive was mounted on the large grey plate in the 2nd picture, the black long connector looks like it is an IDE connector.

Although its not my laptop, I would be inclined to put it in the bin.

Are there any security issues with putting it in the bin? For example, personal data, passwords etc could they still be accessed?

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sun Dec 01, 2024 10:37 pm

The hard drive is where all the information is stored, as your laptop has no hard drive, there is nowhere to store anything.

Dxc712 · Post by **Dxc712** » Sun Dec 01, 2024 10:44 pm

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Sun Dec 01, 2024 10:37 pm The hard drive is where all the information is stored, as your laptop has no hard drive, there is nowhere to store anything.

Thanks.

Has the hard drive definitely been removed or could it be somewhere else in the first attached photo from the original post?

Bob225 · Post by **Bob225** » Mon Dec 02, 2024 11:42 am

There is no hard drive or SSD in the caddy (silver part) it uses a 2.5" standard SATA drive - remove the caddy (4 screws) and see if it has a M.2 drive underneath

what model is it

if you are going to use it again, that heatsink/heatpipe and fan need a good clean and change the thermal paste on the processor

Bob225 · Post by **Bob225** » Mon Dec 02, 2024 12:00 pm

Ah its a Asus Zenbook

doh, I need to clean my glasses

Bottom right corner is your M.2 SSD

: 20241201_203930.jpg (153.62 KiB) Viewed 470 times

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Dec 02, 2024 12:43 pm

Being paranoid about personal data, I usually break up my old computers, phones, tablets, etc to destroy the hard drives and memories. Over the years this has changed from metallic hard drive discs to smaller glass-type disc drives but I was amazed at how small the SSD drives are.

DWD

Dxc712 · Post by **Dxc712** » Mon Dec 02, 2024 1:37 pm

Bob225 wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2024 12:00 pm Ah its a Asus Zenbook

doh, I need to clean my glasses

Bottom right corner is your M.2 SSD

20241201_203930.jpg

Thank you. I went into an IT store this morning and the guy in there said that the part you've pointed to is the hard drive.

I've put a red rectangle round it in the first attachment below.

I was expecting it to go there in the empty space in the top left of the first photo so I thought something had been taken out.

I was amazed at how small it is.

Is it sufficient to snap this in half to destroy the drive and the memory on the laptop or is there something else I should do?

Thanks.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Dec 02, 2024 2:02 pm

I used a hammer and a punch in the middle of the chips first and then thump them with a club hammer into small bits. I distribute the waste in different bin bags. As I said I am paranoid

DWD

Dxc712 · Post by **Dxc712** » Mon Dec 02, 2024 3:54 pm

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2024 2:02 pm I used a hammer and a punch in the middle of the chips first and then thump them with a club hammer into small bits. I distribute the waste in different bin bags. As I said I am paranoid

DWD

Thanks. I think you're doing the right thing.

Once the M.2 SSD has been removed and broken into small pieces, is there anything I should do with what's left (shown in the attached photo)?

Would this need to be smashed up?

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Dec 02, 2024 5:19 pm

I smash the RAM chips and the motherboards well but I accept this is a bit over the top.

DWD

Dxc712 · Post by **Dxc712** » Mon Dec 02, 2024 7:18 pm

dewaltdisney wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2024 5:19 pm I smash the RAM chips and the motherboards well but I accept this is a bit over the top.

DWD

Thanks.

Which bits are the RAM chips? Are they the little squares?

Bob225 · Post by **Bob225** » Mon Dec 02, 2024 8:33 pm

No need to do anything else to it, a hard drive or ssd is where all the data is stored - think of it as a filling cabinet and the ram as in and out trays that empties when you turn the computer off