How to dispose of dead MacBook with personal info on SSD

[Fishrrman]

Is the internal SSD on the one you have removable, or is it not?
Open it up, and see.

If it's removable, take the drive out, sell the rest for parts.

 

[kpluck]

Would you trust Apple to repair it with your data still on? This may not be practical to arrange, but maybe you could find someone willing to pay for the repair if you give them the MB after it is fixed and had a chance to wipe your information from the drive before giving it to them.

-kp

 

[mk313]

Is the internal SSD on the one you have removable, or is it not?
Open it up, and see.

If it's removable, take the drive out, sell the rest for parts.

That’s a great idea, thanks. I’ll give it a go.

 

[mk313]

Would you trust Apple to repair it with your data still on? This may not be practical to arrange, but maybe you could find someone willing to pay for the repair if you give them the MB after it is fixed and had a chance to wipe your information from the drive before giving it to them.

-kp

Thanks for the thought. I actually looked into having it repaired by apple and the cost was more than the computer was worth. But that is a great idea.

 

[QuietOC]

Is the internal SSD on the one you have removable, or is it not?
Open it up, and see.

If it's removable, take the drive out, sell the rest for parts.

I bought a inexpensive adapter that allows mounting those Apple drives in a standard M.2 slot. That allowed me to secure erase the drive and sell it.

 

[Fishrrman]

Quiet:
"I bought a inexpensive adapter that allows mounting those Apple drives in a standard M.2 slot. That allowed me to secure erase the drive and sell it."

Do you have a URL to "point the way" to what you bought?

 

[QuietOC]

Quiet:
"I bought a inexpensive adapter that allows mounting those Apple drives in a standard M.2 slot. That allowed me to secure erase the drive and sell it."

Do you have a URL to "point the way" to what you bought?

It is similar to this one: https://www.amazon.com/Express-M-Key-Apple-Macbook-Convert/dp/B017QXT8IS/

 

[cr2]

Glad I saw this! My question is not about Mac, but I have the same problem with my pre-Mac book Air Hewlett Packard windows machine. Bought my Mac in 2016 (I think) and promptly forgot all I ever knew about Windows. Now I have an HP sitting around with personal data on it. It does run with power plugged in, but the battery is bad and I have no intention of changing it. Was going to take it to a shop to have someone erase the hard drive but Covid has intervened. Other than a sledge hammer, what is a good way to clear it? (A sledge hammer is not out of the question.)

Can you install Linux and use the scrub, dd, etc.? (Man pages for scrub https://linux.die.net/man/1/scrub). Once you have installed any Unix, it should be easy. I think you can boot off an USB and run the command to save the trouble of installing. You may have a similar solution on Windows.

 

[NoBoMac]

I think you can boot off an USB and run the command to save the trouble of installing.

Probably. Back in the day, I used Darik Boot and Nuke to wipe Windows drives and I believe it was a mini Linux install on bootable media.

If one has the appropriate connectors (like this) and the drive is removable, MacOS Disk Utility erase will work as well. I've done that with some HDDs from dead PCs.

 

[bradl]

I'm not opposed to FileVault & will likely use it on my next computer, but from everything I read, it creates quite a slowdown on machines without the T2 chip. Since the MacBooks don't have it, I opted not to use it.

FileVault not available on MacBooks? That definitely is not true. I’ve had FileVault on my mid-2011 13” MBA, from at least Mountain Lion up to High Sierra, and have run that without any problems; slowdown or otherwise. And this is on a 1.7GHz Core i5.

Using that and encrypting your disk helps tremendously. Additionally if you’re wanting to dispose of the data on it, instead of trashing the disk, if possible simply pull it, store it, and recycle the Mac. That way you’re not only keeping your data, you’re in physical possession of it.

BL.

 

[nathan_reilly]

I recommend using an electric drill instead of a sledge hammer. There's usually less debris flying around, and it's a common tool, so many people already have one. I would avoid breathing any of the dust, so do the drilling outdoors and wearing a mask.

On a platter drive, make sure to drill several holes entirely through all platters.

On an SSD, drill a hole through every chip of significant size. Use a 1/4" bit, and aim for the middle of the chip.

the dust in your lungs = much worse than some "flying" debris. Put a towel over it if you don't want it to fly before you hit it.

Also, doing the drilling outdoors does not make the dust go away. If you smash it and keep the pieces (ziplock bag anybody?) you can put it back in the computer and send it away as e waste. The dust? good luck.

 

[jav6454]

Probably. Back in the day, I used Darik Boot and Nuke to wipe Windows drives and I believe it was a mini Linux install on bootable media.

If one has the appropriate connectors (like this) and the drive is removable, MacOS Disk Utility erase will work as well. I've done that with some HDDs from dead PCs.

I Nuked my drives.

 

[MrDerby01]

100% Acid bath. Problem solved.

 

[mk313]

FileVault not available on MacBooks? That definitely is not true. I’ve had FileVault on my mid-2011 13” MBA, from at least Mountain Lion up to High Sierra, and have run that without any problems; slowdown or otherwise. And this is on a 1.7GHz Core i5.

Using that and encrypting your disk helps tremendously. Additionally if you’re wanting to dispose of the data on it, instead of trashing the disk, if possible simply pull it, store it, and recycle the Mac. That way you’re not only keeping your data, you’re in physical possession of it.

BL.

I think you misread my post. FileVault is available on MacBooks, but the T2 chip is not.

 

[James_C]

I once worked for a company that specialised in secure disposal of company’s hard drives. The best way to render a spinning hard disk unreadable is to drill a few holes through the drive and platters. It’s what they used to do before disposing of the hard disk.

 

[GMShadow]

Is the internal SSD on the one you have removable, or is it not?
Open it up, and see.

If it's removable, take the drive out, sell the rest for parts.

12" MacBooks had the storage soldered to the board, it's not removable.