PC hardware: Donating hard drives, how do I get rid of all my personal data?

Donating hard drives---Don't do it.

In reply to: Donating hard drives, how do I get rid of all my personal data? by Lee Koo (ADMIN) 

Kathy,
I buy a new computer every 2-3 years. I donate my old computer to a Catholic elementary school pricipal with the understanding that he/she will pass it on to a worthy student. I then deduct my donation as a tax deduction. You cannot deduct if if you give it directly to another person, but you can if you give it to a non-profit. I DO NOT leave my hard drive in the donated PC. HD's are really cheap so I purchase a relatively small capacity HD either new or from a local PC repair store and install it in the PC to be donated. I transfer the OS since new PC's all come with a new OS. I install a freeware office suite and freeware anti-virus program before giving it up. I KEEP my old hard drive and install it as a slave in my new desktop PC. If you have a notebook PC, buy an external case for the old HD so you can connect it to your new notebook. This way you don't have to worry about letting confidential data get away and you have the old files should you ever need them. Cost of a small HD is under $15. Cost of a external case is under $15 if you order one from TigerDirect.com or Cyberguys.com.