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Dead HDD. Recyclable?

S

Swede88

Lurker
Joined
Nov 30, 2003
Messages
677
Just want to know if I can recycle my dead HDD instead of throwing it in the trash?

Thanks
 
Open it and take out the magnet. They are powerfull enough hold a 10-15 page paper onto a fridge.
 
Magnet ? I opened a few HDD before but i never saw a big magnet inside and it would be pointless to have one.

For recycling, try to remove the parts like the circuit board, the platters (it is not really steel but some special material like glass and such) and some of the mechanics. Put all the metal parts in the recycle bin and trash the rest.

You can also give it to a place which specialize in recycling computers and computer parts. They will pay by weight so you get some money too.
 
The magnet moves the head around, so it is underneath the base of the head mechanism. And it is really, really, strong, and fun to play with.
 
Ah, i'll open another one when i get back home and check the magnet. It might be because the parts from very old disks (500 Mb or less) has no big magnet inside. If it is strong indeed, i'll scavenge a few from the pack of dead HD at work to be used as fridge magnets :D
 
The old ones had bigger magnets, if the 380MB disk I opened is any indication. They are pretty dang strong indeed. Watch your fingers.

I have a pile of 7 27GB WD hdd's that died, thinking about taking those apart. Or maybe WD would trade for one raptor :rolleyes: I wish.
 
I called the company who picks up my trash and recycling and they gave me the phone # of a company that recycles computer hardware. But I'm gonna fish for that magnet first :D
 
as mentioned salvage the rare earth magnet(s)
then pull the platter and circuit board
if you strip it to the case, its often aluminum, recycle or even sell it as scrap
use the platter as a cool coaster
but beware of the magnets, they are strong enough to painfully pinch skin

http://www.dansdata.com/magnets.htm#ggviewer-offsite-nav-12464416
http://www.dansdata.com/magnets2.htm#ggviewer-offsite-nav-12464416

get the circuit board to the recycler
as it most likely contains several toxic heavy metals
 
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what are the magnets? the curved parts?

i took those apart a long time ago and they are just "decoration" right now
 
ok fine.. .look what you made me do....

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it is strong, but not quite finger pinching strong..

btw that came from a WD 1.2 gig.. the black drive is a 40 gig maxtor.. the ones on the maxtor are smaller.. but there are 2.. so i bet it is twice the fun.. maybe i will pull them out..
 
scottatwittenberg said:
it is strong, but not quite finger pinching strong..
Click to expand...

LOL
you only have one of em :p
two of em will snap together fast enough and hard enough to easily give a blood blister to the unwary ;)
 
Thanks for clearing out this magnet question i have :D

Time for me to go back to my box of dead drives and scavenge the magnets... Need a few for my fridge to hold the damn heavy things.
 
I use the magnents to keep all my extra screws. Its really handy and easy to keep in place.
 
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