386 zenith noteflex needs HD wiped before recycling

[johngpt]

I found in our closet, my old zenith data systems noteflex laptop, which I'm sure has an old 386 processor. I've found that it's in 386 enhanced mode. The OS is 3.11 for workgroups. I believe I had purchased it around 1994 and had last used it in 1997.

I'd like to dispose of it appropriately. I'd like to wipe the hard drive prior to that. It hasn't any modem. It's only other drive is a 3.5 floppy. All the floppies for it have long gone. I haven't any old windows install discs or even the manual for it.

Might anyone have any idea about how I might wipe the HD?

I'm thinking of giving it to a local computer recycling outfit.

[andsome]

Plenty of information here.

[johngpt]

Plenty of information here.

'Ello 'Andsome, thanks for your reply. I'd already done googling. The problem is getting any of those methods of wiping into the machine. The noteflex is so old, the only drive other than the HD is the 3.5" floppy. It's pre-usb, pre-cd, pre-dvd, pre-modem. I've tried various of the companies email support as well as their FAQ, and haven't received any answers. It seems every single method of getting the wiping software into a machine is done either via download or CD/DVD. Software installation via 3.5" floppy appears to have gone by the wayside in about 1995, when win95 came on the scene. A couple years back, when cleaning up around the house, the original floppies which had come with the noteflex were binned, forgetting all about the machine which was in the back of a closet.

I'm wondering, is there a way for an inexperienced fellow, to download to a recent winbox, one of the methods mentioned in your post, and transfer that software onto 85 gazillion 3.5 floppies, to install on the noteflex?

[-pops-]

What do you intend that your "local computer recycling outfit" should do with this machine? It isn't old enough or rare enough to be of historical interest and certainly not of any use to be worth while refurbishing or salvaging for its components.

If there are things on the hard drive that you would rather people didn't see then remove the drive and apply appropriate sudden compressive forces with a hammer.

Otherwise, just dump it at your local authority recycling unit. It is extremely doubtful that you will be able to install a more modern Windows version on to the machine.