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Since '76

macrumors member
Original poster
May 3, 2007
39
0
I was wounding if there is any data left on RAM chips after they are removed from a system and should they be wiped clean before reselling them (like a HD)?
 
i beleive all types of ram used in computers are volatile, meaning they need power to maintain data. so, to answer your question, yes, once they are unplugged from your computer all data is destroyed.
 
They're wrong.

A special compartment in all RAM chips stores your bank credit card numbers, your social number, and your birthdate.

To erase it, you need to open the second black module from the left (looking down on the stick of RAM). This can be done with a coin or a flat bladed screwdriver.

Once open, take out the little scroll of paper, and using an eraser, gently erase the information you want erased. Take care not to tear the paper or make any smudges that completely cross the paper. When you're done, re-roll the scroll and put it back, ready for the next person.

WARNING you MUST put it back. If you don't the RAM chip will work for several hours, then become useless, and the person who brought it off you will be highly pissed off.

Hope that clarifies things.

xx
 
They're wrong.

A special compartment in all RAM chips stores your bank credit card numbers, your social number, and your birthdate.

To erase it, you need to open the second black module from the left (looking down on the stick of RAM). This can be done with a coin or a flat bladed screwdriver.

Once open, take out the little scroll of paper, and using an eraser, gently erase the information you want erased. Take care not to tear the paper or make any smudges that completely cross the paper. When you're done, re-roll the scroll and put it back, ready for the next person.

WARNING you MUST put it back. If you don't the RAM chip will work for several hours, then become useless, and the person who brought it off you will be highly pissed off.

Hope that clarifies things.

xx

You are kidding right?
 
sorry, I was indeed sort-of kidding.

You should use a cross-blade screwdriver NOT a flat-blade screwdriver when opening your RAM. I expected everyone to catch me out on that one!

PS. don't forget your anti-static strap.
 
Actually there have been reports of remnance for RAM. But the thing is that the RAM state isn't generally persistent -- all kinds of things are routinely being written and removed from it over the course of its usage. So the likelihood of a recoverable block of sensitive information is much lower.

If you're really worried about it, I guess you could do something like run an innocuous but RAM intensive application for a few hours, perhaps converting video or something like that.
 
dont be stupid

leave the guy alone... No, all data on RAM is lost when power is no longer supplied to it... e.g. every time you remove power from your computer all data on the ram is erased... do not pay attention to these losers with nothing better to do with their time than to make up LAME things just to throw you off...
 
there are some clear ram-ifications to this thread. I'll be off line for a while, as soon as I can find a small, flat bladed screwdriver and my antistatic strap.
 
Yeah, thanks for all the crap advise, silly me for thinking some dork I sold my old ram too could reopen the last word doc I had in memory...
 
Why do you have to add the .... Can someone read my past data or not?

Sorry. There's a lot of tongue-in-cheek on the boards. You'll get used to it.

As far as anyone can demonstrate, RAM is volatile, meaning it loses ALL data once powered down. Data is not stored magnetically as in a hard drive, it's not persistent.

Meaning, simply and plainly, that you have nothing to fear.

Even if (and that's a really huge if) data WAS stored, as soon as it was powered in a new machine, it would have new data written to it immediately, rendering the question moot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAM

Realistically, though, most RAM is really not worth that much. If it is making you nervous, just break it in half and toss in the trash. End of problem.
 
Since '76 said:
your jack ass

I thought you were selling RAM - are you offering me your jack ass for sale now?

How much is it? I'm not sure if I'd be interested, but it depends on if it's the right price. My neighbour has a donkey in his backyard, so an ass might make a nice companion.

Cheers

-RedTomato
 
I thought you were selling RAM - are you offering me your jack ass for sale now?

How much is it? I'm not sure if I'd be interested, but it depends on if it's the right price. My neighbour has a donkey in his backyard, so an ass might make a nice companion.

Cheers

-RedTomato

Classic dude, just classic. :D
 
They're wrong.

A special compartment in all RAM chips stores your bank credit card numbers, your social number, and your birthdate.

To erase it, you need to open the second black module from the left (looking down on the stick of RAM). This can be done with a coin or a flat bladed screwdriver.

Once open, take out the little scroll of paper, and using an eraser, gently erase the information you want erased. Take care not to tear the paper or make any smudges that completely cross the paper. When you're done, re-roll the scroll and put it back, ready for the next person.

WARNING you MUST put it back. If you don't the RAM chip will work for several hours, then become useless, and the person who brought it off you will be highly pissed off.

Hope that clarifies things.

xx

One of the funniest answers ever. It almost made me spit my cola out of my mouth.
 
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