Destroying a Hard Drive

I have several HDs that I no longer use. I would like to destroy them so
that they can't be read. Comments?

W. eWatson wrote, On 4/10/2014 12:26 PM:
I have several HDs that I no longer use. I would like to destroy them so
that they can't be read. Comments?
There is probably a charitable recycle organization in your neighborhood
that will "military" scrub your drives and donate them to schools and/or
other places. If that scrubbing doesn't seem enough for your data, get a
crow bar for access and hit the platters (both sides) with a sharp
instrument all over.

Jeff Barnett

On Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:26:07 -0700, W. eWatson wrote:

I have several HDs that I no longer use. I would like to destroy them so
that they can't be read. Comments?

There are any number of drive wiping programs available.

I just wiped a bunch of HDs using these three programs:

CCleaner (it's probably the only part of that program that I use)
KillDisk
Hardwipe

All are free or have free versions. Some can be mounted on a bootable
thumb drive or CD so you can wipe C: (don't!).

I used several because I like to play. They vary a bit in their ease of
use (all are awkward!), the kind of ads, the methods used, and even (a
little) in speed, although all take roughly half the age of the Universe
to do the job.

IIRC, I didn't use Eraser or Complete Data Wipe, although I have
downloaded them. I forget why.

In modern drives a single-pass wipe is supposedly good enough, unless
you really *are* under surveillance by the NSA.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

On 4/10/2014 2:47 PM, Gene E. Bloch wrote:
On Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:26:07 -0700, W. eWatson wrote:

I have several HDs that I no longer use. I would like to destroy them so
that they can't be read. Comments?

There are any number of drive wiping programs available.

I just wiped a bunch of HDs using these three programs:

CCleaner (it's probably the only part of that program that I use)
KillDisk
Hardwipe

All are free or have free versions. Some can be mounted on a bootable
thumb drive or CD so you can wipe C: (don't!).

I used several because I like to play. They vary a bit in their ease of
use (all are awkward!), the kind of ads, the methods used, and even (a
little) in speed, although all take roughly half the age of the Universe
to do the job.

IIRC, I didn't use Eraser or Complete Data Wipe, although I have
downloaded them. I forget why.

In modern drives a single-pass wipe is supposedly good enough, unless
you really *are* under surveillance by the NSA.

A powerful electromagnet should do it but a large hammer might do as
well if you don't care to reuse the disc.

--
Jim Silverton (Potomac, MD)

Extraneous "not." in Reply To.

On Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:26:07 -0700, W. eWatson wrote:

I have several HDs that I no longer use. I would like to destroy them so
that they can't be read. Comments?

Get out the hammer - not kidding.

On 4/10/2014 12:13 PM, James Silverton wrote:
On 4/10/2014 2:47 PM, Gene E. Bloch wrote:
On Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:26:07 -0700, W. eWatson wrote:

I have several HDs that I no longer use. I would like to destroy them so
that they can't be read. Comments?

There are any number of drive wiping programs available.

I just wiped a bunch of HDs using these three programs:

CCleaner (it's probably the only part of that program that I use)
KillDisk
Hardwipe

All are free or have free versions. Some can be mounted on a bootable
thumb drive or CD so you can wipe C: (don't!).

I used several because I like to play. They vary a bit in their ease of
use (all are awkward!), the kind of ads, the methods used, and even (a
little) in speed, although all take roughly half the age of the Universe
to do the job.

IIRC, I didn't use Eraser or Complete Data Wipe, although I have
downloaded them. I forget why.

In modern drives a single-pass wipe is supposedly good enough, unless
you really *are* under surveillance by the NSA.

A powerful electromagnet should do it but a large hammer might do as
well if you don't care to reuse the disc.

I used my drill press on a few of them. Slow going. The metal strands
from the drill scatter a fair amount. I have about 10 HDs. I think I'll
try a propane torch next.

On Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:26:07 -0700, W. eWatson wrote:

I have several HDs that I no longer use. I would like to destroy them so
that they can't be read. Comments?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=yd_O7-rqcHc#t=6

--
s|b

On 4/10/2014 12:35 PM, ray carter wrote:
On Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:26:07 -0700, W. eWatson wrote:

I have several HDs that I no longer use. I would like to destroy them so
that they can't be read. Comments?

Get out the hammer - not kidding.

I just did it. Works well from what I see.

On 4/10/2014 1:05 PM, s|b wrote:
On Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:26:07 -0700, W. eWatson wrote:

I have several HDs that I no longer use. I would like to destroy them so
that they can't be read. Comments?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=yd_O7-rqcHc#t=6

Too bad I don't have one! I turned to my sledge hammer. Looks good.

....
In modern drives a single-pass wipe is supposedly good enough, unless
you really *are* under surveillance by the NSA.

A powerful electromagnet should do it but a large hammer might do as
well if you don't care to reuse the disc.

I used my drill press on a few of them. Slow going. The metal strands
from the drill scatter a fair amount. I have about 10 HDs. I think I'll
try a propane torch next.

I read that heat can produce toxic gasses, so I decided to try my sledge
hammer. It looks ike it finished the job.

In article , says...

I have several HDs that I no longer use. I would like to destroy them so
that they can't be read. Comments?

Reformat them and give them to some nerd friend will use them in some
old pc he likely has. That's what I do with ones given to me. Couldn't
care less what "was" on them, only if they work now. Chances of
retrieving old info goes down with disk usage.

OR ...

Buy some old cheap pc that came with a Vista sticker, install Vista
fresh install after formatting drives, network with other pcs (depending
on useage) and use the drives for network storage, a media server, ...
whatever.

OR ...

Take them apart and least salvage the magnets inside them. THEY ARE VERY
STRONG and make excellent fridge magnets etc. There's also a little
"magic" going on with them. To see what I mean place the two backing
plates against each other and compare to when you place the two face
plates together.

If lucky it's held together with screws but that's been awhile. Most now
are riveted so I just drive a hefty flat headed screw driver under the
thin metal surrounding the rivet and force it apart from there. Magnets
usually held on with screws.

You'll never put together one I take apart LOL

To be 100% certain it can't be read, steel wool the platter surfaces.

On Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:26:07 -0700, "W. eWatson"
wrote:

I have several HDs that I no longer use. I would like to destroy them so
that they can't be read. Comments?

If you own them, you can do what you like with them.


--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

On 4/10/2014 1:26 PM, W. eWatson wrote:
I have several HDs that I no longer use. I would like to destroy them
so that they can't be read. Comments?

After attending several seminars held by the head of a forensic data
recovery firm, and seeing all the examples of data successfully
recovered despite attempts to wipe it or destroy the drives, I can
only pass along the recommendation of that firm: if there's anything
on a device that you don't want anyone else accessing, physically
destroy the device. The more complete the destruction, the better.

"W. eWatson" wrote in message
...
I have several HDs that I no longer use. I would like to destroy them so
that they can't be read. Comments?

I use a big screwdriver and a hammer.


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On 4/10/14 2:07 PM, W. eWatson wrote:
On 4/10/2014 12:35 PM, ray carter wrote:
On Thu, 10 Apr 2014 11:26:07 -0700, W. eWatson wrote:

I have several HDs that I no longer use. I would like to destroy them so
that they can't be read. Comments?

Get out the hammer - not kidding.

I just did it. Works well from what I see.

:-( Sorry to hear this, I wish you'd donated the drive.

I used to collect and refurbish older hardware that no one wanted. Then
donate to a local charity that passed the equipment on to low income
single parent families that couldn't afford to buy a computer. Had to
give it up, no replacement hard drives and I can't afford to buy them
either.

Why everyone is so paranoid about data on their hard drives is beyond
me. Guess that's the way of the modern world. :-(


--
Ken
Mac OS X 10.8.5
Firefox 25.0
Thunderbird 24.3.0
"My brain is like lightning, a quick flash
and it's gone!"