So You Want to Destroy a Hard Drive - Comments Page 1

As part of closing a law office of a deceased colleague over a year ago I needed to destroy dozens of hard drives containing confidential client information. It was remarkably cheap to use a shredding service and even more remarkably satisfying to see and hear the complete destruction of the drives with no worry of bad guys capturing the sensitive information.

There was a free shredding event a couple months ago in my area. I could watch them put the hard drive in the shredder.

I've destroyed several hard drives by disassembling and then banging on the platters with a sledge hammer to dent them (I should probably be more thorough next time!). But before doing that: the platters are so smooth, they almost stick together! And the magnets are SO strong: be careful of your fingers! But fun to play with first!

If one can open up the disc container, you can remove the disc(s) and cut them up into small pieces, or take the disc out and scratch it up with some coarse grade sandpaper, making it forever unreadable.

Hey, Bob. You didn't mention using the hard drives for target practice...LOL.

I've thought of opening a hole that I could shoot in an eyedropper full of muriatic acid. I am sure that would well destroy the surface of the disks enough to make it all unrecoverable.
Maybe muriatic is something that the average bonehead ought not fool with. I've never seen report of how many folks get injured from using in their swimming pools.

"But no matter how many times you reformat, repartition, or overwrite every sector on a hard drive, it may still be possible to recover some data from it - if the drive's magnetic platters will spin."
As you point out later in the article, even platters that cannot spin can be read ---- if you have the right equipment and money.
for most people there is a quote that applies "You just aren't that interesting."
Scammers can get information faster and cheaper by phishing emails to snare the ignorant.

I've been told that an easy way to destroy a hard drive is to remove it from the computer, buy a bottle of Coca-Cola, pour it into bowl, then submerge the hard drive in it for 3 or 4 days.

I had 3 old drives to destroy -remved them from the cases and using them fr targets at te gun range - I amsure3/4 bullets through each rendered them useless and I got siome self satisfaction from the drill aand maybe even a better shot.

First I removed all visible plastic parts on the drive. Then I put the hard drive in the oven and ran the oven-clean function (500 degrees). When the cleaning was completed, to retain the heat as long as possible, I deliberately refrained from opening the oven door and went to bed. In the morning, all was cool and clean. I threw the hard drive out with my kitchen trash.

I had been concerned some inner part might burn and stink up the kitchen, but it didn't. I'm working under the assumption that the data was no longer attainable.

I normally take them apart; save the magnets and bearings and then hangup the platters about the garage! I have no idea why...🤨

I've always found 'Mafia Disk Doctor' works wonders.

Most folks would be amazed at how tough the case is on a hard-drive. I've found that even at short distance (call it

A deer caliber, followed by a couple of rounds of bird shot (call it #7) on the bare platters, and finish off with a few rounds of .22LR. The disk is basically unreadable at this point. It can always go into a camp-fire for that special 'fire finish' -- then they (the platters) can be mounted and displayed in the living room.

I was trashing a computer and took it all apart. I found that the MAGNETS were extremely powerful and they are on my fridge now to hold my notes. Really, they are quite powerful!

I’ve never found a high school student who could resist taking out the hard drives with a sledgehammer.

Take the hard drive apart, and disassemble the disks. Then take the disks outside and drop them individually on the sidewalk, place one disk under your shoe and slide it back and forth on the sidewalk or other concrete surface. Flip the disk over and repeat the process. It is enjoyable and not terribly dangerous if you only slide one foot at a time. When you are finished, place the disks in the trash.

I'm an advocate of brute force with my 2 lb hammer. That should be sufficient for the average residential computer. It also allows me to get some much needed exercise. If there are any flat unbroken surfaces left after I'm done then more power to those that can retrieve that info.

I have to admit, I like the guy that suggested a target. I'll have to keep that in my mind next time around. The tree shredder idea was good to.

Did anybody else spend ages watching videos of shredders?

There is something hypnotic about all that relentless, implacable power steadily and inexorably reducing our complex artifacts to small, almost uniform bits.

I'd like to watch one in reverse!

I open the drive and remove the platters. Next I use the magnets from a destroyed hard drive to rub over the surface of both sides Once this is done I rub the platters on a concrete surface to scratch them thoroughly. Next I take the platters and bend them over twice and smash them mostly flat into a quarter pie shape. Now I wait and toss the remains into the garbage truck and never let them sit in a garbage can. Let some one go into several tons of garbage to get that out?

I have been drilling a half dozen 1/4 inch holes with my drill press and pounding them with a 2# hammer. Satisfying.
I think now I will drill a few more.

Has any one tried to soak the hard drive in a very, very, very salt water for days?? Will this method work? Your comments please.