How to destroy / disable old hard drives ?

[fasteddie]

There was a recycling for old TVs , Computers , Printers , Monitors , etc a week ago . I pulled 3 hard drives out of a couple of desk top computers because I didn't know if I had banking information or other personal info on them . So , do I just smash them or what so that they are totally worthless ?  Any suggestions ? 

[DirtTime]

Battery acid maybe? Pretty dangerous I would think.

 

The few I have recycled I did the same as you eddie. I just beat the drives to a pulp.

[Elmo]

Surest way is with a degauser which costs thousands of dollars. Sends an electro-magnetic charge through it and destroys everything. Less expensive is a software that'll write gibberish over everything. The cheapest way is to set them up 100 yards down range and put several rounds through them with something 30 caliber or higher and hope that you're not important enough for people to send an entire team of forensic experts to scavenge what little is left.

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[Red]

toss it in.a swimming pool for a while then set it on fire

Edited March 4, 2016 by Red

[shawnhu]

Surest way is with a degauser which costs thousands of dollars. Sends an electro-magnetic charge through it and destroys everything. Less expensive is a software that'll write gibberish over everything. The cheapest way is to set them up 100 yards down range and put several rounds through them with something 30 caliber or higher and hope that you're not important enough for people to send an entire team of forensic experts to scavenge what little is left.

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Didn't know we had some high profile folks on here to worry about that type of sensitive data.

Would a .30 cal rifle round penetrate the shell in one hit? Good experiment.

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[jjb4900]

shotgun blast at 10 yards should do it.....

Edited March 4, 2016 by jjb4900

[ELMER J. FUDD]

Magnet.

[shawnhu]

shotgun blast at 10 yards should do it.....

Slug or buck shot?

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[EspressoBuzz]

I've always used a hammer works fine no need to go crazy unless the gov't is out to get you.

[shawnhu]

I've always used a hammer works fine no need to go crazy unless the gov't is out to get you.

Or are they?

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[Marion]

Didn't know we had some high profile folks on here to worry about that type of sensitive data.

Would a .30 cal rifle round penetrate the shell in one hit? Good experiment.

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my weatherby surely would. Probably pass through all 3 and keep going

You Can't Beat My Meat!

[jjb4900]

Slug or buck shot?

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either should do it, what are they made out of anyway?

[shawnhu]

either should do it, what are they made out of anyway?

Magnetic discs.

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[jjb4900]

https://snapguide.com/guides/destroy-a-hard-drive/

[shawnhu]

either should do it, what are they made out of anyway?

We should test it out. I don't think it'll get to the third drive.

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[shawnhu]

https://snapguide.com/guides/destroy-a-hard-drive/

Really weird this Maxtor only has one platter, and it's not protected. The ones I've opened(mainly Seagate and WD) has glass protection and multiple platters.

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[kpkot]

Tannerite

[HuntOrBeHunted]

Good ol fire and a 30 pack. Can't go wrong either way.

[diplomat019]

Target practice!!!

[philoshop]

I run 'em through the chipper/shredder, just like I do with nosy bureaucrats. :-)

[grampy]

In killing a hard drive, what would be the best bullet choice? Solid, bonded or bullistic tip?

[fasteddie]

I am surprised how heavy the hard drives are for their size . Maybe when my stomach heals from my operation I can give the sledge hammer a workout . I just didn't trust any company that would recycle computers to have any hard drives . 

[Elmo]

They're heavy because they're packed pretty tight. I'm surprised Espresso had luck with the hammer. I tried with a ball bean hammer and it was like smacking a phone booth. Made small dents on the outside only but more damage to the concrete floor under it. Maybe a sledgehammer would work better.

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[BizCT]

Ive always wondered this too, i have a few old laptops i never threw out for these reasons.

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[Elmo]

Ive always wondered this too, i have a few old laptops i never threw out for these reasons.

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Laptop hard drives are tiny and flimsy.  You can beat the crap out of those with a hammer easily.