How do I destroy the data on a crashed hard drive?

2-26-2009 | Me

[Paleo Conservative]

Last Friday morning when I got to the office, I found that my computer had the infamous Microsoft Blue Screen of Death. I tried rebooting, but the SCSI card got no response from my boot drive. This wasn't a huge problem, because I had already intended to upgrade my system drive and already had my data partitions copied to the new drive. After a little work I was able to restore a recent enough backup of my system drive to my new system drive and get the computer runing again.

My problem now is how do I destroy the data that still exists on the hard drive platters so they can't be read and recovered by anyone else even someone with access to a clean room who could fix the drive well enough to read any data that still exists on them. I've considered using my bulk eraser to erase the data that still exists and then using an electric drill to put holes in the platters.

[AlexW]

“how do I destroy the data that still exists on the hard drive platters”

I am sure you started this thread as a joke, but I am not sure why.
Well, it is a lazy day here on Cebu, so it is fun to read the replies :)

[SWAMPSNIPER]

I’d use a hugh magnet!

[pankot]

Hammer. Not only will it destroy the drive you will get some exercise and work off your hostilities (we all got those).

[snarks_when_bored]

HDD Regenerator has saved my pork rinds more than once...

[pillut48]

I doubt it, but I’ll have my husband check it out! Thanks!

[widdle_wabbit]

Would Pepsi work as well? I sure would not like to use one of my cokes, pepsi allright, CocaCola, not for harddrives,

[normanpubbie]

Paleo,

Since you got the BSOD, that means that the drive spins up OK but there's a problem in Windows system files. Your data files may very well be OK. Try connecting the old and new SCSI drives and boot up on the new drive. Then look at the old drive in My Computer or Windows Explorer. You will probably see the old files. If the drive is readable, do a Windows Scandisk. If Scandisk reports surface flaws you might as well pitch the drive as the drive surface can only get worse.

Be aware that when you delete a file in Windows, the file is still there; Windows has simply marked that space as available for a future file. That is why most antivirus programs have a "file shredder" function which removes all traces of a file or the whole partition.

[Proud_texan]

Will the drive spin up and do you have a network?

[Fresh Wind]

DESTRUCTION OF ABANDONED MATERIAL IN THE COMBAT ZONE

In case it should become necessary to prevent the capture of this equipment, and when ordered to do so, DESTROY IT SO THAT NO PART OF IT IS SALVAGEABLE, RECOGNIZABLE, OR USABLE BY THE ENEMY, BURN ALL PAPERS AND BOOKS.

MEANS:

1. Explosives, when provided
2. Hammers, axes, sledges, or whatever heavy objects are readily available.
3. Burning by means of incendiaries, such as gasoline, oil, paper, or wood.
4. Grenades and shots from available arms.
5. When possible, and time permits, bury all debris or dispose of it in streams or other bodies of water.

PROCEDURE:

1. Obliterate all identifying marks. Destroy nameplates and electrical circuit labels.
2. Demolish all panels, castings, switch and instrument boards.
3. Destroy all controls, switches, relays, connecting means and meters.
4. Rip out all wiring in electrical equipment. Smash gas, oil and water cooling systems in gas-engine generators, etc.
5. Smash every electrical or mechanical part whether rotating, moving, or fixed.
6. Break up all operating instruments, such as keys, phones, microphones, etc.
7. Destroy all classes of carrying cases, straps, containers, etc.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

That will destroy all of the data.

And the microwave oven.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Put the drive in a box and place the box in the back of your closet on a shelf and forget about it. There. Data is secure.

[AppyPappy]

Shoot the hell out of it

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

some of which may be the “star” kind.

They're called Torx screws, for the record. Sized by number; T1, T2, T3, etc.

[rabidralph]

Shoot it.

[Loyal Buckeye]

[Malsua]

Here’s how I do it.

You need a torx T-8

Open the lid and attach to computer power supply.

Watch the drive spin up and use a flat head screwdriver or nail or whatever and draw pretty pictures on the top platter. Very similar to using a lathe if you’ve done that. Take platter off flip over, re-attach...do the same for the other side. Rinse/repeat until all the platters feel like an old Vinyl record.

Thereafter you can bend and break them or burn them or whatever. Just tossing them in the trash after that is probably enough.

[Non-Sequitur]

A nine pound sledge hammer has always worked for me.

[Roses0508]

Sometimes the drive will “spin up” inside one of those USB external drive cases and you are able to recover at least some of the data. We do it at work for clients all the time. It almost always works - dependent upon how “crashed” the drive is.

If you purchase a case, be sure you get the correct one: SATA or IEDI.

[Oztrich Boy]

Big ladle of molten steel

If any part of the drive remains, it could lead to the building of Skynet and bring about Judgment Day.

[DrDaveIsFree]

Look at Protecting your computer from the NSA, but in the mean time if you want to destroy the data and the drive, open it and remove the disk platters. Take the platters and burn them with a propane torch. Another method is to use a bench or hand grinder and remove the coating on the disk platters. The 3rd method is to punch a hole in the drive and fill it Drano (wear gloves) and let it sit outside for a week. Disk cleaning software DOES NOT WORK, don't trust it. Smashing the drive does not work either, fragments of a disk drive can contain years of data. I would also worry more about what data you have already disclosed to big brother via Windows OS...