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.

[ETL]

[pillut48]

I thought that’s what I was doing when I used that wizard thing to transfer the files to my external drive, but apparently I saved the files incorrectly, they are all .dat files and I can’t open them! :-(

[JRios1968]

But how are you going to get the 1.21 Gigawatts?

Why, I will ask 0bambi, of course.

[pillut48]

I think my flux capacitor has gone kaput, unfortunately!! :-(

Maybe if I locate some Islamic terrorists somewhere and buy some hot uranium from them, I can jury-rig something...

;-)

[Big_Monkey]

Yep. That's catastrophic. Probably either the actuator or the actuator arm. It needs to be dissembled and the platter removed. The platter is then placed in HD with operable mechanics and then the data is harvested. It takes some time and needs to be done in a fairly clean environment with some specialty tools. That's where the expense comes from. Again, sorry.

Remember, hard drives are MECHANICAL. Everything that is mechanical has a useful life - they will all eventually fail. Back up. Back up. Back up.

[Jeff Chandler]

I heard that certain kinds of disk failure involve the darned things seizing up and that Data Doctors will cool those particular drives down to increase tolerances long enough to retrieve data.

But I would price around professional recovery services first.

[JRios1968]

Whatever you do, don’t let your beeber get stuned.

[pillut48]

Thanks, FRiends for the advice! I appreciate it!

[patton]

I suggest Gaussian elimination.

[pillut48]

No, that would be hugh and series and I don’t think I have the energy to deal with the outcome after taking care of my infant twins alone during the week, plus all this crap from HolyO and congress—ack.

[smokingfrog]

A heavy dose of static electricity should do it.

[Darkwolf377]

Cover with cheese, put it between hamburger buns, place in a McDonald’s bag, leave it at Michael Moore’s door.

Will never be seen again. Plus, Mikey will get indigestion.

[pillut48]

But NEVER cross the streams!!
NEVER!!!!!

[Richard Kimball]

What the heck do you have on that hard drive, the "Sword of a Thousand Truths?"

[Darkwolf377]

Tell Rosie O’Donnell it’s a device that, if she sits on it, will make her into a female. Done!

[JRios1968]

Take it in the shower...

[Kurt Evans]

Wrap it up in some garbage, stick that in an empty food product carton, put that in the center of the kitchen trash bag, put the trash bag in the center of the other trash in the dumpster, and send it to the land fill.

And whatever you do, don't post about it on Free Republic.

The feds have probably already been there, copied the data in its entirety, and left everything exactly as it was when they arrived.

[pillut48]

Best...answer...so...far!!!

LOL.

Sounds like Augustus Gloop—just dip the thing in chocolate and viola! No more evidence! ;-)

[uptoolate]

I smell another commercial on Rush for Carbonite.

[Kurt Evans]

I’m still laughing at post #40 so hard I’m crying.