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Wipeing drives (zero-fill) takes forever on 1TB platter drives on USB 2.0...

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  • the86d
    Calguns Addict
    • Jul 2011
    • 9587

    Wipeing drives (zero-fill) takes forever on 1TB platter drives on USB 2.0...

    Got approved for a TX-Facility transfer, so I am wiping drives that have been sitting in the computer room... for eWaste.

    OMFlippingGolly... ... ...
  • #2
    Woodymyster
    Member
    • Jan 2009
    • 418

    They still allow us to drill the platter 3 times. Just a tad faster...
    southsac916
    When you are done with toys, get a Glock.
    AlbcAlbrr
    When you're done with the tupperware, get a Sig.

    Comment

    • #3
      mrkubota
      Senior Member
      • Oct 2005
      • 1372

      Comment

      • #4
        Dr Pete
        Senior Member
        • Oct 2009
        • 757

        Ever try a BIG magnetic chuck?

        Quick and painless, not quite as fun as punching a couple holes thou

        Comment

        • #5
          mrkubota
          Senior Member
          • Oct 2005
          • 1372

          we used to have big magnetic tape degausing tools to bulk erase data tapes. Don' t know if they'd work in a hard drive though...

          Comment

          • #6
            SnipTheDog
            Junior Member
            • Mar 2016
            • 58

            Originally posted by Woodymyster
            They still allow us to drill the platter 3 times. Just a tad faster...
            A metal bandsaw might be faster yet.

            Comment

            • #7
              dizzyblonde
              Member
              • Dec 2017
              • 128

              A degausser and drive destroyer press would be faster.

              Comment

              • #8
                the86d
                Calguns Addict
                • Jul 2011
                • 9587

                Most modern drive platters I have disassembled are glass-like, with a sprayed on rust coating. Just a punch is required to shatter.

                I am just running Slackware in VMware player, and I can just minimize it, and don't have to dedicate a computer to the wipes.

                Still going...
                Last edited by the86d; 09-04-2021, 6:29 AM.

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                • #9
                  Kyle1886
                  Veteran Member
                  • Dec 2009
                  • 3720

                  Since I get collect the magnets out of old drives I do the gorilla method---brute force destruction.

                  Yes, a bit slow but there is a little satisfaction of breaking something I don't need to fix and get something useful in return.

                  Kyle
                  Here's to Calguns.net, past, present, and the future 🍸🍸🍷🍻 🍹
                  iTrader = +3, %100, Location: N. San Diego Co
                  https://www.calguns.net/forum/market...6#post54001874
                  _________+__________

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    gwanghoops
                    Senior Member
                    • Feb 2012
                    • 1452

                    disassembly of mechanical devices is always fun

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      the86d
                      Calguns Addict
                      • Jul 2011
                      • 9587

                      What is weird is that the 1TB drive ("newer" drive) is pushing only 11.3MB/Sec, while an OLD beater 40GB 2.5" laptop drive (out of a single-core Gateway Laptop, I think it was) is chooching along at a sustained 20.1MB/Sec, and both are on the same model USB 2.0 "JMicron / JMicron USA USB to ATA/ATAPI bridge" devices, on the same powered USB 3.0 HUB...

                      I DID set the "dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sd..." block size of the 1TB drive to 4MB, and the 40GB to 1MB, but in my testing this usually doesn't matter much.

                      Because these are connected via USB I can't check the cache sizes, via CLI.
                      Last edited by the86d; 09-04-2021, 8:00 AM.

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        DaveInOroValley
                        CGN/CGSSA Contributor
                        CGN Contributor
                        • Jan 2010
                        • 8967

                        Drop in a smelter?
                        NRA Life Member

                        Vet since 1978

                        "Don't bother me with facts, Son. I've already made up my mind." -Foghorn Leghorn

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                        • #13
                          lordmorgul
                          CGN/CGSSA Contributor
                          • Jul 2016
                          • 1203

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Robotron2k84
                            Senior Member
                            • Sep 2017
                            • 2013

                            You are better using /dev/urandom than /dev/zero on such an opteration for two reasons:

                            1) /dev/urandom is only about 20% slower than /dev/zero on a 500 MB/s SSD, which would allow you to keep maximum speed in spinning rust, while offering pseudo-random data to write instead of simply zeros, because…

                            2) If you understand magnetic domain recording, you would know that writing a single value, once, over an entire drive allows the complete contents to be resurrected with relative ease. Either multiple passes, or random data are required to impact enough of the magnetic domain to push the average gauss values solidly into one bit or the other. Otherwise, the prior states can be determined, solely by statistical analysis.

                            Another win for SSDs: not only will zero-filling erase all contents permanently, but all I need is a hammer, once, to the logic board, for permanent destruction.

                            Your cheapest and best bet for destroying platter data is renting an industrial shredder.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Woodymyster
                              Member
                              • Jan 2009
                              • 418

                              I dont know the OP's situation, I was just referring to state and federal guidelines dictate how a hard drive is to be decommissioned. They still allow us to put three holes in the platter and deliver the carcass to the DLA at the Marine base in Yermo. You can degauss or do random info, but they have to be done a multiple cycles and take forever.

                              As far as using a bandsaw, no, three holes is the fastest as most HDs have voids, multiple metals, and different thicknesses that destroy bandsaw blades.

                              If I had to completely disassemble a HD, I've been able to in 3 minutes without destroying anything, just using torx drivers and a press for the press fit motor types. As far as punching or drilling, usually under 20 secs.
                              southsac916
                              When you are done with toys, get a Glock.
                              AlbcAlbrr
                              When you're done with the tupperware, get a Sig.

                              Comment

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