hard drive destruction

[the86d]

If they function and don't tick:
Boot to a Linux distro (Slackware install CD1, or DVD are some of the quickest booting).

From the cli do a "fdisk -l|more"

Note the /dev/*'s(, check drive sizes if you have a USB drives plugged in for verification if you get multiple results).

If /dev/sda, then:
"dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda BS=1M"

You can even wipe many at a time if needed.
"dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda BS=1M &"
"dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb BS=1M"

It doesn't take that long, and after the data is overwritten, just give them away. No data that has been overwritten on magnetic media HDDs has ever been successfully recovered, EVER. DoD, or any other wipe is completely a waste of time...

This usually takes about 45minutes of wait time per, say 80GB-160GB HDDs on an IDE, or SATA (<3) bus...

[lazyworm]

Boot to a Linux distro (Slackware install CD1, or DVD are some of the quickest booting).

From the cli do a "fdisk -l|more"

Note the /dev/*'s(, check drive sizes if you have a USB drives plugged in for verification if you get multiple results).

If /dev/sda, then:
"dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda BS=1M"

It doesn't take that long, and after the data is overwritten, just give them away. No data that has been overwritten on magnetic media HDDs has ever been successfully recovered, EVER.

This is no good. There has been many studies that writing zeros still leave enough
magnetic signature for the determined to recover.

If you want to do it proper, use Boot and Nuke. http://www.dban.org/

[Baconator]

I shoot mine. Several times.

[the86d]

This is no good. There has been many studies that writing zeros still leave enough
magnetic signature for the determined to recover.

If you want to do it proper, use Boot and Nuke. http://www.dban.org/

Please post a link to a successful attempt, other than just theory.

Soooo, like I said:

No data that has been overwritten on magnetic media HDDs has ever been successfully recovered, EVER. DoD, or any other wipe is completely a waste of time...

"There is not even a proof of concept of this theory. It's a pipe dream. No commercial data recovery or forensics firms offer any services that can recover overwritten data." and "Yet there is not a single example of overwritten data having ever been recovered using the method described by Dr. Gutmann. " - one person states
Tinfoil_hat_paranoia:http://www.noah.org/wiki/Dd_-_Destro...l_hat_paranoia

[Exile Machine]

Saw this on TV so it must be true. Turns out you need a really big electromagnet. Be sure you don't have any ferrous metals on you.



Actually a drill will do it, but so will repeated applications of a 20lb sledge.

-Mark

[hcbr]

magnets and a drill with a bit that can go through the hard drive, quick and painless, and not that messy.

That or you can disassemble one, and just smash the crap out of it lol

[the86d]

magnets and a drill with a bit that can go through the hard drive, quick and painless, and not that messy.

That or you can disassemble one, and just smash the crap out of it lol

Many people do that, but if it ain't broke, just ZERO it...

Platters on most drives (that I have seen in the last few years of the magnetic variety, notebook, and desktop) are made of something like glass with a metallic coating. They shatter into little shards and can cut pretty easily, and get EVERYWHERE.

I wouldn't do any smashing, as it is a REAL pain to cleanup...

Most of the time you CAN pull a sealed (would-be) vent sticker (silver & concave) and tap a screwdriver that you don't care about in there, then tape it up when you know the platter is indeed broken (you can see inside). If I recall correctly, most of them I disassembled lately were a single platter. If the drive is functioning, why not just use it on another box that you give away after a zero (sell at a yard sale, on the cheap)?

[command_liner]

Charcoal Sandwich

Lay down a 50 lb bag of Kingsford.
Lay disk() on top.
Lay down a second bag of Kingsford on top.
Spray with lighter fluid. Light.
Come back next day.

Do this outside.

[Zartan]

00 Buck

[sugi942]

I like to take them apart for the magnets as well. My garage fridge has them stuck all over it.

[Tripper]

The best way to destroy hard drives is to cook them or torch them. Once the platters get hot enough any data that was recoverable is gone for good.

Don't bet on that

The hard drives from the space shuttle which burned to the earth were partially recovered

It does depend in how bad someone wants the data and how much they want to spend

[Mg911guy]

I JUST happen to have TWO seagate MFM type drives (before there was IDE there was MFM) Are those old enough? Imma take one apart and have a lookie.

MFM's that's some old drives,

[unusedusername]

Who are you trying to protect it from?

To defeat the average scammer who does not have access to a hardware lab (hardware lab = $500,000+), all you need to do is smash/break a few of the controller chips on the board that is on the bottom of the drive.

The tools to remove the platter and put them into another drive to make it readable after that are expensive. The critical part is the bearings on the bottom of the platter, it's REALLY hard to put those together by hand...

If you are trying to defeat someone with access to a hardware lab, then nothing short of complete shredding will do. Even a disk with a hole in it from a drill press, or a 9mm hole, can be "mostly" read if you have the correct ($$$$$) tools.

Personally, I just use a sledge on the controller board. My data isn't worth the amount of money data recovery costs.

[wisefire]

Car speaker or subs have magnets on the back you can use.

[AAShooter]