How to destroy a hard drive?
How to destroy a hard drive?
Author
Discussion

Caruso

Original Poster:

7,551 posts

284 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
I've got 3 HP server hard disks that need to be disposed of, but because they have failed I can't perform the usual wiping process. So how to ensure they can't ever be read from again using only household or office materials?

I've started by immersing them in a bucket of salty water. Any other ideas?

hedgefinder

3,418 posts

198 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
Is your name Gary?

Gary Glitter?

mat13

1,977 posts

209 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
Fire, lots of fire, that should do it. Also it has the added benefit of making you feel like a real man.

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

226 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all

sunbeam alpine

7,242 posts

216 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
My system is:

Drill holes in the casing.

Leave in water (as you've already done).

Fish them out after a few months and dump in the trash.

Shaw Tarse

31,877 posts

231 months

HOGEPH

5,249 posts

214 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all

Munter

31,331 posts

269 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
Hammer a nail or 3 through them.

MacR8A5

116 posts

192 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
sunbeam alpine said:
My system is:

Drill holes in the casing.

Leave in water (as you've already done).

Fish them out after a few months and dump in the trash.
This

Wacky Racer

41,189 posts

275 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all

Simpo Two

92,575 posts

293 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all

danrc

2,808 posts

238 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
microwave them? make sure and video it!

Terminator X

20,335 posts

232 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
Friendly superhero?



TX.

AM04ARO

3,652 posts

243 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
Apparently degaussing is the way to go ( with a machine) or use Thermite as approved by the DoD.

Drilling through the disks works, would suggest three times on the drive itself.


Genelec

525 posts

175 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
Install Windows 7 on them?

bigandclever

14,326 posts

266 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
Send them recorded post to the DVLA, you'll never see the friggers again.

Caruso

Original Poster:

7,551 posts

284 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
The spindles have got 5 discs each on them, of pretty heavy metal. I want to make sure not just circuit boards are burnt, but the actual physical bits of metal that hold the data are trashed. It's a question of pride now so that I can prove visibly to our corporate governance people that there is no way to recover the data.

AM04ARO

3,652 posts

243 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
Caruso said:
The spindles have got 5 discs each on them, of pretty heavy metal. I want to make sure not just circuit boards are burnt, but the actual physical bits of metal that hold the data are trashed. It's a question of pride now so that I can prove visibly to our corporate governance people that there is no way to recover the data.
Joking aside some companies offer portable degaussing - check them out?

Caruso

Original Poster:

7,551 posts

284 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
AM04ARO said:
Joking aside some companies offer portable degaussing - check them out?
Budget = £0

AM04ARO

3,652 posts

243 months

Wednesday 5th September 2012
quotequote all
Caruso said:
Budget = £0
Give bosses this

http://www.ico.gov.uk/what_we_cover/taking_action/...

Get budget smile