Destroying hard drive - without opening it

bryn · 17 Jan 2007 at 18:36

I recently had to destroy a HD which had failed as far as my ability to access it through my PC went, so I couldn't do any security wipes. However, having recently seen a TV prog about the skills of the boys from Lagos, I wanted to physically destroy it.

It was very hard to do, even using hammers, axes, chisels, vices etc. When I finally got to the platters I found them extremely rigid and hard to bend. I had naively thought they would be like the old 5-1/4 inch floppies - Doh!

--
Bryn

mishima · 17 Jan 2007 at 18:41

Do you mean physically? My old IBM deskstar ended with the notorious 'click of death'. Even though it wasn't accessible I didn't fancy anyone possibly being able to recover any of the data so I took an axe to it - was quite theraputic!

mishima · 17 Jan 2007 at 18:46

bryn said:
I recently had to destroy a HD which had failed as far as my ability to access it through my PC went, so I couldn't do any security wipes. However, having recently seen a TV prog about the skills of the boys from Lagos, I wanted to physically destroy it.

It was very hard to do, even using hammers, axes, chisels, vices etc. When I finally got to the platters I found them extremely rigid and hard to bend. I had naively thought they would be like the old 5-1/4 inch floppies - Doh!

--
Bryn

Yeah mine was pretty touch for a little thing. It completely shattered after about 3 or 4 blows though!

Jonny L · 17 Jan 2007 at 18:48

Old microwave + hdd = lots of fun

Kinitawawi · 17 Jan 2007 at 19:03

squiffy said:
Put a "Maxtor" sticker on it, it'll fail within 2 days.

Genius.

aaron_00 · 17 Jan 2007 at 19:15

Put a large neodymium magnet* on it for 30 seconds. :cool:

It will delete all data !

*Warning these magnets are strong and can trap your fingers causing injury. It will also erase credit cards and can permanently damage CRT screens.

Darkwave · 17 Jan 2007 at 19:23

Lolcb said:
Did something illegal.

Definitely.

Heaven Can Wait · 17 Jan 2007 at 19:24

get window washer?

Theres a format on that where you overwrite everything 35 times, qualifies with the 'Guttman' standards, whatever that is.
7 times is what the NSA (US national security agency) uses

"andy" · 17 Jan 2007 at 20:58

welding torch time just melt the platters into a blob of molten hard drive

although as mentioned the axe option is kinda theraputic

Hades · 17 Jan 2007 at 22:21

squiffy said:
Put a "Maxtor" sticker on it, it'll fail within 2 days.

Haha quality

JayMax · 18 Jan 2007 at 00:05

Lysander said:
I need to get rid of my old hard drive and the data on it as well. However, I don't have one of those special screwdriver thingies which has 'six points' on it which seems necessary to open it so I could mess with the platters and get rid of the data.

I'm not sure what your requirements are, but most HDD's have a sealed sticker on them that you can peel off and get access to the platters. Peel off, insert screwdriver or similar and crack the platters. I've done this many times.

Lysander said:
So what's the best way to destroy as much of the data as possible without opening the drive? Low-level format? Unconditional format? Immersing the drive in water?

If you just want a secure wipe then DBAN is so simple and free too. iirc Gutmann wipe or random seed prng is the best (DoD is not *that* secure comparatively). 10+ passes and unless you're Carlos the Jackal imo it would be fine.

If you need to destroy the drive fully, DBAN it then mash the platters.