Destroying hard drives

[malef!c]

Over the years of fixing peoples PCs I have collected a bucket of broken hard drives.

Want to get rid of them all now and instead of just throwing them on a skip and hoping for the best, what is the best way of destroying them.

The majority of them do not spin up but is there something I can do to make sure nothing can be taken off the platters?

The ones that do boot are getting a good overwriting but stumped on the ones that are really dead!

Cheers.

 

[Randomface74]

shotgun always wins

 

[MeatLoaf]

Hammer

 

[Cookeh]

Pick-axe for practicality

Shotgun for lulz

 

[BIGBC]

fire?
Could just take the cover off and hammer the insides in - not something you want to do if you have a lot to get through though.

 

[Schizo]

leave them in a field and nuke them from space.

*someone would have said that sooner or later*

 

[bigjimmyauk]

lol a the above comments, i use a 6 inch steal punch and a hamer and drive 8 holes in it.

 

[Cosimo]

Hammer

.... and after that I take them to the recycling centre.

 

[rpstewart]

Take them apart and salvage the magnets!

 

[Narziss]

http://www.blendtec.com/willitblend/

Could be an answer

 

[doggs]

leave them in a field and nuke them from space.

*someone would have said that sooner or later*

"...it's the only way to be sure".

 

[tipes]

Over the years of fixing peoples PCs I have collected a bucket of broken hard drives.

Want to get rid of them all now and instead of just throwing them on a skip and hoping for the best, what is the best way of destroying them.

The majority of them do not spin up but is there something I can do to make sure nothing can be taken off the platters?

The ones that do boot are getting a good overwriting but stumped on the ones that are really dead!

Cheers.

The only sure way as other posters have already said is to physically destroy the platters - the method is your choice from those suggested.

Mark

 

[Westyfield2]

Use DBAN on DoD 5220.22-M to erase the data as best you can.

Then it's a case of physically destroying the platters, as (in theory) DBAN has got rid of the data enough that no un-eraser / recovery programs will get it back but a microscope on the platters would be able to work it out still.
Best physical destruction method? Nuke it from orbit.

 

[shadowscotland]

as above - I use a hammer and chisel

 

[goodl]

nailgun thrrough the platter

 

[Mr_Sean]

Thermite should do the trick

http://www.instructables.com/community/Thermite_Destruction_of_Hard_Drive/

 

[ViperZS]

thermite would do you proud, although it is unlikely you will get any

just drill it.

lots

 

[el Kuarlos]

Sledge hammer.

Because it gives you an excuse to shout hammer time and smash stuff.

Apparently microwaving them sucks;

 

[malef!c]

Right then - fresh out of nukes and thermite, police get twitchy when shotguns are waved around where I live and no pick axe.

Think I will go for the hammer and holes time then....possibly followed by a bit of fire.
Forgot about the magnets and bearings in there, might salvage them for some unknown reason!

Now unless anyone has some thermite going spare, I have some hammering to do!

 

[el Kuarlos]

You can make it, buy al oxide or file down a bar (total ballache), and make rust with water and a scale electric set (bunch of nails in water with wires from the pos and neg terminals wrapped round them- dry out solution under grill.)