Disposing of HDD

Sudden · 8 Dec 2019 at 14:06

I have a Samsung HDD which hasn't been functioning for a bit and just in the computer. Finally dug it out. Question is, how do I get rid of it? Just in the bin or...?

Not too concerned with the data on it - mostly, if not only, just copies of TV shows from years ago. Haven't got rid of HDDs before as I've just transferred them, or got rid of the computer as a whole, so not sure what to do above the norm.

Quartz · 8 Dec 2019 at 14:09

Sledgehammer just to be sure, then take it to the recycling place the next time you go there.

TangoEchoAlpha · 8 Dec 2019 at 16:20

Depends how paranoid you want to be/are. Run a data shredder tool on it with as many random passes as you can tolerate, then take the drive apart. Put on safety goggles and sledgehammer the platters etc, then take the various parts to different recycling centres on different dates.

Darik's boot and nuke is one such free tool - https://sourceforge.net/projects/dban/

Kei · 10 Dec 2019 at 08:13

Remove the platters and make coasters or a wind chime from them as they have a surprisingly nice ring to them and the mirror finish looks great. Far better to make use of some of it than smashing it to bits. Plus if you have the platters, you can’t worry about data security.

Put the rest in the WEE recycling.

edscdk · 10 Dec 2019 at 08:49

eat it

(personally id not remove the platters and touch them, god knowns what chemicals are on them)

safer to just eat them

alec · 10 Dec 2019 at 09:00

edscdk said:
(personally id not remove the platters and touch them, god knowns what chemicals are on them)

Iron. Its magnetic.
Spinning rust

Mel_P · 10 Dec 2019 at 09:03

The platters make good drinks coasters! Nice polished aluminium finish. No chemicals on them.

digitaldreams · 10 Dec 2019 at 14:00

Straight in the recycling bin or strip down the motor for a VERY strong magnet !. I once opened an huge SCSI drive to show others a working drive (yes it still functioned !).

b00merang69 · 10 Dec 2019 at 17:42

If any good pr0n on them you can send them my way.

m4rmite · 10 Dec 2019 at 21:12

I'm saddened no one has mentioned the platters make good christmas tree decorations with a bit of string.

koolpc · 10 Dec 2019 at 21:27

Hammer. Simples

something daft already!! · 10 Dec 2019 at 21:28

Nuke from orbit.

Doogles · 10 Dec 2019 at 21:48

If you want to sell it just nuke the drive, if you want to throw it away then hit it with a hammer 10 times hard and you'll know it's done for.

dvinell · 10 Dec 2019 at 23:10

Sudden · 13 Dec 2019 at 09:21

Hahaha. Thanks everyone. Pretty much what I expected Some good ideas!

Plan is to just get rid of it since it doesn't work anyway, so this would just be an extra precaution.

Though @TangoEchoAlpha - Damn! I've got some TV shows I...obtained...on it, not state secrets!

bimbleuk · 13 Dec 2019 at 10:21

Just taking some apart now for some coasters. The "normal" drives all had bad sectors so no dramas inside. The 15K server disk though had scored platters from a head crash, wasn't expecting that!

TangoEchoAlpha · 13 Dec 2019 at 12:03

Sudden said:
Though @TangoEchoAlpha - Damn! I've got some TV shows I...obtained...on it, not state secrets!

Ah, in that case my paranoia is definitely OTT

I'd run boot and nuke on it for a few loops and then get rid of it via WEE recycling or down the recycling centre.

Mel_P · 13 Dec 2019 at 14:28

m4rmite said:
I'm saddened no one has mentioned the platters make good christmas tree decorations with a bit of string.

Also giant earrings for the lady in your life?