Old desk top

[D.carden]

I have an ancient desk top that we finally pulled everything off the drives that we need.......Now, what is the best way to 'kill' the hard drive completely of its contents......??????

TIA

[ajg308]

"Erasing" a hard drive is a bit of a misnomer. What you need to do is to replace the current data with new data. There are several programs that do this by writing random 1's and 0's on the whole hard drive to replace the data. After that, you can destroy it, donate it, whatever with it.

Google it and you will find a myriad of options.

[D.Hayden]

Dan.. I have a wipe program you can use.

If you're just going to throw it out at the recycllers.. take the dirve, and run a drill threw it.

[Merlin Orr]

Microwave it like a pan of Jiffy Pop.

[jeffscaspian]

Shoot it!!!!

[jaredr]

ajg308 had it right, what you actually need to do is use a utility that will overwrite every sector on the drive with filler data (most programs just write repeating 0's or 0's and 1's) so that you cannot easily recover the data by using a simple "undelete" command. You can try this one but a google search will show you lots of alternatives (way back in the day, this was one of the things you used Norton Utilities for...)

BTW - you'd probably do just as well to pull the drives and use them as an impromptu target as long as you police up the range

-jared

[Pat Miles]

Just do as I did with my old computer hard drive and memory card. All that is needed is a Fat Tire and a hammer and then another Fat Tire.

CYa,

Pat

[edison]

Throw it on a pile of hot coals.

[Corey]

parents got a new desktop a few years ago. i took the old one out back with a 15lb sledge hammer. man i felt good later that day, haha. I do like the target idea as well tho! video it if you shoot it!

[Nik Habicht]

I saw a computer geek shoot one with a 12 gauge slug from an appropriate distance once.....

That looked like it should work for everyone but the FBI maybe....

[beginner shooter]

Shoot to little bity pieces then incinerate said pieces. That would be 2 fun things I like to do. Shoot, and play with fire.

[Graham Smith]

How to REALLY erase a hard drive

[davidwiz]

I take the platter out of the drive housing and smash it to tiny bits. Physical destruction of the platter is the only 100% way to prevent anyone from getting their hands on the data.

[Classic_jon]

Google the term "DOD Wipe" and there are a bunch of free softwares out there that will write 1's and 0's to the drive. You will need to make at least three passes to ensure that everything is removed.

That being said, if you are not going to sell or re-use the drive, physical destruction is the only sure fire method. Smack it HARD several times with a sledgehammer and make sure you have some eye protection on....

The reason this works is that most newer hard drive platters are fairly brittle and will shatter if you smack them hard enough. "...(Hard drive) Platters are typically made using an aluminum or glass and ceramic substrate." (from here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_disk_platter)

If you open the drive before hitting it you will get glass or ceramic dust everywhere. (not that I have ever had that happen.... )

If you hit it several times and it sounds like a maraca when you shake it...you have succeed. If it does not make noise after several hits, take it apart and destroy the platters themselves as they are probably aluminum.

Edited May 12, 2010 by Classic_jon

[Jim Rusert]

If it's to be trashed, I'm a fan of the 1/2" drill through several places and 1 hour in the hot coals. That ought to do it.

[murkish]

8 rounds from my M1 Garand usually do the trick quite admirably.

Jack

[John Tuley]

C'mon, you guys are no fun. Clearly: thermite is the way to go to really make sure that your data is erased.