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How to destroy data on failed hard disk
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 9:55 pm
by seodevhead
Hey guys...
I had a hard drive fail recently and the manufacturer sent me a new one and asked that I ship back the defective drive. This is all fine and dandy, however, there is some important data on this drive (lots actually) that I don't want to take any chances of anyone else seeing, since most likely this data could be easily attained with proper disk recovery tools.
Does anyone know a way that I can essentailly damage the contents of this drive, without actually physically harming the drive (ie.. taking a hammer or torch to it)??? I was thinking about some kind of magnet, but I wasn't sure how effective it would be, nor how big/strong a magnet I would need, if I could even find one.
Interested in any ideas or hints you guys may have. Thanks for your help.
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 10:02 pm
by feyd
Degaussing magnets are used in industrial applications. Very useful, very powerful. Do not use them near any other electronics you wish to keep.
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 10:07 pm
by volka
Or you could pay for the new hdd and destroy the old one. Depends on how much the data is worth to you

Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 10:42 pm
by seodevhead
feyd wrote:Degaussing magnets are used in industrial applications. Very useful, very powerful. Do not use them near any other electronics you wish to keep.
How and where can I get access to a degaussing magnet? Sounds like it would be some work to even find one... ??
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:01 pm
by The Phoenix
seodevhead wrote:feyd wrote:Degaussing magnets are used in industrial applications. Very useful, very powerful. Do not use them near any other electronics you wish to keep.
How and where can I get access to a degaussing magnet? Sounds like it would be some work to even find one... ??
Not at all. Google for it. Numerous places sell them. You will be charged around $1k-$4k for your desired privacy however.
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:06 pm
by seodevhead
nah... too much $$$ and trouble for me. I was hoping for a solution that would take at most 2 hrs of my time and at most 20 bucks. I'm guessing the mfg'er will keep my cc payment if I send back a drive with some holes drilled in it.
You guys think there are dudes at Seagate going through people's failed hard drives looking for 'golden nuggets'? Or you think they have a strict privacy type policy set in place for things like this?
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:20 pm
by feyd
Holes drilled in the material won't destroy the information, only make it have holes.

If you don't destroy the information, someone receiving a refurbished unit that was yours may be able to pull information from the drive quite easily. Pay for the new drive and have fun in destroying the drive that's failed..
You can build a degaussing unit by creating a powerful electromagnet that you can tune the frequency of the electricity flowing through it.
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:44 pm
by volka
For the future you might be interested in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truecrypt
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:23 am
by alex.barylski
volka wrote:Or you could pay for the new hdd and destroy the old one. Depends on how much the data is worth to you

Thats exactly what I was going to say.
Really how much does a new HDD cost...a couple hundred bucks at most?!?
Smashing the HDD into peices may also have positive impact on your mental well being. It's quite theraputic to bash things.

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 4:11 am
by Jenk
Try wrapping a power cord around the drive (whilst the cord is in use) and leave it for a while. No guarantees it will wipe everything and don't leave it unattended - coiled power cords are a fire hazard

Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 6:39 am
by feyd
Jenk wrote:Try wrapping a power cord around the drive (whilst the cord is in use) and leave it for a while. No guarantees it will wipe everything and don't leave it unattended - coiled power cords are a fire hazard

Power is fairly regulated in frequency. I doubt there's enough interference to do any damage to the drive.
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 8:41 am
by Chris Corbyn
You can rip the thing open and take and industrial grinder to it

I did this last year and nearly set fire to my trousers

I'm not too sure how happy the manufacturer would be about receiving a disk in that state though.
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:07 pm
by seodevhead
I was actually thinking about doing the grinder thing. But like you said, who knows what the mfger will do, keep my money I hope not.
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:20 am
by matthijs
If you are worried about the data, just don't send back the disk. If they then want money for the new one, pay that. A bit of reassurance that your data is safe is worth a few dollars, isn't it?
Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:56 am
by smudge
Shooting them with 22's are very effective. I know from experience
