How can I destroy an old harddrive? - GoFuckYourself.com

08-03-2009, 11:57 AM

Im getting a new computer so I want to throw away my old computer(It shuts down a lot so its not worth donating or selling).

I reformatted the harddrive and I took it out.

What else can I do? Like if I leave it in a sink full of water will that destroy it?

Scott McD · 08-03-2009, 12:01 PM

Redrob · 08-03-2009, 12:03 PM

Weld the drive's platters with an arc welder.

chris_joseph · 08-03-2009, 12:03 PM

use Muriatic acid or a magnet... or the best way to do it, smash it with a hammer.

CYF · 08-03-2009, 12:05 PM

take it apart, drill couple holes in the platters, and throw each platter away in a different dumpster.

seeandsee · 08-03-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott McD

Easton · 08-03-2009, 12:07 PM

soak it in a bucket of water

marketsmart · 08-03-2009, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easton

soak it in a bucket of water

salt water...

Twig · 08-03-2009, 12:08 PM

You say the computer shuts down all the time, but it's still not worth trashing. You'd be surprised how old and crappy a computer is but how useful it still is to people.
On the hard drive though, un-screw everything and destroy anything you can.

Stallion · 08-03-2009, 12:10 PM

CYF · 08-03-2009, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easton

soak it in a bucket of water

I don't imagine water will do much.

If you want it gone, not able to recover any data, you need to physically destroy the drive.

Big companies have expensive hard drive shredders that will shred the drive. For someone at home your best bet is to take the drive apart, and drill holes in the platters. A sander or grinder or something that will fuck up the platter surface would be nice to use in addition to the holes.

DAMNMAN · 08-03-2009, 12:34 PM

Derik's Boot and nuke it.
Then use Evidence Eliminator's DOD wipe.
Then soak it in acid.
Then hit it with a sledge hammer.
Then burn it.
Then put it in a rocket and launch it into space towards the sun.

That outta do it!!!!!

Choopa Phil · 08-03-2009, 12:37 PM

bend-tech blender /thread

Jarmusch · 08-03-2009, 12:38 PM

Copy whatever method the U.S. Army uses to retire hard drives

naughtylaura · 08-03-2009, 12:38 PM

Umm microwave?? Lol xx

CaptainHowdy · 08-03-2009, 12:44 PM

Doesn't magnets kill hard drives??

ProG · 08-03-2009, 12:45 PM

Either take out the platters and burn them, or use a very high powered magnet

CYF · 08-03-2009, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarmusch

Copy whatever method the U.S. Army uses to retire hard drives

They physically destroy the drive.

I would post a link but it's on a .mil, not sure if that's a good idea.

Google: destroy hard disk site:.mil

the_pervert · 08-03-2009, 12:46 PM

have an electrician run it through a high powered degausser

Cyandin · 08-03-2009, 12:48 PM

belt sander + platters =

or dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/null (several times, and also dd'ing random bits)

flip.green · 08-03-2009, 12:48 PM

Run this a few times

http://www.dban.org/

Then destroy the platters

http://www.popularmechanics.com/tech...o/4212242.html

If your not going to go the extra mile to be paranoid why bother?

But you could just be a slacker and whack the shit out of it with a hammer that will deter your casual dumpster diver from retrieving any info that remains. ( And there is still info there trust me a regular format leaves alot behind )

Davy · 08-03-2009, 01:01 PM

Open the drive, take grinder machine , work it on all the disks.

saucygirl · 08-03-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott McD

Nice! My first thought was a sledgehammer.

rowan · 08-03-2009, 01:14 PM

FYI, a format doesn't clear the drive, only the indexing that tells the OS where to find files and directories.

It's like throwing out the library catalog, but the books are still on the shelves.

rowan · 08-03-2009, 01:15 PM

Here's a util that invokes your drives internal secure erase facility:

http://cmrr.ucsd.edu/people/Hughes/SecureErase.shtml

tigermtb · 08-03-2009, 01:15 PM

I love the enthusiasm when it comes to suggestions on how to break things

Ultimately we're all kids who love to smash shit.. its funny.

cherrylula · 08-03-2009, 01:17 PM

Gerco · 08-03-2009, 01:20 PM

Actually, take out the platters, and hit them with a magnet, then make a nice wind-chime out of them, they sound great

rowan · 08-03-2009, 01:26 PM

Hmmm that reminds me I have a drive I'm halfway through disassembling... I stopped because I wanted to take pics of the process... need to get back to it! :D

beerptrol · 08-03-2009, 01:27 PM

1 cooler filled with ice and beer
1 stack of wood
1 harddrive on top of stack
invite friends, light pile of wood and consume beer whilelistening to your favorite tunes

08-03-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowan

FYI, a format doesn't clear the drive, only the indexing that tells the OS where to find files and directories.

It's like throwing out the library catalog, but the books are still on the shelves.

Then why does reformatting free up so much space?

Tom_PM · 08-03-2009, 01:33 PM

Tom_PM · 08-03-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh ghey

Then why does reformatting free up so much space?

Because you are thinking about it incorrectly. Formatting throws out the file INDEX. Not the FILES. Without the index, you have no means of knowing WTF is there or where to start. So it's all "free space" to be written over.

danclips · 08-03-2009, 01:38 PM

1 Ten Penny nail and a good sized hammer is all you need just drive the nail through the platters in two places and you're good to go.

rowan · 08-03-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh ghey

Then why does reformatting free up so much space?

Ok, let me retry the library analogy another way... formatting irretrievably whites out the title page and spine of the library books. You can't easily see what's in the collection as a whole, but you can still pick up random books and read the text inside them.

Same with a computer format. The actual content data is not overwritten, just the indexing that points to it.

To write out a new (empty) index will take seconds. To wipe every sector on (say) a 500GB hard drive will take a couple of hours, minimum.

rowan · 08-03-2009, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danclips

1 Ten Penny nail and a good sized hammer is all you need just drive the nail through the platters in two places and you're good to go.

That wouldn't stop a specialist lab from recovering 90%+ of the data on the drive... however, if you're that paranoid and/or have something to hide from a company or agency that would be capable of funding that, you've probably got more serious problems.

Who here has had a drive fail? Did you wipe it before you RMA'd it?......

stickyfingerz · 08-03-2009, 01:56 PM

Big hammer to it. Put it in a garbage bag. Add some old fridge meet, and shit in the bag and seal it up. Throw in dumpster. You'll be safe lol

Vjo · 08-03-2009, 02:09 PM

I'd just keep it around.

But I'd drill it a few times if I was to throw it. That should do it. Who's gonna mess with a drilled HD.

CrkMStanz · 08-03-2009, 02:13 PM

most methods here can be foiled by forensic methods (not a perfect recovery, just 'some' data) - as long as there is magnetic surface left, things can be read - no matter how fragmented it may be

1) take drive platter(s) out
2) use a grinder/sander to take the entire(!) disk surface off (both sides)

no recovery method known to man will recover data

little effort
little expense (no rockets required

)
perfect obliteration

Vjo · 08-03-2009, 02:22 PM

Paranoia will destroya

Just throw it under some shit in a messy part your house. Years from now it'll still be there and nobody will care any more than they do now.

PowerCum · 08-03-2009, 03:07 PM

Its simple and easy procedure:

1 ) Buy a big can
2 ) Put the drive inside
3 ) Buy 50 kg of enriched uranium or plutonium
4 ) Put it all into the can with the drive
5 ) Fire several neutrons on the can
6 ) Watch for the nuclear explosion burns your drive. If it doesn't vaporize it entirely, don't worry, there will be no one alive near it to take your data.

Inter-Sex · 08-03-2009, 03:37 PM

That's overkiill :P

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerCum

Its simple and easy procedure:

1 ) Buy a big can
2 ) Put the drive inside
3 ) Buy 50 kg of enriched uranium or plutonium
4 ) Put it all into the can with the drive
5 ) Fire several neutrons on the can
6 ) Watch for the nuclear explosion burns your drive. If it doesn't vaporize it entirely, don't worry, there will be no one alive near it to take your data.

Dianne22 · 08-03-2009, 03:53 PM

throw it from the 50th floor building

Cyber Fucker · 08-03-2009, 04:03 PM

LOL... I think format is enough though you can still try this stuff:

SilentKnight · 08-03-2009, 06:59 PM

Send the drive to NASA.

I understand they're good at erasing things.

They've been practicing with the Apollo 11 moon mission tapes.

Basic_man · 08-03-2009, 07:02 PM

Some of you guys are just paranoid !

rowan · 08-03-2009, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbwebmaster

LOL... I think format is enough though you can still try this stuff:

Last time I looked into it (which was admittedly a few years ago, things may have changed) a "full" format does not clear sectors, it just verifies that it can READ each one.

So a quick or full format is not going to get rid of your data at all.

Great Shooter · 08-03-2009, 07:29 PM

If there is nothing illegal on the hard drive, I would worry about it. To much energy spent on an old drive.

AngelAfterlife · 08-03-2009, 07:53 PM

put it in the microwave!

Smokieflame · 08-03-2009, 07:59 PM

what you have to hide so bad you need it destroyed is my question?

08-03-2009, 11:57 AM	#1
teh ghey Guest Posts: n/a	How can I destroy an old harddrive? Im getting a new computer so I want to throw away my old computer(It shuts down a lot so its not worth donating or selling). I reformatted the harddrive and I took it out. What else can I do? Like if I leave it in a sink full of water will that destroy it?

08-03-2009, 12:01 PM	#2
Scott McD Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 67,795	__________________ I Buy My High Quality Traffic Here, You Should Too!

08-03-2009, 12:03 PM	#4
chris_joseph Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: at the Office! Posts: 1,056	use Muriatic acid or a magnet... or the best way to do it, smash it with a hammer. __________________ Web and Graphic Designer Hit me up on ICQ#291166250

08-03-2009, 12:05 PM	#5
CYF Coupon Guru Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 10,973	take it apart, drill couple holes in the platters, and throw each platter away in a different dumpster. __________________ Webmaster Coupons Coupons and discounts for hosting, domains, SSL Certs, and more! AmeriNOC Coupons \| Certified Hosting Coupons \| Hosting Coupons \| Domain Name Coupons

08-03-2009, 12:07 PM	#7
Easton Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 9,825	soak it in a bucket of water __________________ New models booked and shot every week... MILFs, pornstars and teens. Girls for every niche and project. Looking for high-quality affordable exclusive content? Check me out at Easton Content for all the details.

08-03-2009, 12:03 PM	#3
Redrob Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: In a refrigerator box by the tracks. Posts: 4,790	Weld the drive's platters with an arc welder.

08-03-2009, 12:08 PM	#9
Twig Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ICQ - 703894 Posts: 1,949	You say the computer shuts down all the time, but it's still not worth trashing. You'd be surprised how old and crappy a computer is but how useful it still is to people. On the hard drive though, un-screw everything and destroy anything you can. __________________

08-03-2009, 12:10 PM	#10
Stallion Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: FL Posts: 6,632	__________________ Project Manager/Program Manager/Webmaster Seeking Work [email protected] icq 856554

08-03-2009, 12:34 PM	#12
DAMNMAN Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 1,440	Derik's Boot and nuke it. Then use Evidence Eliminator's DOD wipe. Then soak it in acid. Then hit it with a sledge hammer. Then burn it. Then put it in a rocket and launch it into space towards the sun. That outta do it!!!!! __________________ email: zmaster (at) earthlink.net ICQ: 196678616 ZMASTER One less god!!! I contend that we are both an atheist. I just belive in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

08-03-2009, 12:37 PM	#13
Choopa Phil Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3,965	bend-tech blender /thread __________________ AIM - Choopa Phil Email - [email protected] A World Wide Leader In Hosting! * CHOOPA.COM *

08-03-2009, 12:38 PM	#14
Jarmusch Industry Role: Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 12,464	Copy whatever method the U.S. Army uses to retire hard drives

08-03-2009, 12:38 PM	#15
naughtylaura Naughty Laura Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,198	Umm microwave?? Lol xx __________________ Custom Butt Plugs & Kink items!

08-03-2009, 12:44 PM	#16
CaptainHowdy Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Happy in the dark. Posts: 93,356	Doesn't magnets kill hard drives?? __________________ "Tjeezers.cam wishes you a nice day”

08-03-2009, 12:45 PM	#17
ProG Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1,319	Either take out the platters and burn them, or use a very high powered magnet __________________ History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.

08-03-2009, 12:46 PM	#19
the_pervert Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 41	have an electrician run it through a high powered degausser

08-03-2009, 12:48 PM	#20
Cyandin Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,723	belt sander + platters = or dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/null (several times, and also dd'ing random bits)

08-03-2009, 12:48 PM	#21
flip.green Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 228	Run this a few times http://www.dban.org/ Then destroy the platters http://www.popularmechanics.com/tech...o/4212242.html If your not going to go the extra mile to be paranoid why bother? But you could just be a slacker and whack the shit out of it with a hammer that will deter your casual dumpster diver from retrieving any info that remains. ( And there is still info there trust me a regular format leaves alot behind ) __________________ Shemales so good looking your mom would approve ICQ# 585156759

08-03-2009, 01:01 PM	#22
Davy Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 4,323	Open the drive, take grinder machine , work it on all the disks. __________________ --- ICQ 14-76-98 <-- I don't use this at all

08-03-2009, 01:14 PM	#24
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	FYI, a format doesn't clear the drive, only the indexing that tells the OS where to find files and directories. It's like throwing out the library catalog, but the books are still on the shelves.

08-03-2009, 01:15 PM	#25
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	Here's a util that invokes your drives internal secure erase facility: http://cmrr.ucsd.edu/people/Hughes/SecureErase.shtml

08-03-2009, 01:15 PM	#26
tigermtb Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 1,062	I love the enthusiasm when it comes to suggestions on how to break things Ultimately we're all kids who love to smash shit.. its funny. __________________ Jay \| JuicyAds Founder Businessman of the Year [YNOT Awards 2013] The most awarded adult advertising network with 25+ XBIZ, GFY, and YNOT Awards.

08-03-2009, 01:17 PM	#27
cherrylula lol Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 15,969

08-03-2009, 01:20 PM	#28
Gerco Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2,052	Actually, take out the platters, and hit them with a magnet, then make a nice wind-chime out of them, they sound great __________________ Http://www.extremehole.com ** CLOSED ** 400 HOURS of exclusive custom extreme content, already on external HD in Raw DV ready to encode. over 150,000 exclusive images and more.

08-03-2009, 01:26 PM	#29
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	Hmmm that reminds me I have a drive I'm halfway through disassembling... I stopped because I wanted to take pics of the process... need to get back to it! :D

08-03-2009, 01:27 PM	#30
beerptrol Confirmed Asshole Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Half way between sobriety and fubar. Posts: 12,722	1 cooler filled with ice and beer 1 stack of wood 1 harddrive on top of stack invite friends, light pile of wood and consume beer whilelistening to your favorite tunes __________________ “If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon's but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other.” -- Ulysses S. Grant Last edited by beerptrol; 08-03-2009 at 01:29 PM..

08-03-2009, 01:33 PM	#32
Tom_PM Porn Meister Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 16,443	__________________ 43-922-863 Shut up and play your guitar.

08-03-2009, 01:38 PM	#34
danclips Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Philadelphia pa! Posts: 212	1 Ten Penny nail and a good sized hammer is all you need just drive the nail through the platters in two places and you're good to go. __________________ Hotmovies and Clips.com affiliate programs! icq: 241-169-479 [email protected] 800-500-2547

08-03-2009, 01:56 PM	#37
stickyfingerz Doin fine Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 24,983	Big hammer to it. Put it in a garbage bag. Add some old fridge meet, and shit in the bag and seal it up. Throw in dumpster. You'll be safe lol

08-03-2009, 02:09 PM	#38
Vjo So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Happy 4th of July :) Posts: 6,082	I'd just keep it around. But I'd drill it a few times if I was to throw it. That should do it. Who's gonna mess with a drilled HD. Last edited by Vjo; 08-03-2009 at 02:13 PM..

08-03-2009, 02:13 PM	#39
CrkMStanz Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 517	most methods here can be foiled by forensic methods (not a perfect recovery, just 'some' data) - as long as there is magnetic surface left, things can be read - no matter how fragmented it may be 1) take drive platter(s) out 2) use a grinder/sander to take the entire(!) disk surface off (both sides) no recovery method known to man will recover data little effort little expense (no rockets required ) perfect obliteration __________________ believe me - without free porn, just as many people will seek porn out on the Internet, and many more will pay if there is no free alternative, its not like sex is a fad - it can be milked much like any renewable resource - long term i wasn't born with enough middle fingers - Marilyn Manson

08-03-2009, 02:22 PM	#40
Vjo So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Happy 4th of July :) Posts: 6,082	Paranoia will destroya Just throw it under some shit in a messy part your house. Years from now it'll still be there and nobody will care any more than they do now.

08-03-2009, 03:07 PM	#41
PowerCum CjOverkill Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Woldwide Posts: 1,328	Its simple and easy procedure: 1 ) Buy a big can 2 ) Put the drive inside 3 ) Buy 50 kg of enriched uranium or plutonium 4 ) Put it all into the can with the drive 5 ) Fire several neutrons on the can 6 ) Watch for the nuclear explosion burns your drive. If it doesn't vaporize it entirely, don't worry, there will be no one alive near it to take your data. __________________ CjOverkill Traffic Trading Script Free, secure and fast traffic trading script. Get your copy now

08-03-2009, 03:53 PM	#43
Dianne22 Confirmed User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 375	throw it from the 50th floor building __________________ TEEN CASH - EXCLUSIVE TEEN NICHE REALITY SITES Check out our Newest Site: Babysitter Movies - Free Hosted Galleries, Flash Galleries, Tube Content, & Great Support Sample Galleries: Movie Gallery 1 Flash Gallery 1 Pic Gallery 1 Any questions or comments, contact via [email protected] or ICQ: 294-279-880

08-03-2009, 04:03 PM	#44
Cyber Fucker Hmm Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: On an endless road around the world for rock and roll. Posts: 12,642	LOL... I think format is enough though you can still try this stuff: __________________

08-03-2009, 06:59 PM	#45
SilentKnight Megan Fox's fluffer Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: shooting pool in Elysium Posts: 24,818	Send the drive to NASA. I understand they're good at erasing things. They've been practicing with the Apollo 11 moon mission tapes.