Best way to destroy data on a hard drive?

[generaltso]

My hard drive crashed, and I can't access any of it windows. I tried to do a low level format and that doesn't even work. Fortunately I had a nightly backup program so I didn't lose any data.

However, now I have a 100GB hard drive that is completely dead but still probably has traces of my personal data on it.

Before I just throw it in the trash, what can I do to ensure the data is completely gone?

 

[corkyg]

Beat the crap out of it with a heavy hammer or apply a propane torch to it. I've had the same experience. I put the sucker on the driveway, and attacked it from all sides with a 2-lb ball peen hammer. Not only was it seriously disfigured, parts were here and there. It was also a lot of fun.

 

[Zepper]

I think it's called Derik's Boot & Nuke. It comes along with a secure file erasing program called Eraser. http://www.MajorGeeks.com should have a link to it.

Sorry, I had assumed it was usable. Open it up and take a hammer to the platters. You've always wanted to see what one looked like inside, close up and personal, didn't you? Or you could open it up and have it embedded in acrylic for a nice high-tech paper weight.

.bh.

 

[programmer]

I'm with corkyg. I've used torx-head screws to remove the cover, heavy hammer to smash the platters.

 

[Tegeril]

http://www.killdisk.com/ assuming the disk spins.

Sledgehammer otherwise.

 

[IlllI]

well since a couple already mentioned sledgehammer... how about putting it on the railroad tracks and having a train run over it

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: clandren
well since a couple already mentioned sledgehammer... how about putting it on the railroad tracks and having a train run over it

Great . . . but what's a train?

 

[fierydemise]

Strong Acid

 

[bunnyfubbles]

The sledge hammer is a good way, but not nearly as fun as having an excuse to play with fire

 

[potato28]

Burn it, smash it, drive over it at high speeds, throw it off a bridge, burn it, throw it hard against the ground, open it, smash it, burn it, and finally throw it out.

 

[Ika]

Is putting it in the microwave a good idea?

 

[Zepper]

Microwaves won't have any effect on the data. But if you wanted to get rid of the data without physically harming the platters, you could open it up and run a bulk tape demagnetizer over the platters.

.bh.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Tie it to your bumper and just leave it there for a while. Or I can imagine some fun stuff to do to it with a dremel.

 

[GeezerMan]

send it to Iraq.....

 

[gamefreakgcb]

hmm. lets see now, if only I had the cash for a powerful laser, I could think of somethings