destroying the data on a dead HDD

[N4n45h1]

Just physically damage the platters with something. Exdeath's suggestion seems rather effective

Personally I just dban the drive and then cut it into pieces with bolt cutters...

 

[Phynaz]

my platters have been soaking in salt water for over 3 days. no visible sign of rust or corrosion. how long are they suppose to soak?

What in the world made you think salt water would do anything to the platters?

Jeez people, just shred the drives.

 

[zardthebuilder]

What in the world made you think salt water would do anything to the platters?

Jeez people, just shred the drives.

somebody suggested that method, and said the platters will rust.

 

[murphyc]

muriatic format

Granted, you don't need such a high molar solution, nor a gallon of it...

 

[Red Squirrel]

May want to add some electricity to it to speed up the process. Crocodile clip on each platter (alternate between neg and pos) then hook up to a 12v power supply. 5v will do as well. Try to do this in a big room or one that's well ventilated. It will produce a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, and I think a bit of chlorine gas. I'd only do it for like 5-10 minutes at a time.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

I had a HDD go bad on me last year and it had all my tax data on (including SS#) on it. I took it apart and ran a magnet over it. At the time I was planting some fence posts in backyard and just dropped the platters in the cement and planted the posts on top of them. Between the lye in the cement and the force that someone would have use to get them out of the cement I think, they are as dead as I can make them.

 

[Coup27]

Angle grinder seems to be my weapon of choice these days.

 

[WiseUp216]

OP, do you have access to plutonium?