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HD's and Magnets!!! How long till they erase data

L

LikeLinus

Lifer
Hey guys. I have two 80GB WD 7200 drivers that crapped out only after months of use. I now have to send them back but i am unable to low level format or do anything to erase them (the drive disconnects itself and clicks...all the fun things in life). The drive has vs. net code (site/application development, NDR/MCSP documentation that i need to make sure is deleted off the HD's for sure before i send them back.

I've got a nice handly 6.5" MB Quarts speaker sitting here and i figured the best way to delete the info was to sit a mag ontop the HD's before i send them back.

Anyone know how long i need to leave the mags ontop the HD's before all the info would be erased??

Thanks!!!
 
That's a very good question. I'd be interested to here the answer to this one. Bump for a good cause (now I can finally sell that broken HD on egay! lol jk)
 
Why do you think there is all the worry over an EM pulse from a solar flare?
Thats right, instant carnage over all the lost little zeros and ones 😉
 
For an HD, the magnetic strength of the magnetic coating of the platters is so high that for a magnet to damage it, the magnet would have to be so strong as to warp the metal frame of the drive.
 


<< For an HD, the magnetic strength of the magnetic coating of the platters is so high that for a magnet to damage it, the magnet would have to be so strong as to warp the metal frame of the drive. >>


seriously?
 


<< It will take about 1/8000th of a second if it's a strong electromagnet (like speakers). >>



I stand corrected.


Aparently, in order to depolarize a hard disk platter as dense as they are today, you'd need something as strong as an electromagnet that would be capable of lifting a car. :Q :Q :Q

Don't think that'll work with your speakers.

 
I think I worded my response badly, what I meant to say was warp the mechanism of the drive, rather than the frame.
Either way, though you will render the drive useless, making any data very difficult to retrieve.

If you ever take a hard drive apart, make sure you take a look at the magnets used for moving the heads - these are some of the strongest permanent magnets you are likely to find (stronger than almost all speaker magnets) - be careful though, you can certainly injure your fingers with these.
 


<< Why do you think there is all the worry over an EM pulse from a solar flare?
Thats right, instant carnage over all the lost little zeros and ones 😉 >>



desy.

where can i find some info on this? certainly sounds interesting.
 
Don't fool around with ferrite magnets. Use neodymium magnets (rare earth-type), or else you won't get the job done. 🙂
 
There was an in state police case I heard about a little while ago (connecticut) where this guy lined the inside of his doorframe (like behind the actual wooden frame, so they were hiden from sight) with strong magnets because he was doing something illegal on the comptuer (child porn and warez or something)

Apparently when the cops came to confiscate his computer, they walked through the door unsuspecting with it... all data GONE the instant the took his computer from his apartment 🙂

So it's definitally possible.
 
Well
I have a little 250 MB drive sitting here I can sacrifice with a magnet drop on it and norton utility for dos that I can do a sector by sector look see. .
 
The strongest HD magnets I've ever laid my hands on were from an old full height SCSI Barracuda, thos things were pretty damn strong, could put them on each side of my hand and they'd stick with no problems, and I have pretty big hands.

Worked through most doors and desks as well.
 
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