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Need to destroy a couple hard drives - need fun ideas

Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
I retired my backup server, and once I code the scripts for the new backup solution and test them, and have a full rotation done, I will want to destroy the old drives, which are IDE and pretty much useless to me, and I don't want to sell them given they've had my personal data written to them.

I need some fun ideas for destruction of them. There are basic things I can do like seperate the platters and hook them up to my dremel and grind them with a sharp object, I can burn them, bend them etc...

But thought I'd ask for other fun things I can do. :awe:

Thermite would be lot of fun, but can't buy that stuff anywhere here. Kinda illegal I would think lol.
 
Run a secure erase program a few times and take off the tin foil hat. I doubt you have any personal info that's worth the cost it would require to recover.

and what?? iron oxide and aluminum powder is illegal?
 
After pulling off the cover what you want to do is solder two wires - one from the negative and one from the +12V (yellow) to a small loop of wire. It must be TINY to prevent the protection from engaging (IF you use a PC power supply).

When the juice is on this wire should glow brightly nearly instantly. If not it's too thick. If you carefully crush a small lightbulb like a merry midget x-mas bulb the filament can be used as well.

Once this is in place fill the drive cavity with pyrodex. Screw the cover back on making sure it seals as tight as possible. Cover up holes labeled DO NOT BLOCK as this is no longer a hard drive. 😉

Put the drive down in a place where loud noise and lots of smoke is not a problem, run a wire - a long one is preferred like a 50 foot extension cord minimum! All one needs to do is apply power and you should hear a nice little pop and see some smoke!

It's said this could be put in a PC case as a prank but the explosion may be a little too strong for that. 😉
 
Rubycon said:
After pulling off the cover what you want to do is solder two wires - one from the negative and one from the +12V (yellow) to a small loop of wire. It must be TINY to prevent the protection from engaging (IF you use a PC power supply).

When the juice is on this wire should glow brightly nearly instantly. If not it's too thick. If you carefully crush a small lightbulb like a merry midget x-mas bulb the filament can be used as well.

Once this is in place fill the drive cavity with pyrodex. Screw the cover back on making sure it seals as tight as possible. Cover up holes labeled DO NOT BLOCK as this is no longer a hard drive. 😉

Put the drive down in a place where loud noise and lots of smoke is not a problem, run a wire - a long one is preferred like a 50 foot extension cord minimum! All one needs to do is apply power and you should hear a nice little pop and see some smoke!

It's said this could be put in a PC case as a prank but the explosion may be a little too strong for that. 😉
Click to expand...

I am starting to think you are on a boat because you are not allowed to be in CONUS.
 
sdifox said:
I am starting to think you are on a boat because you are not allowed to be in CONUS.
Click to expand...

She's dangerous 😱

parker-leverage.png
 
Rubycon said:
After pulling off the cover what you want to do is solder two wires - one from the negative and one from the +12V (yellow) to a small loop of wire. It must be TINY to prevent the protection from engaging (IF you use a PC power supply).

When the juice is on this wire should glow brightly nearly instantly. If not it's too thick. If you carefully crush a small lightbulb like a merry midget x-mas bulb the filament can be used as well.

Once this is in place fill the drive cavity with pyrodex. Screw the cover back on making sure it seals as tight as possible. Cover up holes labeled DO NOT BLOCK as this is no longer a hard drive. 😉

Put the drive down in a place where loud noise and lots of smoke is not a problem, run a wire - a long one is preferred like a 50 foot extension cord minimum! All one needs to do is apply power and you should hear a nice little pop and see some smoke!

It's said this could be put in a PC case as a prank but the explosion may be a little too strong for that. 😉
Click to expand...

:awe:
 
Send them to me. I'll figure out a creative way to destroy them and i might even provide a video.
 
Rubycon said:
After pulling off the cover what you want to do is solder two wires - one from the negative and one from the +12V (yellow) to a small loop of wire. It must be TINY to prevent the protection from engaging (IF you use a PC power supply).

When the juice is on this wire should glow brightly nearly instantly. If not it's too thick. If you carefully crush a small lightbulb like a merry midget x-mas bulb the filament can be used as well.

Once this is in place fill the drive cavity with pyrodex. Screw the cover back on making sure it seals as tight as possible. Cover up holes labeled DO NOT BLOCK as this is no longer a hard drive. 😉

Put the drive down in a place where loud noise and lots of smoke is not a problem, run a wire - a long one is preferred like a 50 foot extension cord minimum! All one needs to do is apply power and you should hear a nice little pop and see some smoke!

It's said this could be put in a PC case as a prank but the explosion may be a little too strong for that. 😉
Click to expand...


Best one so far. I can throw it in my spider crawlspace, it's bound to kill something in there. Maybe I can do them all at once. :twisted:
 
These are IDE, doubt I'd get much for them, and I rather just play it safe. I know the odds of recovery are extremely slim and all, but considering these were backup drives, if there was something I did not want to take a chance with, it would be those.

And destroying stuff is fun!

I might just go the dremel route, it's simple, and safer, somewhat... I'll wear eye protection. 😛 Probably just make it spin at 35k rpm and pass sand paper on the platters.
 
RedSquirrel said:
And destroying stuff is fun!

I might just go the dremel route, it's simple, and safer, somewhat... I'll wear eye protection. 😛 Probably just make it spin at 35k rpm and pass sand paper on the platters.
Click to expand...

i don't know how you could type the first sentence and then come up with the second part of the quoted.
 
sdifox said:
I am starting to think you are on a boat because you are not allowed to be in CONUS.
Click to expand...

I'm not on a boat and can go anywhere I please. I could be in your furnace listening to you in the shower and you would not know it! 😛 😱

No harm in turning a HDD into a rudimentary squib. Just don't put it between someone's legs and push the button! 😀

The platters make really good mirrors too!
 
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