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Wipe physically damaged hard drive

Wipe physically damaged hard drive

Postby Craigular.B » Sun Jun 15, 2008 4:59 am

So, I have a hard drive from my dad's office computer sitting on my desk, and I think it's time to get rid of it. Only problem is I'm 99% sure the drive is physically damaged in some way because chkdsk didn't like it very much (if I remember right it locked up partway through the scans?).

I want to wipe the drive so nothing can be pulled off of it (they used the machine for ordering supplies), but IDK what would work with a damaged drive. Any suggestions? (preferrably cheap/free software)

Thanks!
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Postby Grav!ty » Sun Jun 15, 2008 5:09 am

Western Digital have the WDDiag software which can write zeros to a drive making it impossible to recover data (it's FBI approved LOL), but I think it will only work with WD drives. Other manufacturers should also have similar software.

As a last resort you could disassemble the drive, remove the platters and subject them to severe impacts with a heavy hammer. That would remove the magnetization and any data on them.
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practice....

Postby j0k3rk1ll3r » Sun Jun 15, 2008 6:07 am

Its damaged right...

well use it for target practice, a nice 12 guage slug would take care of anything on or 50ft behind the disk.....
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Postby ar1stotle » Sun Jun 15, 2008 1:34 pm

Light the platters on fire, put them in a microwave, cover them in acid... the possibilities are endless! Have fun but be safe :yesnod:
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Postby kanaloa » Sun Jun 15, 2008 6:57 pm

LOL, seems others are thinking along the same lines I was. I'd just take a sledge hammer to it. Or the shot gun idea was pretty good too, LOL
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