Help wiping a hard drive

Post Reply New Topic

Reminds me of my computer operator days and taking a large hammer to some multi-layered disk platters as used on a DEC mainframe computer. The disks were around 18 inches diameter and made of coated aluminium. They were a real pain to even put a dent in. Each disk had something like six platters. I can't remember what capacity they had but I've likely got USB sticks now with more capacity!

Nowadays if I want to wipe any files left in the free space on PC hard drives I just use a simple tool I wrote myself which floods the hard drive with random data until the disk is full. The time taken depends on how many gigs there are to flood.

I also use TrueCrypt encrypted drives / files most of the time so there is little on my computers that is exposed anyway. Anyone stealing my computer equipment would have a very hard time trying to get any useful data off if.

Boot DBAN off a CD, start the disk wiping, and let it alone over night or a couple nights.

do you want to do standard reformat or a extreme reformat were nothing is recoverable

if you want nothing to be recoverable there is
http://www.dban.org/download

If you want total security, use a hammer to the HD.

Use DBAN.

or a hammer.

or a f*****g big magnet.



Odd.

I type DBAN into google and the first link is dban.org with sourceforge downloads links working as usual.

Try again.

Unless you have a cache of military secrets/kiddie porn anything else is pure overkill.

Correct application of explosives can work wonders on wiping HDs too

Not only is the data gone, but this also solves the problem of hardware disposal too.

It's a win/win! There is no possible way that could go wrong

Aquire a large bucket, some rare earth magnets, Hammer, Tongs/Gloves and some Hydrochloric acid.

Mix up an acid solution in the bucket.

Add the hard drive.

Add the magnets.

Stir (for best effect use a paint shaker(like they have in hardware stores) to shake the mixture up)

Leave it stand for a couple of days.

Remove the HDD with a pair of full length chemical gloves or some tongs.

Proceed to smash the living S**t out of the disk with a hammer (don't stop till the physical data platter is removed from the casing, if you want rub some of the acid magnets on the actual platter for safety)

Snap the data platter into two pieces, and bury the remains of your hard-drive in separate corners of the world.


Please not this is the only real 100% foolproof method of deleting your data, people can, and will recover data off seemingly "wiped" hard drives.

Eraser is another good application for wiping files anyway. It has options from 35 pass gutman all the way down to british 1 pass baseline and USDoD 3 pass wipe. It can also wipe free space.

Not secure enough. You can still recover information even from that.

Would giving it a bath be better?

You wouldn't have said that if you'd seen the platters. Or rather, what was left of them...

The solution is simple. All you need are the field windings from a car alternator. Never mind the big arse magnet, the field from these without the armature is massive, more than enough to clear any and all data from the hard drive, as well as send a transient spike from the transformer large enough to blow the power coupling capacitor. Just put 12 volts to one of the windings, while holding the cage somewhere within 4 foot of the computer.

Experience counts!!

Stick a label on it saying "This drive blows up PSUs" and leave it on the street.

LOL. You could take apart the drive, expose the internal disks to magnets, then beat it with a hammer. Extra safe. Since the internal disks are very, very delicate. hitting it with a hammer does irrevocable damage. Also, I don't know anyone who can reassemble a hard drive and have it function. Certainly not your average laymen data thieves. Too much trouble for potentially no value at all.

Really, the best way for someone that does not want to get overly complicated or spend any more money on this is to simply take out the HD, and destroy it. Smash it with a hammer, throw it in the fireplace when you have a fire going, etc etc etc. The hammer method is the easiest, just get a hammer and a few nails and open the HD (unscrew the screws) and punch a few holes in it then hit it to bend the disk.

Hope this helps