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Posted: Apr 02 2010 01:26 pm

I've taken everything I want off them, and now I want to throw away a couple of old internal hard drives. I've deleted everything off them (didn't reformat or anything, just hit the delete button). What's the best way to get rid of them that will ensure no one picks them up and steals my identity or whatever?

Joined: May 22 2008 Location: Goshen, VA Posts: 6544

Shoot them.

Have a bonfire, but don't breathe it in.

Shoot them.

Give them to me, along with a copy of Undelete Plus.

Also, please don't do any of those, they are dangerous. I know that computer monitors aren't supposed to be tossed in a dump because of certain hazardous materials inside, but I'm really not sure about hard drives. Sorry man.

Posted: Apr 02 2010 02:59 pm

Ice2SeeYou wrote:

I've taken everything I want off them, and now I want to throw away a couple of old internal hard drives. I've deleted everything off them (didn't reformat or anything, just hit the delete button). What's the best way to get rid of them that will ensure no one picks them up and steals my identity or whatever?

There are 4 levels of data protection when it comes to getting rid of a hard drive:
(In order of security)

1. Erase the data. You already did this. This will protect your old info at the simplest level. If the person who gets the drive after you either A. Is only an average user or B. Does't care about old data, you'll be fine. However, the data can still be recovered using simple software programs that undelete data. (80% safe)

2. Re-Format the drive. After everything you want to save is off the drive, simply go to "My Computer", then right click on the Drive in question, and select "Format", Click "Start", and that's it. When it says "Format Complete" you are good to go. This rewrites the header info on the drive, including where data used to be stored on it. The only way to recover the erase files now is with profession level tools. (95% safe)

3. Scrub the data. Use a program such as this: http://www.killdisk.com/ . It will write garbage data over the Hard Drive platters and make recovering old data, incredibly difficult, if not impossible for all but the most skilled and equiped technicians. (99% safe)

4. Destroy the drive. The only way to be 100% sure those files are gone forever. Easiest way to do this: Take out a drill, put a large bit into it, and drill 4 to 10 holes through the entire drive. This will destroy the heads and platters of the drive, and make them virtually impossible to recover. Best way: Distenigrate the drive with a torch or such.

Posted: Apr 02 2010 03:06 pm

Knyte pretty much hit it. Just take a drill or hammer and destroy the drive as completely as you can. Not only is it safest, but fun!

Posted: Apr 02 2010 03:20 pm

Nice.....thanks guys. I've been looking for an excuse to buy a power drill!

Banned Joined: Sep 13 2008 Posts: 3129

In the computer repair class I took it said the best way is to just completely destroy them.
Knyte's method sounds fun Smile

Although I would personally add them into my current desktop(s) as secondary hard drives. The extra space is usually worth it.

Posted: Apr 02 2010 03:24 pm

Posted: Apr 02 2010 03:31 pm

Put it in the microwave.

Posted: Apr 02 2010 03:34 pm

sidewaydriver wrote:

Put it in the microwave.

Ahhhhhhhhhh! Radioactive gas!!!!!!!!

*runs back and forth repeatedly*

Posted: Apr 02 2010 03:35 pm

Ice2SeeYou wrote:

sidewaydriver wrote:

Put it in the microwave.

Ahhhhhhhhhh! Radioactive gas!!!!!!!!

*runs back and forth repeatedly*

Don't forget to film it and post it on youtube.

Joined: Mar 18 2010 Location: Tuonela Posts: 299

Data security - what a wonderful excuse to destroy! I think I'd have a blast figuring out how to vanquish my hd.

Posted: Apr 02 2010 04:32 pm

Hahahaha have fun, Ice! Laughing

Can I ask though, does this mean that sending your old HD to one of the "e-waste" recycle places is a bad idea even if you do use one of the scrubber programs? Because that's the first place I would head, if I needed to dispose of my HD.

Posted: Apr 02 2010 04:34 pm

what if you just take a piss on it?

Posted: Apr 02 2010 05:06 pm

You could always turn it into a clock

Posted: Apr 02 2010 05:20 pm

sidewaydriver wrote:

Put it in the microwave.

Posted: Apr 02 2010 11:51 pm

I disassembled a gone drive with a hex wrench and marveled at the various bits and platters inside.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

I am partial to DBAN ( http://www.dban.org/ ) due to familiarity, but killdisk is the same thing.

If you run either of these utilities with their strongest algorithms over 5-6 passes there is no reason to go any further with drive destruction unless you are a spy or work for a company that builds parts for govt weapons.

Once the magnets have been written over a certain number of times it takes an electron scanning microscope and bit by bit analysis to recreate the old data. The cost for this is so high and prohibitive that no one does it unless national security or millions of dollars are at stake.

Still, breaking hard drives can be a fun experience, so if you have no interest in keeping the drive, then have at it, but don't think it is necessary.

Posted: Apr 03 2010 12:46 pm

delete everything, reformat it, smash it into little pieces, and throw it in a trash bag. I recommend this process for all electronics, including TVs and computer monitors. Is it legal? No. Will anyone ever know the difference? No.

Posted: Apr 03 2010 01:07 pm

A final method of guaranteeing the data's irretrievability is to kill everyone who has / may have had access to it, and finally yourself. Bell

Posted: Apr 03 2010 01:51 pm

Honestly, here's the only step you need:

SMASH IT INTO PIECES.

I mean, honestly, what the fuck are you so worried about? If someone is picking through your trash and finds an intact hard drive, they might try all sorts of data retrieval tricks on it. If they find a smashed one, what the fuck are they gonna do? Try and glue it back together? I think not. If you're that worried about someone trying to reassemble your broken hard drive, throw out a couple different pieces each week, thus preventing any chance of anyone ever reassembling it.

Posted: Apr 03 2010 01:57 pm

Best bet is to throw it in a volcano.

Posted: Apr 03 2010 01:59 pm

Feed it to a tiger shark, they eat anything and no one's going to fuck with that thing.

Posted: Apr 03 2010 03:46 pm

I heard shoving a magnet over the disk itself would permanetly damage it enough to never be used again in any form that's not junk.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Syd, have you ever tried to smash a hard drive before?

They are amazingly durable if the read head is parked correctly. For some reason the damn things only want to die when you have important data on them that you need.

You would need to disassemble the drive, which usually means some hex or star shaped screwdrivers, then you need to physically take it all apart and break the platters.

It really is easier to put a CD rom in your drive and just press a few keystrokes then just throw it out.

Posted: Apr 03 2010 04:36 pm

If you live in America, own a gun, and can get to a place where you can shoot the thing legally, I would recommend that.