Physically destroying a HD

[majax01]

I'm considering selling one of my PCs. I'm planning on using DBAN on the HD, removing it, and then would like to take it to a professional company to watch it be destroyed. Has anyone done this before? I'm looking in the Portland OR area. Can anyone give me an idea of how much something like this cost?

[J_L]

Take it to a professional company and watch? Why not destroy it yourself?

[dw426]

Are you just curious as to how it is done, I'm assuming? Take it to Mt. Hood, throw it in a lava flow and no more hard drive..much less expensive and better spectacle.

[majax01]

-{ Quote: "Are you just curious as to how it is done, I'm assuming? Take it to Mt. Hood, throw it in a lava flow and no more hard drive..much less expensive and better spectacle." }-

No, I'm not curious. I watched a few videos on Youtube. Lol, I don't think I could get anywhere near lava.

[Mr.PC]

Burn it! (by yourself) = $0. :argh:

[majax01]

-{ Quote: "Burn it! (by yourself) = $0. :argh:" }-

I live in an apartment complex so that's definitely not possible.

If anyone has used a professional data destruction service, please let me know how much you were charged.

[Mr.PC]

-{ Quote: "I live in an apartment complex so that's definitely not possible." }-
No Back-Yard? Too far away from the Country-side?

[Longboard]

Send it to me at the supersecret anonymous postbox I will PM You.
I'll take care of it for you.
Trust me.
:shifty:

[Threedog]

Just take it to a welding shop or garage. A few mins with a cutting torch will take care of it.

[xxJackxx]

Stick some magnets on it. I hear that even wipes out the firmware.

[Sadeghi85]

-http://www.diskstroyer.com/

Or

-http://www.dominopower.com/issues/issue200603/00001737002


But you could use HDDErase (http://cmrr.ucsd.edu/people/Hughes/SecureErase.shtml) or hdparm (https://ata.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/ATA_Secure_Erase), PartedMagic (http://partedmagic.com/doku.php?id=downloads) has a front end GUI for hdparm.

[crofttk]

I've got a screwdriver and a set of boltcutters you can borrow.

[I no more]

I can't recommend a company to destroy it for you, but I can tell you how to do it.

First DBAN it (as you said). Then open up the hard drive and pull out the platters. They'll either be metal or glass. If they're metal, just scratch up the surface (both sides of each platter) with a screw driver or something similar. Scratch as much of each surface as possible. Then take pliers and bend each platter as thoroughly as possible.

If they're glass, just break them into little pieces (at your own risk because they will cut you if you're not careful). Then toss them. :thumb:

[chrisretusn]

I sort of like the blow touch idea. Make slag out it. :)

[Searching_ _ _]

-{ Quote: "
But you could use HDDErase (http://cmrr.ucsd.edu/people/Hughes/SecureErase.shtml) or hdparm (https://ata.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/ATA_Secure_Erase), PartedMagic (http://partedmagic.com/doku.php?id=downloads) has a front end GUI for hdparm." }-

He beat me to "Old Reliable".
Secure Erase, which is accessed by the above 2 programs, is equivalent to physical destruction, no .gov superthermite required. Bonus - You can use the drive again, or if you want, sell or give away.

I take donations. :D

[Sadeghi85]

I learned that from one of your posts. ;D

[raspb3rry]

-{ Quote: "Stick some magnets on it. I hear that even wipes out the firmware." }-
Don't do this. It requires some quite powerfull magnets to properly destroy data, not just your everyday fridge magnets.

Go for DBAN/Nwipe or Secure Erase as already discussed.

If you have the decoded INSURANCE-file of WikiLeaks or the like on your HD, I think you'll be better of with acid or a grinder. It's quite hard to read anything from a HD grinded into powder.

[Threedog]

-{ Quote: "I sort of like the blow touch idea. Make slag out it. :)" }-

I don't even think they could get any readings from slag on CSI. Better yet. Lets get Mythbusters to do a test on it.

[redstapler]

The easiest way would be to open it, you would even gain some knowledge, of the hardware, and hammer it ;D. You could put it in a bag or a newspaper if you don`t want to make too much mess. And then hammer it. If you suspect the hammering is not enough post pictures and we will rate.

[dw426]

-{ Quote: "Don't do this. It requires some quite powerfull magnets to properly destroy data, not just your everyday fridge magnets.

Go for DBAN/Nwipe or Secure Erase as already discussed.

If you have the decoded INSURANCE-file of WikiLeaks or the like on your HD, I think you'll be better of with acid or a grinder. It's quite hard to read anything from a HD grinded into powder." }-

Having that file on your drive doesn't mean much. Acid you have to acquire, be extremely careful with, dispose of safely, and make absolute sure the entire thing is dissolved. Head to your bench grinder and make some powder..though I still vote for Mt. Hood ;)

[Mr.PC]

-{ Quote: "I've got a screwdriver and a set of boltcutters you can borrow." }-
A Sledge-Hammer perhaps...;D ;D

[J_L]

Just throw it off the roof. Requires no tools, services, or money.

[Mr.PC]

-{ Quote: "Just throw it off the roof. Requires no tools, services, or money." }-
+1. :thumb: ;D ;D ;D

[Konata Izumi]

wipe all the data and give it to poor people like me! I will take very good care of it. :)
my harddrive is dying :(

[x942]

-{ Quote: "wipe all the data and give it to poor people like me! I will take very good care of it. :)
my harddrive is dying :(" }-

This is what I do! DBAN than Parted Magic and than reinstall no data can be retrieved as I also use a minimum of AES Encryption on all media. Speaking of which I have an 1 1/4 year old 160 GB HDD from my old netbook. Any one want it? ;)

[majax01]

-{ Quote: "I can't recommend a company to destroy it for you, but I can tell you how to do it.

First DBAN it (as you said). Then open up the hard drive and pull out the platters. They'll either be metal or glass. If they're metal, just scratch up the surface (both sides of each platter) with a screw driver or something similar. Scratch as much of each surface as possible. Then take pliers and bend each platter as thoroughly as possible.

If they're glass, just break them into little pieces (at your own risk because they will cut you if you're not careful). Then toss them. :thumb:" }-

Thank you. This is exactly what I'm going to do. I found a little HD toolkit on Amazon. I could never figure out how to open a HD, sad but true. Hopefully I've got glass platters as they look quite easy to break.

Quick follow-up. Here's the internal 320GB HD model #:

WD3200AAKS-00B3A0

Is there anyway of finding the information online as to whether the platters are glass or metal.

[I no more]

-{ Quote: "Thank you. This is exactly what I'm going to do. I found a little HD toolkit on Amazon. I could never figure out how to open a HD, sad but true. Hopefully I've got glass platters as they look quite easy to break.

Quick follow-up. Here's the internal 320GB HD model #:

WD3200AAKS-00B3A0

Is there anyway of finding the information online as to whether the platters are glass or metal." }-

I've never seen a desktop hard drive (3.5") that was glass, so my money's on metal.

I've done this a few times. You just open the case. The screws are on the side of the hard drive with the label. The screws are called Torx, which are much less common than Phillips head or slot head.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torx

If the platters are metal, you should be able to scratch them very easily with a small screw driver, and it shouldn't take more than a few minutes to thoroughly scratch both surfaces of a platter. Once the platters are bent with pliers, they should look like scrap metal. :thumb:

[dantz]

A small pair of vise-grips can also be used to remove the case screws, and they will also come in handy on some of the internal mechanisms.

PS: Send me the magnets!

[chiraldude]

I have found it near impossible to find the torx sizes used in newer hard drives.
A standard set will have most but not the tiny ones. What really works well however are wire snips AKA "diagonal pliers". Grab the torx head with the pliers parallel to the the length of the screw. Usually you can get just enough grab to get the screw moving.
Great for stripped Phillips screws as well. 8)

If the platters are metal just put down a piece of sand paper and rub until you see a color change. The magnetic coating is only a few microns thick so should go very fast.