Destroying data on damaged hard disks

[m1ddy]

Hey Guys,

I have a number of laptop hard drives here that need disposing of. They have failed and are no longer any use. The problem is that obviously, I can't just chuck them as there is sensitive data on them. My normal method of using DBAN to wipe them fails as the disks are faulty but someone with a little knowhow will still be able to get data off them if they wanted to.

What do you suggest I do to destroy the data short of getting out the grinder and spending an afternoon in the DT workshop/

Ta!

Jon

[plexer]

Just do that or take a sledgehammer to them.

[Domino]

Belt saw in DT, cut them into quarters.

Bish, Bash, and indeed - Bosh.

[danrhodes]

I opt for storing them up, then when a member of staff P15535 you off take a hammer to them. It will sort the stress out easily!

Or collect them and make large dominos to topple over all round the office?

D

[Mcshammer_dj]

I opt for storing them up, then when a member of staff P15535 you off take a hammer to them. It will sort the stress out easily!

Or collect them and make large dominos to topple over all round the office?

D

surley taking a hammer to the member of staff would be far more enjoyable

[Andrew_C]

A drill is much quicker, and safer than a grinder. I drill through one of the controller chips, this will prevent the thing running and discourage random kiddies even trying, and then through the platter if its metal. I suppose it might be possible to read some of the data, but you would need to be trying very hard, with the facilities of CSI Miami!

If the platter is glass, ding it with a punch through the hole recently drilled. No way anyone will read that!

[Pyroman]

or do what i did as i was trying to make a display of computer internals and tap the platter with a screwdriver, shattered into nearly dust sized pieces... oops

[enjay]

Ask your Science tech about the possibility of setting up an electromagnet for you, do your dead backup tapes while you're at it.

[Mcshammer_dj]

We have a caretaker who has welded a metal box onto the school boiler.

Leaves disks etc in for a couple of weeks and then disposes of

[K.C.Leblanc]

Thermite.

[pete]

your language dept may have a bulk tape eraser lying around.

[elsiegee40]

Another vote for the hammer.

Very satisfying - they just shatter!

[mpe]

Hey Guys,

I have a number of laptop hard drives here that need disposing of. They have failed and are no longer any use. The problem is that obviously, I can't just chuck them as there is sensitive data on them. My normal method of using DBAN to wipe them fails as the disks are faulty but someone with a little knowhow will still be able to get data off them if they wanted to.

What do you suggest I do to destroy the data short of getting out the grinder and spending an afternoon in the DT workshop/

You could try a blowtorch, though make sure that the fume extraction is up to dealing with PCB "cooking".

[Mcshammer_dj]

why not follow the government lead and either.
1. Leave the on a train
2. Send them to some one in the post
3. Depend on a private company to deal with the problem without bothering to put any checks in place.

[Andrew_C]

your language dept may have a bulk tape eraser lying around.

Ask your Science tech about the possibility of setting up an electromagnet for you, do your dead backup tapes while you're at it.

You'd think that wouldn't you? I am in the Languages Dept, we do have two bulk erasers, and no they won't touch HDDs. I've tried!

Maybe a Van Der Graaf from Science?