Comments on: HOWTO: Decommission a Hard Drive

By: Blair

Blair — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:27:09 +0000

I’ve tried that in the past. It’s not very reliable. A bulk eraser (essentially a huge electromagnet) might work, but I’m trying to do this without spending a whole lot of money.

I noticed that the article said part of the reason they were able to recover data from the space shuttle was that the platters weren’t warped. After the “dozen or so vigorous whacks with a hammer”, the platters on this drive weren’t merely warped, they were bent.

But just to be sure, I drove a nail through ‘em.

By: Squish

Squish — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:55:31 +0000

What about strong magnets?

By: Blair

Blair — Sat, 10 May 2008 04:40:33 +0000

Squish sent me that too. Makes me think maybe the next step is either a propane torch or perhaps soak it with some sort of solvent.

By: Z.

Z. — Sat, 10 May 2008 02:16:36 +0000

I wouldn’t be too sure about this method.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080510/ap_on_hi_te/shuttle_recovered_data_9

By: Jen (Watson)

Jen (Watson) — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:29:46 +0000

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Now I want to decommission a hard drive!

By: Blair

Blair — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:10:02 +0000

Nope. No fires here. (I do however own a red stapler.)

By: skink

skink — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:54:35 +0000

Had an Office Space moment, did you?