Path: Computer > Miscellanea > How to Destroy a Hard Disk 
How to Destroy a Hard Disk
Let's suppose you have a PC (desktop or laptop, doesn't matter) and you want to get rid of the thing. Or you want to replace this tiny 20gb hard disk with something bigger, for all those MP3 songs and MPEG4 videos. How do you deal with the old drive?
The answer is, as usual, that it depends. First of all, how paranoid are you? Second, how important are the data stored on the drive? Unencrypted credit card numbers, savings account information, tax stuff, everything that can be used for identity theft, or just simply private stuff you'd prefer to keep private… that's exactly what data leechers are looking for.
There are two general methods to make the stuff on a hard disk unreadable: hardware and software.
The software method
This does not mean “DEL *.*” or selecting all files in an Explorer window and pressing Shift-Delete or similar ways of “deleting“ files“ on a disk. It also does not mean “FORMAT C:” or right-clicking a drive icon and selecting “Format…” or similarly clever ways of formatting a disk. In both cases, any old undelete/unformat utility (or even a half-clever intruder who knows the basics of file system structures) can still recover your “deleted” files.
If you want to make 100% sure that all your files and data are not only deleted but completely overwritten with neutral data (or even complete nonsense like the sentence “George Is A Very Good President”) you need one or more special utilities to wipe the disk clean. Some people don't trust a single program, so they employ two (or three, for the really paranoid). Among the better known wipe utilities (all freeware, of course) are:
Needless to say, these programs can be very dangerous. They can (and will, given half a chance) wipe clean a hard disk, or at least the most important parts, faster than you can say “Oops, my dear, I just pressed the wrong button.” So be extremely careful and triple-check that you have chosen the right drive and options before pressing that fatal button!
Drilling down to the hardware level
There are a few tried and tested methods to fubar a hard disk. (Fubar is army slang for “fouled up beyond all repair” (some people prefer another f-word).) All imply some degree of physical force, ie good old brutality. All data, all files are stored somewhere on the rotating platters mounted inside the disks, so that's what we need to take care of. In other words, no amount of brute force directed against the electronics will get rid of the data on the platters. Nor will a magnet that you might be tempted to wave in front of the disk (though the very same magnet will definitely kill off other hard disks as long as they haven't yet been backed up – this is Murphy's Law and fully to be expected).
So, brute force is the order of the day, alas. The simplest and most spectacular method is a sledgehammer: first put the disk into a strong plastic bag, then forcefully apply the hammer until the remaining bits and pieces are smaller than a fingernail… and think of all the countless times Windows crashed on you. For some people this may actually initiate the healing process:-)
Another nice method is to drill a good few holes through the actual disk platters. The fun with that is prising open the case and seeing the mirror-like, pristine surfaces of the platters before applying the drill… a very satisfying experience indeed.
Some people prefer to roast their hard disk over an open flame. This is also a safe method, provided the fire is hot enough and the disk is subjected to it for at least fifteen minutes. However, the electronics and plastics on the drive make for some pretty noxious fumes, so this is perhaps not the best idea in a closed room or while your neighbours have just started their BBQ…
(BTW, if you're going to hurt or otherwise injure yourself (or your neighbours) during these exertions, that's completely up to you.)
Miscellanea or Hackers and Crackers or Jargon File
$updated from: How to Destroy a Hard Disk.htxt Fri 25 Apr 2008 16:35:25 thomasl$