Linked Questions
12 questions linked to/from How do you destroy an old hard drive?
12
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6
answers
2k
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Best method of retiring hard drives [duplicate]
What are some typical ways you guys retire hard drives? We have a hard drive that won't mount anymore (makes clicking sounds when it tries to mount). The data on it isn't necessarily sensitive (no ...
10
votes
2
answers
5k
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Magnet to wipe HDD [duplicate]
This question is for HDD, not SDD.
Would a Neodymium magnet like this one be strong enough to wipe the contents of a hard disk drive?
How long would such an act take to destroy any data so it's not ...
0
votes
2
answers
86
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How can you securely destroy data permanently and completely? [duplicate]
I have some extremely sensitive data on a computer, hard drive, and on a private server. I do not care about cost or method, as I have a lot of funds (though not unlimited) and I do not want to go ...
6
votes
2
answers
224
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What is the best way to recycle an old hard drive that might still have sensitive data? [duplicate]
Six years ago, I got a Seagate Agent Flexgo hard drive, but recently it started showing signs of failure.
I was unable to get it formatted. I thought of opening up the inside to find some way of ...
104
votes
8
answers
45k
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How can I reliably erase all information on a hard drive?
As storage technologies change over time, using different encodings and remappings to deal with sector errors, the best way to permanently erase/wipe/shred data changes also.
Methods for flash drives ...
40
votes
6
answers
9k
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How "scrambled" is the data on a RAID5 disk?
My concern is the disposal of a replaced disk from a private RAID5 disk array.
I have had to replace a disk from my personal RAID5 disk-array. It had started developing errors, so out it went.
But ...
49
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7
answers
26k
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How to securely, physically destroy a hard drive at home?
Hard drive in question has sensitive unencrypted data but has failed and no longer responds so can't be wiped.
I'd like to physically destroy the said hard drive (3-1/2" desktop, spinning platter ...
33
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7
answers
53k
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Can a hard drive be destroyed by drowning?
These are some ways of disposing of hard drives: Special firms, degaussing, hammering, pulling apart.
Can this be accomplished more quickly by drowning it? Fill a bucket with water, maybe add some ...
9
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3
answers
6k
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How to erase as much as possible an SSD without ATA Secure Erase?
The question is almost completely answered. However, more details are still needed. See Update 2 down here.
I've learnt that the ATA Secure Erase is uncorrectly implemented in SSDs (sources are down ...
8
votes
3
answers
2k
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Secure hard drive disposal: How to erase confidential information
When it comes to disposing of hardware that may contain PII, confidential, or other sensitive material, how do you determine what needs special handling? What process do you use?
I'd like to expand ...
1
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4
answers
2k
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Completely wiping a HDD (i.e. nothing is recoverable) [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can I reliably erase all information on a hard drive?
I'm looking to see if there's a method that can completely wipe out the content of a HDD, so that nothing previously ...
0
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1
answer
306
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How far beyond using Shred should I go when deleting files? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can I reliably erase all information on a hard drive?
I'm looking to securely erase my files. Is shred the best option besides ditching the hardware? To what lengths ...