HOw do i safely dispose of a hard drive?

[Alkesh]

is there a designated spot, like for batteries?

 

[SparkyJJO]

no special spot that I'm aware of, but the best way to make sure no one can get the data from the drive is take a hammer to it and destroy it

 

[sjandrewbsme]

I think the platters are made of an aluminum alloy (or at least they were) or glass. They aren't like lead based batteries. The cases are usually aluminum too. I don't think you risk any sort of problem by throwing them away in the trash. Here in Denver, we have curbside recycling of pretty much everything (Al included).

If you're concerned about data, open it up and smash the platters with a hammer. There are companies that dispose of old hard drives (for large businesses are government entities) but I think that's a waste of time for 1 drive.

Or, you can google dod wipe and delete the hard drive using software.

 

[fatpat268]

with thermite

 

[grohl]

I took a drill to mine. Fun, too.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: fatpat268
with thermite

Ah yes, I recall there being a thread on this very subject some time ago. Thermite was probably the most fun idea. Quite thorough too.
Another option - use a belt sander to reduce the platters to dust.



Realistic options though - DBAN and run the full 35 pass overwrite (takes a LONG time), and then look online for a place that recycles electronics. I've sent stuff to Envirocycle already. $25 gets you a UPS shipping label good for up to 69 poounds of verious electronics.

 

[corkyg]

No haz mat in a HDD. I recently threw two out - step one - to the driveway. Step 2, pounded them with a 5 lb. masonry hammer until the circuit board was blasted and the drive caved in.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Originally posted by: corkyg
No haz mat in a HDD. I recently threw two out - step one - to the driveway. Step 2, pounded them with a 5 lb. masonry hammer until the circuit board was blasted and the drive caved in.

That sounds more fun than my plain old hammer idea. I'll have to do that next time

 

[OSX]

Acquire Ammonium Nitrate and Diesel Oil. Fill drive with said ingredients. Light, and run.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: corkyg
No haz mat in a HDD. I recently threw two out - step one - to the driveway. Step 2, pounded them with a 5 lb. masonry hammer until the circuit board was blasted and the drive caved in.

Except possibly lead in the PCB, and who knows what other chemicals used to make it.

 

[Zap]

Just take it apart and toss everything except the platters. .. use those as paperweights.

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: Zap
Just take it apart and toss everything except the platters. .. use those as paperweights.

You can also give them to your girlfriend or wife, they're super-clean and quite shiny.

 

[thescreensavers]

Open her up Get a 60grit sand paper and sand away

 

[Conky]

Run dban on them and then take them apart... I like thescreensavers's idea of sandpaper although opening them up and dropping them into a lake would be just as easy.

 

[BigPoppa]

Why go to the pain of a sander? Hammer method basically shatters the platters into a nice fine dust. Try getting data from dust.

 

[AstroGuardian]

You can actually use it for many purposes throughout your home. You can save it and put it on your Christmas tree next year.

I don't think it matters where you will dispose the PCB. If it contains lead it is toxic anyways. Just make sure it does not pollute food or water. Just like someone said, find a lake and throw it

 

[thescreensavers]

actually this would be a good episode of "Will It Blend"

 

[AirForceElite]

i have heard stories that some companies restore data from burned hard drives
or hard formated hard drives..and even hard drives that have all old files replaced.
like downloading some big dvd movie worth of 5GB, and then copying and pasting it until hard drive is full...the old data sure will be deleted..but no..the company still was able to recover.

weird huh

 

[jameswhite1979]

Sand it too dust then snort it you might well be the first person to snort 80gigs of data! Then try to find a company that will be able to read it...

 

[StopSign]

I don't think you can beat thermite for this kind of job.

 

[crydee]

You guys must be up to a lot of no good to be worried about your dataz that much

 

[SuperNaruto]

http://www.datadev.com/v94.html

erases everything.. including servo tracks

 

[StopSign]

Originally posted by: SuperNaruto
http://www.datadev.com/v94.html

erases everything.. including servo tracks

It's kinda expensive...

 

[SparkyJJO]

Originally posted by: crydee
You guys must be up to a lot of no good to be worried about your dataz that much

bank numbers and personal info is something to be worried about. Frankly I don't have anything of importance like that on a drive so I just format the old drive and sell it if it is worth anything. But if there is any sensitive data that you do not want being recovered at all, thermite or a hammer would make sure the data is irrecoverable

 

[BillClo]

I just take the drive apart, smash the platters with a hammer into small pieces, and put the hard drive case into a box of recycleable aluminum. You can take the aluminum to a scrap dealer and get money for it. HD cases run about 1/2lb each. Accumulate some other aluminum scrap and get a little $ for your trouble. But most folk won't bother, disposable everything being the in thing nowadays.