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For the truly paranoid...
If you *really* want to delete the data off a hard drive I've got two words for you: wire wheel. happy

Take the platters out of the drive and sand off the magnetic coating of each platter. Make sure to get both sides...

Once you've polished the aluminum base platters to a nice mirror-like silvery shine, ain't *nobody* reading those platters ever again! (laughing)

Seriously, you have to balance your response to the likely threat level. For most people doing a full format with Windows format (not the fast format) is probably sufficient.

DO NOT do a low-level format (hardware format). Today's drive electronics aren't sufficiently precise to write the guide tracks, you'll destroy the drive for good. (Or have to send it back to the factory). I doubt today's drives can be low-level formatted anyway.

If you're afraid of the NSA or other black-helicopter brigades, and have only a limited budget, then go with a wire wheel.

Oh, and for that final, over-the-top, massive overkill so beloved of the tin-foil hat set:

Take a welding torch to the platters afterward. The heat will destroy any lingering magnetic residue and utterly destroy the platter's crystalline structure--not to mention turning the platters into molten lumps of aluminum.

If you live near the coast take the lumps of aluminum and drop them least 20 miles offshore where the water is at least 5,000 feet deep.

Again, horses for courses. Wiping software is almost certainly sufficient. So is full formatting. And if not, well wire wheels are cheap enough, so are the electric drills you need to turn them...
Posted by: wolf_z   Posted on: 04/20/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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What about low-level formatting?  Ferd666 | 04/20/05
That's only step one..  Xunil_Sierutuf | 04/20/05
many, many times  ZzSmirKzZ | 04/20/05
Multiple wipes are needed but IMHO hardware changes could resolve this  Root User | 04/20/05
Nope Nope and hunh uh  Squawkbox | 04/20/05
Who's your rep Squawk?  Jeff Spicoli | 04/20/05
i recommend KillDisk  Monkey_MCSE | 04/20/05
apparently you need to actually read the article before you respond  Valis Keogh | 04/20/05
RE: "What about low-level formatting?"  ajapierce | 04/21/05
Several hours? $20 to $30....?  Jomo_z | 04/20/05
Angle grinder  wizard_of_oz | 04/22/05
Here's the RIAA solution..  Xunil_Sierutuf | 04/20/05
Message has been deleted.  itanalyst | 04/20/05
Thank You ZDNet Nazis  itanalyst | 04/20/05
For the truly paranoid...  wolf_z | 04/20/05
All major drive makers have their own low level utilities..  Xunil_Sierutuf | 04/20/05
Wire wheels are too much trouble; just drill it.  Atlant | 04/22/05
Not enough  wizard_of_oz | 04/22/05
Mac OS X Secure Empty Trash and Zero all data  RicD_ | 04/20/05
Still not enough  doctormoriarty | 04/20/05
Thanks for your comment...  RicD_ | 04/20/05
Destroying the Drive  kaneos | 04/20/05
Thermite  wizard_of_oz | 04/22/05
Re: Thermite  chsjbowen@... | 04/22/05
I have the PERFECT solution  Jeff Spicoli | 04/20/05
One more step..  Xunil_Sierutuf | 04/20/05
Offtopic...  Loverock Davidson | 04/20/05
"Seen the new Playboy?..  Jeff Spicoli | 04/20/05
STUPID, STUPID, STUPID ...  Eggs Ackley_z | 04/20/05
Of Course...  agohige | 04/20/05
Sometimes it's not the computer owners fault.  Kerensky97 | 04/20/05
Shallow end  BruceWheelock@... | 04/21/05
My Solution...  agohige | 04/20/05
The BEST Solution  Nullifidian | 04/20/05
another way  crocd | 04/20/05
A lot of discussion for a simple task  mdailey | 04/20/05
It can be reconstructed...  MV_z | 04/22/05
Skeletons on your hard drive  Loverock Davidson | 04/20/05
Bitty Better Destroy His Hard Drives  itanalyst | 04/20/05
But the 4 SuSE stickers on his PC won't give it away..  Xunil_Sierutuf | 04/20/05
Out of date  somiko | 04/20/05
Limits of technology ...  George Mitchell | 04/20/05
Didn't you just two negatives to = a positive?!?  Squawkbox | 04/20/05
Dangit  Squawkbox | 04/20/05
I'm confused ...  George Mitchell | 04/20/05
Oh Ok  Squawkbox | 04/20/05
Burn it  CobraA1 | 04/21/05
re: Burn it  Wolfie2K3 | 04/21/05
Better make sure the fire's hot  wizard_of_oz | 04/22/05
Re Stupid, stupid  j.t.neuteboom@... | 04/21/05
An Angle we never think about  ITGuy04 | 04/21/05
Physically damage the platters (as many have described above)  Atlant | 04/22/05
If you want to trash your harddrive ...  coffeenite | 04/21/05
degaussing  wrestler_z | 04/23/05
one time solution  fletch_z | 04/28/05

What do you think?

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