[iamubiquitous]

Overkill notwithstanding, all you need to do is drill completely through the drive (Making sure you target the plates.), once. Then discard in appropriate fashion (Read as 'Recycle'.).

[JohnWill]

Well, that's not technically true. The data in places you haven't drilled could be recovered by disassembling the drive as they do in data recovery facilities.

[Lex.Luthor]

Johnwill is right,

In my military training, with AV/SAT surv, SARS, and other training, there is a way to "fill" in the gaps from the missing data. It's like putting a puzzle together. With a certain algo formula, the computer system can "Guess" and search for other programs and data that are exact in comparison. To make sure that your data is secured, the hdd disk must be completely destroyed as in melted and recycled into something else.

[JohnWill]

Remember, we're talking about what's possible, not what's likely. The only sure way is to totally destroy the platters.

[valis]

had to wipe a users hd today, as it got corrupted and would not boot, but the data was salvageable. Was on hold with dell, and had the right set of hex head screwdrivers, popped the lid of, keyed up the platter nice and good, snapped off the actuator arm, and gave it to my boss, asking if that was good enough to give to the recyclers.

He put it on display as 'gangsta d-ban'.

[JohnWill]

I have platters from a 14", 8", 5.25", 3.5", and a 2.5" disk hanging on my wall. I'm still looking for the 1.8" platter, but I haven't killed any of those drives yet.

[valis]

jeez, john......you could make a nice mobile out of that for the grandkids.....

[JohnWill]

He's too young to appreciate it, I'll wait a few years.

[Lex.Luthor]

You're not talking about the old brown IBM 14" data disk right?

I used to have one, there's about 6 hole in the middle. I think I was 10 then when I started to get into electronics.

[JohnWill]

Yep, they were brown oxide in those days. You can stick the 3.5" platter right through the disk.

[TechAddict]

Wow, we are all talking about Hard drives and... What do ya know! A Hard drive sellers AD is on the right!

LOL.

[iamubiquitous]

Originally Posted by JohnWill

Well, that's not technically true. The data in places you haven't drilled could be recovered by disassembling the drive as they do in data recovery facilities.

Actually, if you drill through the disc media, which is composed of a highly sensitive magnetic alloy machined to the significantly tight specs. necessary to meet the standard, the only way to recover data would be through the prohibitively costly method of carefully filling the holes so the the heads will not catch on the edges(And forget about not corrupting the data in process.). You may think you could read the data on the untouched portion of the disc, but the heads read the entire disc at spin-up to verify the surface and mbr, etc.

[iamubiquitous]

Originally Posted by Lex.Luthor

Johnwill is right,

In my military training, with AV/SAT surv, SARS, and other training, there is a way to "fill" in the gaps from the missing data. It's like putting a puzzle together. With a certain algo formula, the computer system can "Guess" and search for other programs and data that are exact in comparison. To make sure that your data is secured, the hdd disk must be completely destroyed as in melted and recycled into something else.

Lex, yes given enough resources, and the will to do it, this can be done BUT, the average law enforcement agency does not have the time, $, or the will unless the case is high-profile involving life/death, national security or child endangerment. Of course multi-million $ theft would get their attn. too, but in all the cases stated, the agency would become fedral AND we all know what that means in terms of resources. I do data rec. for dumass musicians who have lost, killed, deleted or corrupted their music and charge by the Mb of recovered work.

[iamubiquitous]

funny, that's what I do with them...they all have distinct and pleasant tones....hive-mind.

[JEJB]

Thanks iamubiquitous.

I was starting to wonder what form of Frankenstein monster I created with this question. After drilling, scratching, bending, breaking, and burnishing I thought I had done enough. Then I read some of these later posts and it would seem that nothing short of a Star Trek transporter set on maximum dispersion would protect my data.

In the end I'm inclined to think no one would spend the kind of money necessary to try and recover my data. I mean if it's that valuable they can write me the check and I'll tell them what was on the darn thing!