How do I permanently destroy a hard drive?

Can a hard drive be permanently erased?

Yes, you can completely wipe a hard drive, but you'll need to do more than simply delete the files stored on it. Deleting files from a hard drive doesn't actually remove them — it just reassigns that space so new files can be added later on. To clean a drive completely, you need to actually erase the data.

What liquid will destroy a hard drive?

Melting hard drives involves dipping them in acid to destroy their platters and housing. Although this is one of the most effective hard drive destruction methods, it is also one of the most dangerous. This is because the process involves using hydrochloric and nitric acids.

How do you destroy a hard drive so it Cannot be recovered?

Can I destroy a hard drive by putting it in water?

When a hard drive gets wet, the water could potentially cause a short circuit, especially if it dries on the platters. But water alone will not destroy a hard drive or delete its data. While water can damage a hard drive's electronics, the data itself is stored magnetically.

How to Destroy Data on a Hard Disk PERMANENTLY!

How do I wipe my hard drive before selling it?

To wipe HDDs in Windows, use Disk Manager (right-click the Windows icon at bottom left and scroll up to Disk Manager) and select the drive to be formatted. Make sure that "Perform a quick format" is unchecked and select NTFS as the file system. Format the drive three times to make sure you get everything.

Can you completely erase a computer?

For Windows 10, go to the Start Menu and click on Settings. Then navigate to Update & Security, and find the Recovery menu. Next, select Reset this PC and choose Get Started. Follow the instructions to revert your computer back to when it was first unboxed.

How do I delete all personal information from my computer?

How do you prepare a computer for disposal?

How much does it cost to wipe a hard drive?

After the hard drives are shredded, they will send you a certificate of destruction. If you have over ten hard drives, they will charge \$12 per hard drive. The disks need to be removed prior to pickup. Some shredding companies will charge a much as \$50 per hard drive.

Will a magnet destroy a hard drive?

If you've ever watched the hit TV show 'Breaking Bad', you'll already know that yes, technically it is possible to destroy the data on a hard drive with a magnet. But you will also know that the magnetic force required to do will also destroy pretty much everything else around it – including the computer itself.

How do you destroy a hard drive with a hammer?

Brute force is the best option. You can take apart the drive, sand down the platters, and poke holes in them. You can pound nails through the drive, or smash it into bent pieces with a hammer. As long as the platters can't spin, you've done well.

What should I do with my old hard drive?

Can you microwave a hard drive to destroy it?

Microwave. DO NOT DO THIS! Microwaving a HDD is one of the most ineffective ways to destroy data, but it WILL be effective in starting a house fire.