where can i go to physically destroy a hard drive?

Question

i keep hearing about heavy duty shredder, sledgehammer, letting it soak in special acid. is there a place that specializes in doing this or renting this stuff without buying it? there must be a service that has a self-serve to physically destroy a hard drive, what would i look under the yellow pages for?

personal info on me and my fam including soc #, dob, financial info is on the hard drives that's the reason to destroy

selling the comp

i already know the things to destroy it, just want to know if there are places that have the stuff or specialize in it without buying the equipment

already know about formatting it. formatting is still recoverable that's why phyiscally destroy it

none of you are helpful so far, if you dont' have helpful info or info i already know don't answer.

james bond, go finger yourself and stick it up your nose forever

people, i already have ideas on how to destroy it by checking yahoo answers:

http://answers.yahoo.com/search/search_result;_ylt=Amu4kGvQxGb0grjKGvyyBewjzKIX?p=physically+destroy+a+hard+drive

i just want to know if there are businesses that have places to do this or rent this stuff out so i don't have to for example buy a sledgehammer for using it only once. no heather, it's you who must be an adolecent for answering with your opinion outside the question, which i could care less and is unhelpful

Answer 1

Why not just reformat it, and take it outside and beat it with a sledgehammer? (make sure to wear eye protection and gloves!)

Reformating it alone will not entirely remove the information! If someone still wanted to get to your info after that, it's possible, so reformat for good measure and physically destroy it on your own!

Edit: You're not going to get anyone to help you if you're being rude to those who are already trying to - if you know so much already, why are you asking for help? We're trying to tell you how to do it completely without paying someone, which I think is better advice than shelling out cash for something you can do yourself.

Answer 2

I would think that if you would simply open the drive up with a screwdriver that would be enough to destroy it. You see, these drives are manufactured in ultra clean conditions, a mere speck of dust will obliterate a HDD. As far as a business who would do this for you, maybe a local computer store, not the franchise type, might do this for you while you watch. If you want to rent a sledge hammer a tool rental place might be able to help you out. I don't know o any specific hand tool that is used to destroy a hard drive. Throw it on a cement floor might work as well!

Answer 3

go to the manufacturer's website. they have programs to reset the drives back to blank or military standards which consist of 00000000 11111111...... etc. there is no way any info can be read from a fully formated drive with the software. ie: maxtor has a utility called max-blast that will do it and all other manufacturers have similar programs.

if you don't want an answer don't ask! sure some are ridiculous but i did not spend years in a tech school to have someone that asked the question dismiss my opinion and expertise.

Answer 4

I have a hard time believing your reasons for wanting to destroy the hard drive. With an answer like, "go finger yourself and stick it up your nose forever" you have to be approximately 12 years old. What kind of 12 year old has important financial information on their hard drive.

Answer 5

To answer your exact question, no there is no service that specializes in this. The main reason being that most people own their own hammers, not a sledgehammer, but just a plain hammer will work.

Answer 6

1) Take it apart.
2) get the actual disk inside.
3) put gasoline on it.
4) light a match.
5) break it with a sledgehammer into smithereens.
6) bury it in a deep hole 4ever.

Answer 7

Download Dariks Boot and Nuke. Put it in the CD-Rom and reboot to CD. This program will erase everything, including the OS, on the hard drive back to 0s and 1s.

Warning: There is no recovery should you change your mind mid process.

Answer 8

Open up the hard drive, run a magnet over it, they use huge industrial magnets here at our govt facility, but you can pick one up at your local hardware store for cheap. That should take care of it.

Answer 9

Why do you want to destroy a hard drive.Keep it safe and use it for some purpose

Answer 10

Take it apart, take out the actual disks, and throw them in the microwave