I want to damage files on a CD so no one can steal them when they go in the garbage (can they be recylced?).
How effective is scratching the CD? I know it happens by accident with little viable damage...and there's some CD that have gone through hell and run without a problem.
If it is effective, whats the best way to do it? Deep, a certain direction? All over and not just in one area?
Is there anyway people can still get to the files after scratching them real good...?
2007-09-08 12:45:18 · 6 answers · asked by Betsy 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
A scratch will keep a normal computer person from reading the data. But there are equipment out there that can read the data that isn't under the scratch.
Think of it like a LP (vinyl record) if you are old enough to remember those.
The data is written around the cd like the music on the grooves of an LP. You run a scratch from the edge of the LP to the center hole and it will destroy the music along that scratch. All the rest of the music can still be played from the undamaged grooves.
You will need to scratch the cd around the cd and not across it only.
Of course the best is a cd shredder.
2007-09-08 12:57:38 · answer #1 · answered by PcCowboy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are special CD scoring tools available for quite cheap but your best best is to use a heavy duty paper shredder that will score the disk deeply in multiple places.
Placing it in the microwave for 5 seconds will also render it unusable since it causes the metallic coating to flake off but can cause arcing inside your microwave resulting in a fire.
2007-09-08 23:32:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a heavy duty shredder, some will shred CD's. Heat them in a low oven, on a cookie sheet, until they start to puddle.
I have heard about zapping them in a microwave, but it might be hard on the microwave.
2007-09-08 19:50:52 · answer #3 · answered by Computer Guy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put it in the microwave.....that will totally destroy anything on the CD-R
Another way if you're not really in the mood to see sparks fly is putting duct tape on the label side of the disc and pulling it off....the underside of the label is where the recording layer is.
2007-09-08 19:53:52 · answer #4 · answered by GH 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes, scratching the cd means the gov't can still read the cd. best is to break it in half and get some plastic in your eye, or you can just put in the microwave for 10 seconds and it cracks it all over instantly
email me with problems
10 points please :)
2007-09-08 19:49:57 · answer #5 · answered by brett_otte 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
wow, you go through so much unnecessary troubles. JUST BREAK THE DISCS and toss them
2007-09-08 19:49:14 · answer #6 · answered by Chris 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋