Yavin4 must have kiddie porn and the feds are closing in.

[Tucker]

Yavin4 Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Jun-24-11 06:38 PM
Original message
Best Way To Wipe Clean Old Hard Drive?
   
Thoughts?

What else could it be? You just don't hear this question very much.

jmowreader Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Jun-24-11 06:48 PM
Response to Original message
1. How bad do you want the old hard drive?
   
I wiped clean the old hard drive in my mom's last computer with a three-pound sledgehammer. Let's just say you won't retrieve anything from that drive ever again.

Not what he wanted to hear.

MrScorpio Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Jun-24-11 06:48 PM
Response to Original message
2. Electromagnetic Pulse
   
It'll take care of all of your problems…

And give you an entirely new set of problems to deal with.

MilesColtrane Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Jun-24-11 07:11 PM
Response to Original message
6. Boot and Nuke
   
http://www.dban.org /

Then get a power drill and drill some holes through the sucker.

struggle4progress Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Jun-24-11 07:32 PM
Response to Original message
9. There are programs available that write random crap onto the drive over and over again
   
What's available depends on your OS

The time required will depend on the size of the drive and how many passes you choose for writing random crap

Whether it's worth your time to spend a lot of time writing random crap over and over and over again depends on the sensitivity of the data, how much energy anyone is likely to spend trying to retrieve the data, and how valuable the drive is

This article has some suggestions
http://www.cnet.com.au/wipe-your-hard-drive-clean_p3-24...

So does Wikipedia:
Gutmann method
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gutmann_method

If it was even there, the feds will find it.

hobbit709 Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Sat Jun-25-11 08:16 AM
Response to Original message
15. Depending on paranoia level and whether or not you still want to use it.
   
If you are going to use it yourself a simple wipe and format will handle it.
If you are going to get rid of the drive to someone else, then a format and DOD level wipe will do it.
If you are totally paranoid, then a sledgehammer and and acetylene torch will do it.

Next week Yavin will be asking questions about buying a new computer. Maybe CPeg will give you a new one.

[franksolich]

Hmmmm.

If any primitive had asked that question, I'd guess it would be the skumbag primitive.

[BlueStateSaint]

Hmmmm.

If any primitive had asked that question, I'd guess it would be the skumbag primitive.

Certainly, there's at least one primitive that would state a one-liner statement, then ask, "Thoughts?"

Which primitive(s) was (were) that?

[Skul]

MrScorpio Donating Member (1000+ posts)  Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list    Fri Jun-24-11 06:48 PM
Response to Original message
2. Electromagnetic Pulse
  
It'll take care of all of your problems…

And give you an entirely new set of problems to deal with.

EMP fries the circuits, not the disk, DUmbass.
A good old fashioned degausser might do the trick.
Almost kind of doubt that, too.

[JohnnyReb]

EMP fries the circuits, not the disk, DUmbass.
A good old fashioned degausser might do the trick.
Almost kind of doubt that, too.

Down load the "water treatment" app.....IOW's dump it in the deepest part of the ocean you can get to.

[franksolich]

Essentially it's true, right, that one can never get rid of, permanently, something that's on one's computer hard-drive?  That there's ways and means professionals can extract anything that's been on it?

If so, if I were the skumbag primitive, I'd be sweating bullets.

[BlueStateSaint]

Essentially it's true, right, that one can never get rid of, permanently, something that's on one's computer hard-drive?  That there's ways and means professionals can extract anything that's been on it?

If so, if I were the skumbag primitive, I'd be sweating bullets.

Big bullets.

[Tucker]

What else could it be? After all, they are the party of NAMBLA.

[Randy]

The only way to be sure is to physically reduce the drive to itty bitty fragments. You can't recover data from a sliver.

[GOBUCKS]

Essentially it's true, right, that one can never get rid of, permanently, something that's on one's computer hard-drive?  That there's ways and means professionals can extract anything that's been on it?

If so, if I were the skumbag primitive, I'd be sweating bullets.

DUmmy Yavin just read up on the capabilities of computer forensics experts. No one asks that question unless their hard drive could land them in federal prison.

I wonder if the DUmp's favorite plagiarist, admirer of pubescent girls, and DUmmy Raven's colossal disappointment, has covered his tracks well enough?

[BannedFromDU]

DUmmy Yavin just read up on the capabilities of computer forensics experts. No one asks that question unless their hard drive could land them in federal prison.

I wonder if the DUmp's favorite plagiarist, admirer of pubescent girls, and DUmmy Raven's colossal disappointment, has covered his tracks well enough?

On the other hand, it could just be the DUmbass is being a DUmbass, thinking that Agent Mike is interested in all the little Protest McNuggets on his 486 DX266 computer from 1994 that he's finally upgrading to a used Macbook he bought off some other DUmbass.

[franksolich]

On the other hand, it could just be the DUmbass is being a DUmbass, thinking that Agent Mike is interested in all the little Protest McNuggets on his 486 DX266 computer from 1994 that he's finally upgrading to a used Macbook he bought off some other DUmbass.

Uh, if it's true nothing can ever really be erased from a hard-drive, I wouldn't be buying a used computer from a primitive. 

No way.

[GOBUCKS]

Uh, if it's true nothing can ever really be erased from a hard-drive, I wouldn't be buying a used computer from a primitive. 

No way.

Just get a notarized affidavit along with a bill of sale.

[BannedFromDU]

Uh, if it's true nothing can ever really be erased from a hard-drive, I wouldn't be buying a used computer from a primitive. 

No way.

Then I guess getting a BJ from one is out of the question?

[franksolich]

Then I guess getting a BJ from one is out of the question?

That was never an option, sir.

As was never a primitive groping franksolich's rear-end, as much as the primitive would like to.

[miskie]

Permanently destroying a drive is easy. Since I build PCs on the side, I often end up with old junk which I part out , save for the hard disks which I destroy for the clients.

 A ) remove and discard the circuitboard.  A drive's geometry is almost impossible to read without an exact match. If its an old drive the odds are its good as dead. However if one is paranoid, or the data is that sensitive--

 B ) Dismantle remaining drive assembly, remove platters and destroy with tin-snips. Discard the bits and pieces in random public trashcans, such as the ones outside of McDonald's, Supermarkets, etc etc.  If all of the puzzle pieces aren't in one place, the odds are quite good nobody will ever be able to do anything with the remains. This is the same technique I use with old credit cards.. I chop them up, and dispose of the bits and pieces in different locations.

[Tucker]

Permanently destroying a drive is easy. Since I build PCs on the side, I often end up with old junk which I part out , save for the hard disks which I destroy for the clients.

 A ) remove and discard the circuitboard.  A drive's geometry is almost impossible to read without an exact match. If its an old drive the odds are its good as dead. However if one is paranoid, or the data is that sensitive--

 B ) Dismantle remaining drive assembly, remove platters and destroy with tin-snips. Discard the bits and pieces in random public trashcans, such as the ones outside of McDonald's, Supermarkets, etc etc.  If all of the puzzle pieces aren't in one place, the odds are quite good nobody will ever be able to do anything with the remains. This is the same technique I use with old credit cards.. I chop them up, and dispose of the bits and pieces in different locations.

I think that the DUmmy in question was hoping to just erase it like a DVD-R.

[BannedFromDU]

Permanently destroying a drive is easy. Since I build PCs on the side, I often end up with old junk which I part out , save for the hard disks which I destroy for the clients.

 A ) remove and discard the circuitboard.  A drive's geometry is almost impossible to read without an exact match. If its an old drive the odds are its good as dead. However if one is paranoid, or the data is that sensitive--

OK, great. Now I just need to find an electronics shop that is unionized, uses all green technology, doesn't contribute to Rethuglikkans and can prove it, has at least one LGBT employee in management, and uses all products made in the USA only.


 B ) Dismantle remaining drive assembly, remove platters and destroy with tin-snips. Discard the bits and pieces in random public trashcans, such as the ones outside of McDonald's, Supermarkets, etc etc.  If all of the puzzle pieces aren't in one place, the odds are quite good nobody will ever be able to do anything with the remains. This is the same technique I use with old credit cards.. I chop them up, and dispose of the bits and pieces in different locations.


That is not an option, as I do not set foot on the property of any fast food franchises, and I only buy food at famrer's markets and coops. I'm also boycotting most places that have trashcans, and in any case I do not discard anything that can't biodegrade.

See above.

[miskie]

See above.

Heh - awesome - though If the primitives were steadfast on their union/USA made beliefs, there would be no DU, as none of them would have a computer.

I think that the DUmmy in question was hoping to just erase it like a DVD-R.

I'm sure - I figured I'd answer the question for normal people who don't mind spending about 30 minutes of labor killing a drive the most effective way.

[Skul]

Really, why are those DUmmies so freaked out over this?
Smack it with a hammer, stuff it in a paper bag, and be done with it.
Sheesh, stupid DUmmies.
There aren't any black-ops folks looking for you.

[DefiantSix]

Really, why are those DUmmies so freaked out over this?
Smack it with a hammer, stuff it in a paper bag, and be done with it.
Sheesh, stupid DUmmies.
There aren't any black-ops folks looking for you.

Unless, of course, you're like DUmbshit Yavin and have enough incriminating shit on your drive to make you the prison bitch forever.

[thelaughingman]

The only way to be sure is to physically reduce the drive to itty bitty fragments. You can't recover data from a sliver.

Git yaself wun ov deez:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOO1Z4u2Aq4[/youtube]

[LC EFA]

My method for disposing of old hard drives :

1) Remove external circuit board and pulverise.

2) Remove top cover , internal boards and head mechanism. Dispose of.

3) Remove drive platters and char with MAPP gas or acetylene torch until crispy and powdery.

4) Pulverise remains of platters above and leave exposed to weather for a time then dispose of in municipal garbage collection.

5) Dispose of enclosure in municipal garbage collection.

The Magnets that form part of the head mechanism are worth preserving and keeping for a variety of uses as they're quite strong for their size.
 

[DumbAss Tanker]

Essentially it's true, right, that one can never get rid of, permanently, something that's on one's computer hard-drive?  That there's ways and means professionals can extract anything that's been on it?

If so, if I were the skumbag primitive, I'd be sweating bullets.

It's close to that; top-end forensic/intelligence recovery programs are extremely powerful, it is really a question of just how valuable the data is to the person seeking to recover it, and how much time and effort they are willing to put into the recovery.

The actual disk array inside the drive is fairly well shielded from degaussing or EMP by the metal surrounding it, and a recovery lab can easily disassemble the drive and put the physical disk stack into another serviceable case with intact electronics to see what's on it, so physically destroying or successfully hiding of the disk assembly itself is the only absolutely foolproof method to beat a lab that really, really wants to know what was on that disk. 

Or you could use a solid-state memory virtual disk (Basically it's like a mega-version of a USB memory stick, except with enough capacity and the physical connections to replace a conventional hard disk).  Once a record stored on one of those babies is overwritten once, it's gone for good.

[catsmtrods]

I just throw mine in the wood stove and leave it ther till there's nothing left. Takes about a week.