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Easy to follow instructions on how to wipe and destroy your hard drive
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Do you have a hard drive filled with sensitive data that you want to get rid of? Do you want to be sure that data never sees the light of day? The first thing you should do is wipe the data from the hard drive in a secure manor. Then for good measure, you should physically destroy the hard drive. This wikiHow article teaches you how to destroy a hard drive so it can't be recovered with expert tips from computer specialist Yaffet Meshesha.
Best Ways to Destroy a Hard Drive
- Take the hard drive to an industrial incinerator or shredder to be disposed of professionally.
- Smash the drive with a hammer and dispose of the pieces in different locations so they can’t be put back together.
- Back up your data and wipe the drive clean with a software program to render most of your data irretrievable.
Steps
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Back up your data. Before you wipe a hard drive, make sure to back up all of your important and legal data . Anything that is left on the drive when you wipe it and/or destroy it physically will be very difficult (if not impossible) to retrieve.
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Determine what type of drive you need to destroy. The way you go about wiping data from a hard drive may be different depending on the type of drive it is and what its primary purpose is. The following are different types of hard drives: [1] X Research source
- Primary hard drive: The primary hard drive is the drive that stores your computer's operating system (i.e. Windows, macOS). While you can delete individual files from the primary drive, you generally will need to format your computer to erase the entire hard drive. While most operating systems offer built-in ways to format the computer, this may not be the most secure way to wipe the hard drive. A more secure method will be to use disk sanitization software.
- Secondary storage device: A secondary storage device is an additional hard drive connected to your computer that stores data, but does not contain your computer's operating system. This can be a second internal hard drive, or an external hard drive, or even a USB drive. You can usually wipe a secondary storage device without reformating your computer or booting from a disk.
- Hard Disk Drive (HDD): Hard disk drives are mechanical hard drives that use spinning platters to store data. These are typically found in older computers and are much less efficient than modern drives. They are typically pretty easy to erase and physically destroy.
- Solid State Drive (SSD): Solid state drives are newer drives that use flash memory to store data. Unlike HDDs, they have no moving parts and are typically much faster and more efficient. However, because they use a different algorithm for storing data, some methods for wiping a HDD may not be able to wipe an SSD.
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Download data sanitization software. According to Meshesha, when you delete files from a hard drive, they are not necessarily gone forever because the space those files occupy is not actually erased. Instead, the space is marked as available to be overwritten. Unless that space is overwritten by new data, the data can still be recovered using data recovery software. Data sanitization software works by overwriting the data on a hard drive multiple times and replacing it with random data. The following are some examples of data sanitization software: [2] X Research source [3] X Research source
- BCWipe Total Wipeout : BCWipe Total Wipeout is a disk sanitization program that works with HDDs and SSDs It uses military-grade technology and meets data wiping standards for the Department of Defense and numerous other government agencies. BCWipe Total Wipeout is a paid application, but a free trial is available.
- ShredOS : ShredOS is an open-source free tool you can use to wipe your hard drive. It works for both HDDs and SSDs, but it may not be as secure with SSDs. It may not be as secure as paid tools, and may not meet regulatory standards for different industries. However, it may be suitable for personal use.
- BitRaser : BitRaser is another professional-grade disk sanitization tool. It works for all types of hard drives (HDDs and SSDs) and all types of computers (Mac, PC, Chromebook, etc). It charges a flat rate per hard drive you want to wipe ($20 for one, $99 for 10). It is also built to comply with a variety of professional standards.
- SSD Secure Erase: SSDs come with a secure erase command built-in to the firmware. You can download a tool that will activate this command from the manufacturer's website of your SSD. However, using the secure erase tool may not be as secure as using more powerful data sanitization tools. Manufacturers that have secure erase include: Crucial , Samsung , SanDisk , Seagate , and Western Digital .
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Create a bootable flash drive with your sanitization software. Most disk sanitization tools require you to create a bootable flash drive that you can boot from. To do this, you will need a USB flash drive (or perhaps a blank CD-R/DVD-R) to create a bootable disk.
- The software you download may come with a tool you use to create a bootable flash drive. If so, simply launch the tool and follow the prompts to create a bootable flash drive.
- In some cases, the disk sanitization software may come with an ".iso" file. You can create a bootable USB drive from an ISO file using a free tool like Rufus or Balena Etcher .
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Boot from the bootable disk drive. After creating a bootable disk drive, shut down your computer. Insert the bootable USB drive into a USB port and boot your computer. Your computer should boot from the USB drive and boot into the disk sanitization software.
- If your computer is not booting from the USB drive, you may need to enter the BIOS/UFEI menu . From there you can change the boot order so that your computer boots from the USB drive first before the hard drive. Your computer will usually tell you what button to press while booting to enter the BIOS/UFEI menu. It's usually F2, F8, F10, F12, Del, or something similar.
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Select the drive erasure options. Some tools may have an "autonuke" feature that you can run to quickly format your disk. Some give you some options to choose from for added security. For example, it may ask if you want to create a blank drive or fill it with junk data. It may also ask you how many passes you want to erase the disk. Generally, the more passes will take longer, but the more securely your data will be erased.
- The Department of Defense military standard (DoD 5220.22M(E)) is at least 3 passes.
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Erase all of the Wipe-a-Hard-Drive data on the hard drive with software. After selecting your sanitization options, select the option to wipe your hard drive . This may take a while depending on what options you selected and how thoroughly you want to erase your drive. [4] X Research source
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Remove the hard drive from your computer. Open the computer case and remove the hard drive . The hard drive can be located in different spots in each type of case, sometimes within a metal box. You can look up where the hard drive is located online if you’re struggling to find it.
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Remove the casing from the drive. To remove the casing, you'll likely need to loosen a variety of screws, depending on your hard drive's make and model. Possibly cutting some tape. Be warned that there are often screws hidden underneath labels, so you might have to go poking around. [5] X Research source
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Take the drive apart. Once you remove the casing from the hard drive, go ahead and remove the casing to reveal the inside. If the drive is an HDD, you should be able to see the platters on the inside. If it is an SSD, you should be able to see the data chips on the inside.
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Physically destroy the drive. There are a variety of methods you could use to physically destroy your drive, depending on what type of drive it is and how securely you want to destroy it. The following are some methods you could use to destroy a hard drive:
- Use a drill: If it's an HDD, drilling several holes through the platters can prevent a computer from reading the hard drive. However, this isn't the most secure method of destroying a hard drive as there are methods of recovering data from a partially destroyed hard drive. However, the average person will not be able to recover data from the drive.
- Use a hammer: If it is an SSD, you could try using a hammer to smash it. You'll want to make sure you access the inside of the SSD so you can smash all the data chips. Again, this isn't the most effective way of destroying a hard drive as it is possible to recover data from a partially destroyed hard drive. You'll also want to wear eye-protection to protect your eyes from pieces you send flying.
- Use a degausser: This is another method that works on HDDs, but not newer hard drives, like SSDs. Degaussing is when you use a powerful magnet to disrupt the magnetic field on the hard drive. This completely erases all data on the hard drive. [6] X Research source
- Use a shredder: One of the most effective ways to destroy an HDD or SSD is to use an industrial shredder. This will shred and pulverize the hard drive into many tiny little pieces. This will make is nearly impossible to recover data from the drive and the remaining pieces can be recycled.
- Use an incinerator: Another method for destroying a hard drive is to put it in an incinerator. A hot enough incinerator can completely destroy the hard drive. This is probably one of the more dangerous methods to attempt at home as burning eWaste can release harmful chemicals.
- Take it to a professional: Since most people don't have a degausser, industrial shredder, or incinerator at home, you may want to take it to a professional eWaste or eRecycling center that specializes in data destruction. They can determine the best method to destroy your hard drive in a way that complies with regulations.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow much does it cost to have a hard drive shredded?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIt will depend on where you are and what businesses are near you, but you might expect a charge of around $10 to $15 per drive with a certification of destruction in many cases. You might be charged less if you are destroying many drives or much more if you are only destroying one drive and don't have many options in your area.
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QuestionCan you erase a hard drive with a magnet?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIt's possible, but you would need a very powerful magnet and there are much more consistent ways to erase or destroy a hard drive.
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QuestionIf I just soak the hard drive in water, will that be enough to destroy it?Community AnswerHonestly no. Real forensic hackers can take the disc and replace the circuits. It will be corroded, but not gone. I'd say blow torch, hammer and a couple of bullet holes. Even after that I'd bury it.
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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- The full health impacts of burning hard drives (or any e-waste) aren't understood yet, but we have enough research to know that there may be negative side effects. Try other methods of destroying your hard drive first.
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Warnings
- It’s impossible to guarantee that any method for permanently erasing your data is 100% effective. Proceed with caution when using any of these steps.Thanks
- Make sure to use best safety practices when destroying your hard drive to prevent serious injury.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/blogs/how-to-erase-data-securely/
- ↑ https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/blogs/how-to-erase-data-securely/
- ↑ https://www.cmu.edu/iso/tools/data-sanitization-tools.html
- ↑ https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-wipe-your-hard-drive
- ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+safely+and+securely+destroy+hard+disk+data/140673
- ↑ https://www.mediaduplicationsystems.com/blog/how-to-use-a-hard-drive-degausser-a-stepbystep-guide-from-media-duplication-systems/
About This Article
Article Summary
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Before wiping all of the data from your hard drive, make sure you back up any data you want to keep. Then, plug your hard drive into your computer and electronically delete all of the information. To access your hard drive, open the computer case, find the hard drive casing, which should be labeled, and remove the circular hard drive. You can then destroy your hard drive by hammering it, burning it, melting it, crushing it, or even shooting it! No matter what method of destruction you choose, make sure you do so safely and within the parameters of the law. If you want to learn how to safely take the hard drive out of your computer, keep reading the article!
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Reader Success Stories
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