the best therapy

Nah, I won't hurt such poor creatures

@asgs They are so defenseless...

Can't some disk platters survive of you just use a sledgehammer? Isn't it safer to use one of those hard drive piercing things?

@jespersh just to make sure I guess

And to waste material

@devTea most of these were bad or too old to recirculate, but we send all our old or "bad" towers to the local recycling center. They pay us more for full towers (mobo, HDD, at least 1 stick of RAM, PSU, etc.) and they also use fire to basically burn them beyond usability. The magnetic coating is burnt off in the process.

This is mainly for stress relief and customer pleasing.

@jespersh thats not true, there are companies who can still recover partial files after three full wipes and a fire

@Codex404 prepare to bring your wallet and more though..

@jespersh there is companies whose main business it is to do that. Clean rooms etc replacing magnets etc. Linus tech tips went to one of those companies once

@jespersh We had a massive ball of the magnets being added to at the repair shop I worked in. Best collection I've ever had.

Shred && toast && frisbee 😊

Demagnetizer also works quite well.

@Nanos I cant recommend sledgehammers at all. If the data is somewhat sensitive the best way to destroy it is illegal acids. Partial disk fragments can still be used to get data from

@Codex404 What is an illegal acid?
I can buy or brew HCl without issue.

@Codex404
There arent any illegal acids unless you are talking about drugs...

Of course if you have enough money and connections, people can recover data from nearly every data storage device. But i dont think they will go as far to get that data. It is a reward vs cost game. I think that method is good enough vs common scumbags. Just format + put random data then HAMMER TIME and you should be fine for 99,999% of cases. Bent plates are dificult to recover.

How about using the huge neodeadlium magnet to fuck it up?

@Nanos
You use bases to clean pipes not acids.
Bases such as NaOH or KOH convert fats into soap that can dissolve in water.

@Gregozor2121 there are quite a few that needs a permit. They are relatively easy to get your hands on. Most high schools will have access to it.

@Codex404
Which ones are we talking about? I dont think in my country i need a permit for them.

@Gregozor2121 sorry I dont know names myself, Ive to ask my brother since he is a chemist.

@jespersh what about bad sectors?