Solved How to wipe an external hard drive


The fastest way to wipe data and destroy a digital device is a few seconds in the microwave. That's standard procedure in a certain line of work, according to a friend who works for the government. Recommend getting a cheap, used microwave for the job..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 22H2 Pro (X-lite Micro 11 version)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell/ Precision 7680
    CPU
    i7 13850HX (20 cores, 28 threads)
    Motherboard
    Dell
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    32GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
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    4K UHD Touchscreen
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    WD Blue 1TB game drive
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    240W AC adapter, 1800W when docked
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    1 gigabit symmetrical
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    Firefox, Librewolf
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    None. Manully configured so nobody except me can change any critical system files. (Don't ask how, it's probably against some rule somewhere)
DJNelson said:
The fastest way to wipe data and destroy a digital device is a few seconds in the microwave. That's standard procedure in a certain line of work, according to a friend who works for the government. Recommend getting a cheap, used microwave for the job..
Click to expand...
I consider this 'advice' as a very dangerous one!
Nobody knows what the consequences of such a handling are. The microwave could (in worst case) explode by such a method, but mostly it won't survive anyway.

Most HDD have a full metal case, which forms a short circuit for microwaves. The oven will have severe damage from that and the effect to the HDD will be minimal, because of the Faraday cage effect of the metal shield.

I still consider a mechanical destruction as the best measure.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8457
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Build by vendor to my specs
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    MSI PRO B550M-P Gen3
    Memory
    Kingston FURY Beast 2x16GB DIMM DDR4 2666 CL16
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    MSI GeForce GT 730 2GB LP V1
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    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX
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    1. SSD Crucial P5 Plus 500GB PCIe M.2
    2. SSD-SATA Crucial MX500-2TB
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    Corsair CV650W
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    Cooler Master Hyper H412R with Be Quiet Pure Wings 2 PWM BL038 fan
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    Router: FRITZBox 7490
    Oracle VirtualBox 7 for testing software on Win 10 or 11
Yes. It is dangerous. Best done outdoors. It is also much more effective than degaussing.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 22H2 Pro (X-lite Micro 11 version)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell/ Precision 7680
    CPU
    i7 13850HX (20 cores, 28 threads)
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD/ RTX 1000 ADA
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    4K UHD Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2400
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 512GB system drive
    WD Blue 1TB game drive
    PSU
    240W AC adapter, 1800W when docked
    Internet Speed
    1 gigabit symmetrical
    Browser
    Firefox, Librewolf
    Antivirus
    None. Manully configured so nobody except me can change any critical system files. (Don't ask how, it's probably against some rule somewhere)
It's not just dangerous. Because HDDs mostly have a shield it is pointless too. You'll never know if the 'destruction' was succesfull. The only thing you know for sure is destructing your microwave oven...

Totally different from big destruction ovens, that are used in the industry.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8457
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Build by vendor to my specs
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
    Motherboard
    MSI PRO B550M-P Gen3
    Memory
    Kingston FURY Beast 2x16GB DIMM DDR4 2666 CL16
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GT 730 2GB LP V1
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S24E450F 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1. SSD Crucial P5 Plus 500GB PCIe M.2
    2. SSD-SATA Crucial MX500-2TB
    PSU
    Corsair CV650W
    Case
    Cooler Master Silencio S400
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper H412R with Be Quiet Pure Wings 2 PWM BL038 fan
    Keyboard
    Cherry Stream (wired, scissor keys)
    Mouse
    Asus WT465 (wireless)
    Internet Speed
    70 Mbps down / 80 Mbps up
    Browser
    Firefox 130.0
    Antivirus
    F-Secure (Internetprovider version)
    Other Info
    Router: FRITZBox 7490
    Oracle VirtualBox 7 for testing software on Win 10 or 11
Thanks to all who have replied. In the past, I have used a sledgehammer. For this round of destruction, I introduced them to my drill press. Just had to sharpen my drill bits afterwards and vacuum up the mess.

Stu
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8960
The most surefire (and fun) way to destroy a hard disk is to drop it into the lava of an active volcano.

An alternative approach is to give it to my exwife and it will never be seen again.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro + Win11 Canary VM.
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Zenbook 14
    CPU
    I9 13th gen i9-13900H 2.60 GHZ
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB soldered
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop OLED screen
    Screen Resolution
    2880x1800 touchscreen
    Hard Drives
    1 TB NVME SSD (only weakness is only one slot)
    PSU
    Internal + 65W thunderbolt USB4 charger
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois (UK pint cans - 568 ml) - extra cost.
    Keyboard
    Built in UK keybd
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wireless dongled, wired
    Internet Speed
    900 mbs (ethernet), wifi 6 typical 350-450 mb/s both up and down
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    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0, 2xUSB4 thunderbolt, 1xUsb3 (usb a), 1xUsb-c, hdmi out, 3.5 mm audio out/in combo, ASUS backlit trackpad (inc. switchable number pad)

    Macrium Reflect Home V8
    Office 365 Family (6 users each 1TB onedrive space)
    Hyper-V (a vm runs almost as fast as my older laptop)
cereberus said:
The most surefire (and fun) way to destroy a hard disk is to drop it into the lava of an active volcano.

(snip)
Click to expand...
But travelling through Mordor to Mount Doom could be a bit risky. ;-)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 26200.8116
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Amd Threadripper 7970X
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte TRX50 Aero D Rev. 1.0
    Memory
    128GB (4 X 32) G.Skill DDR5 6400 (RDIMM)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 4090 OC
    Sound Card
    none (USB to speakers), Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Innocn 32" OLED
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @ 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Crucial T700 2TB M.2 NVME SSD
    WD 4TB Blue SATA SSD
    Seagate 18TB IronWolf Pro
    PSU
    BeQuiet! Straight Power 12 1500W
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo XL
    Cooling
    SilverStone Technology XE360-TR5, with 3 Phanteks T30 fans
    Keyboard
    Cherry KC 500 MX LP (mechanical)
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Internet Speed
    2000/250 Mbps (down/up)
    Other Info
    xFinity gateway
  • Operating System
    windows 11 26200.8116
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel I9-13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus RoG Strix Z690-E
    Memory
    64GB G.Skill DDR5-6000
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 3090 ti
    Sound Card
    built in Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philips 27E1N8900 27" OLED
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850 1TB
    8TB Seagate Ironwolf
    4TB Seagate Ironwolf
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1300 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX Liquid CPU Cooler
    Keyboard
    Cherry Streaming (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
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