How do you destroy a hard drive effectively?

How do you destroy a hard drive effectively?

How to destroy a hard drive the fast way

1. Flip the hard drive over so you can see the main circuit board.
2. Use a Torx driver to unscrew the circuit board using the four Torx screws.
3. Remove the board, break it in half, and discard it.

Is there a way to completely wipe a hard drive?

This tool is useful if you plan to sell, donate, or recycle your computer or laptop. A sure way to completely destroy the hard drive is to make it physically impossible to access the disks. This can be done by dismantling the pieces of the hard disk with a screwdriver and using a hammer to scratch and mangle the disk.

Does Best Buy destroy hard drives?

Once the hard drive is removed, your local Best Buy can recycle the unit for you. Items with LCD screens do require a $10 fee for hazardous materials handling but in return we give you a $10 Best Buy gift card. to wipe the drive, check out this website: www.dban.org.

How do I wipe my hard drive clean for free?

5 Free Programs to Completely Wipe a Hard Drive

1. DBan (Darik’s Boot and Nuke) http://www.dban.org/
2. KillDisk. http://www.killdisk.com/
3. Disk Wipe. http://www.diskwipe.org/
4. Eraser. http://eraser.heidi.ie/
5. HDD Low Level Format Tool. http://hddguru.com/software/HDD-LLF-Low-Level-Format-Tool/

How do I wipe my hard drive before donating?

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC > Get Started > Remove everything > Remove files and clean the drive.

How much does it cost to erase a hard drive?

After the hard drives are shredded, they will send you a certificate of destruction. If you have over ten hard drives, they will charge $12 per hard drive. The disks need to be removed prior to pickup. Some shredding companies will charge a much as $50 per hard drive.