Destroy data from failed HDD..is it possible?

[patkim]

My SATA HDD Seagate has now given up within an year!. I am likely to get a replacement from the company.

However I want to know is there any software or some way to destroy the existing data before I hand it over to the vendor?
Thanks,

[nish_higher]

if its detected by your computer in bios then yes you can
using dos utility called seatools u can erase ur hdd ie. write all zeros to drive-thats the command in the interface
seatools can be downloaded from here-
http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/seatools/

[Gigacore]

writing zeros will take hell lot of time isn't it? But its the only easy solution

[nish_higher]

^ yea..a 160 gb hdd takes 22-35minutes in full erase..another way is to connect some 2-3 12v batteries in serial and power the hdd when smoke comes out your job is done..but this option works only with WD..if u do it on seagate u r done :) - no warranty

[paid]

if harddisk is undetectable only extreme high magnetic field could wipe data

[nish_higher]

^ thats not practically possible

@ patkim could you be more specific about your hdd crash?its current state?

[Gigacore]

@paid, how about dropping it from 10 feet? and see he if the hard disk is really hard or not?

Dont try those magnetic field stuff, it can damage the platters physically

[NucleusKore]

^Won't damaging it too much void his warranty? Especially external damage?

[Gigacore]

bro, i just said about dropping it for joke. Wanna be a NOTW nominee once again?

[ilugd]

take it to some high tech physics lab and ask them to bomb it in a particle accelerator or something.
particleaccelerator@physics-lab:~$bombardwithelectrons -t 5 -i 9
Particle accelerator exited with status 0: Normal Exit - Data wiped.
particleaccelerator@physics-lab:~$

:-)

[Gigacore]

just do as nish said, if you try coz other techniques, you will not just destroy the data, but you will destroy the hdd as well.

@ ilugd, what happened to ur big mustache dude? Time to get married?

[ilugd]

:-(
/me runs away from Gigacore.
(Dont scare me by talking of marriage yaar)
My friend didn't like my moustache. (If you know what I mean.)

[NucleusKore]

Wanna be a NOTW nominee once again?

Too bad your silly thread got TRASHED.

[Gigacore]

^ it was not my thread, it was arsenal's :p

@ ilugd, lol, i got it ;)

[club_pranay]

but seriously, leaving the hdd in a moderate magnetic field should do the job. the I/O head MFI is .8T. so keeping the hdd in slightly over that for a couple of minutes over it should work!

[patkim]

My boot screen is stuck up at 'Verifying DMI pool data'. The HDD is however displayed in the BIOS screen.

[nish_higher]

^ before doing that read this-
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000474.htm

[paid]

^ before doing that read this-
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000474.htm

nice info nish_higher

@patkim: I suggest since your disk is detectable check all your cables firm & intact then boot through XP Bootable CD & choose Repair then restart & boot from Harddisk if problem solved then fine else Format Hard Disk then run chkdsk for badsectors. If there are bad sectors use disk wipe software to destroy all the data and send harddisk for replacement. If no badsectors present try installing the OS again maybe your problem due to corrupt installation

[patkim]

Initially I felt that HDD is gone.
But thank you all for your inputs, yes ultimately it was the bad SATA cable.
.. after cable replacement it's now booting fine.

[ax3]

ohh thats cool .... u r damn lucky .....

bt if u wanted ur data 2 b safe before giving 2 an outsider ....

* delete ur all ur data >> now its empty
* copy any rubbish files [ur fav movie] --- duplicate it, till its full

thus it will automatically replace ur original data [which is suppose 2 b deleted] .....


hope my solution is right .... i did this while exchanging my old HDD & my vendor was amazed & delighted 2 have some good movies in his hand .... ;-)