Jolly Roger wrote: > The NewGuy <noemailhere@please.comm> wrote: >> So is there any faster way of making the data unreadable to average >> people other than overwriting with zeros? > > I used to erase cassette tapes with a bulk magnetic eraser. I wonder if > one of those might work on a hard drive without damaging it?
If you open it up, you get dust in it. If you don't open it, the case "conducts" the lines of force so that the field inside is negligible.
Maybe if you put it next to one of those junk yard car lifting magnets. But if you were successful, it would no longer be usable. Some very low-level formatting is put in with special controllers by the manufacturer. This is necessary for the end-user drive card to find the blocks the computer is asking for.
-- Wes Groleau "If it wasn't for that blasted back-hoe, a hundred of us could be working with shovels" "Yeah, and if it weren't for our shovels, a thousand of us could be working with spoons."
