How do I destroy a hard drive?

[Jazzy]

I'm going to setup a new computer in a few days. But have a question:

How do I destroy a hard drive before recycling my computer?

 

[Stravinsk]

From a software perspective, I know how to do this with Linux, but not Windows.

From a hardware angle, you might look into it using strong magnets, particularly if your hard drive is a magnetic drive.

 

[tango]

I'm going to setup a new computer in a few days. But have a question:

How do I destroy a hard drive before recycling my computer?

What I do is physically dismantle it, run the magnets from inside the drive over each platter individually, and then put the platters with the platters from other similarly destroyed hard drives. The individual pieces get put in scrap metal buckets - the steel is junk but there are a few pieces of aluminum that go into the bucket for the next time I take scrap metal to the scrap metal merchant. The steel goes with the rest of the junk to the local thrift store - they get enough of it from enough sources it's worth their while dealing with it.

If you lack the tools or the inclination to go to that extent, I gather an angle grinder works pretty well.

Of course depending on your new computer you may be able to just plug it in and use it as a backup device.

 

[Jazzy]

What I do is physically dismantle it, run the magnets from inside the drive over each platter individually, and then put the platters with the platters from other similarly destroyed hard drives. The individual pieces get put in scrap metal buckets - the steel is junk but there are a few pieces of aluminum that go into the bucket for the next time I take scrap metal to the scrap metal merchant. The steel goes with the rest of the junk to the local thrift store - they get enough of it from enough sources it's worth their while dealing with it.

If you lack the tools or the inclination to go to that extent, I gather an angle grinder works pretty well.

Of course depending on your new computer you may be able to just plug it in and use it as a backup device.

Thank you very much!