Is there any data stored on a hard drive PCB?

[Red Squirrel]

This sounds like a crazy question, but I want to be 100% sure. Is there any data that can remain on the PCB? I'm thinking about the cache. Is it NVRAM or just RAM? Or does it vary per drive?

I have a bunch of drives I need to destroy, but then I got thinking, instead of wasting so many efforts on destroying 70% just metal, I can remove the platters, and dispose of the rest, then destroy the platters. I will probably find a safe way to make them spin fast while I hold a sand paper block to both sides then bend them out of shape then throw in seperate trash cans. Am I 100% safe this way? I'm assuming so.

I know the odds are 1 in 999999999999999 simply by me scratching up the top platter but I want them be be 0.

 

[bAMtan2]

pros just write over the disk and call it a day. so use dban, etc.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I usually do that too before (if the drive is accessible). Usually I only destroy a drive that has failed, others get recycled as backup drives.

I am running "shred" on a drive now, actually. Then it will be destroyed. The drive is actually failing which is why it was replaced.

 

[silent-circuit]

What is on these drives that you care so much?

 

[jay2472000]

Silent, http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1563478

Once you read that thread, this one becomes hilarious.

 

[silent-circuit]

Silent, http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1563478

Once you read that thread, this one becomes hilarious.

I posted in that thread.

This one's a winner!

Don't want the MPAA to find your fake virus infested Harry Potter telesyncs, OP?

 

[odditory]

unbelievable.

 

[Red Falcon]

Silent, http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1563478

Once you read that thread, this one becomes hilarious.

lol, that's really funny!

OP, if you are trying to hide the data, zero out the drive. If not, smash it with a hammer.

 

[kuyaglen]

lulz

 

[Red Squirrel]

Actually it has nothing to do at all with that post. I'm not too worried bout the legal issues of downloading. Legal where I am. We exchange movies at work all the time.

I have a bunch of various hard drives that have been piling up as they are either failed, or are too old (IDE) to be used in production. Finally decided to do something about them. Some were used as backup drives, others in several systems, so I cannot take any chances. Some may contain stuff like banking passwords, source code, stuff that is property of the company I work for etc... Instead of trying to figure out whether or not I can afford to risk the data being recovered, I just destroy them all equally. Standard procedure, lot of companies do it. I just don't have a fancy shredder or degauser like some companies do.

 

[Red Falcon]

Yes, break it with a hammer then, that's what we do at my job when we have to get rid of HDDs.

 

[ghost6303]

a sledge hammer will suit your purposes. make a friday afternoon out of it with some guys from the office. fantastic way to relieve stress hah.