How to Destroy A Hard Drive and Make A Hard Drive Unrecoverable

While asking how to destroy a hard drive or make a hard drive unrecoverable on Google, you will find some like-minded friends online. Because the hard drive holds a large variety of confidential files, including resumes, credit card files, paper, etc., we all want to know how to deal with a vast amount of info. If the disk is not needed anymore and ready to be thrown away or sold, simply formatting is not enough for data safety. Unfortunately, it makes data invisible to the system and usually keeps data unless it is overwritten.

That is why wiping data is the essential step. This article will learn how to destroy a hard drive and make a hard drive unrecoverable. Check a secure erasing tool and some physical ways.

Workable Solutions	Step-by-step Troubleshooting
Preparation Before Destroy Hard Drives	Backing up all files first on the USB or other portable device....Full steps
Method 1. Destroy Hard Drive by Drive Destruction Software	Click "Wipe Disk" feature of Qiling Disk Master...Full steps
Method 2. Physically Destroy Hard Drive	Destroy drive's platter; burn it; drive destroyer...Full steps

Preparation Before Destroy Hard Drives

Even though the hard drive is destiny to recycle bin or Amazon, wait for a second, it is essential to check data one more time. Once starting wiping or other physical solutions, recovering data from a wiped hard drive is a slight chance. Perhaps you can find many guides to tackle such issues. However, honestly, it is not possible to recover data after erasing.

So we recommend backing up all files first on the USB or other portable device.

Method 1. Destroy Hard Drive by Drive Destruction Software

How to destroy a hard drive without physical damage? Qiling Disk Master can help you secure erase data without hammer and screwdriver, which provide three functions to wipe disk, wipe partition, and shred files. It is free to wipe a hard drive.

Main features of Qiling Disk Master:

Wipe OS-installed disk and data drive.
Erase C drive; Free to wipe partitions on the same hard drive.
Shred files - delete files altogether.
Support Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Server 2012-2022.
Support advanced wiping algorithm - Qiling Secure Erase, One Pass Zeros, One Pass Random, etc.

Try A Free and Rapid Wiping:

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Done for downloading? Now check detailed steps to clean data on the hard drive:

Step 1. Run Qiling Disk Master. Click the "Wipe Disk" tab.

Step 2. Select the targeted HDD or SSD to wipe.

Notice: Please make sure you have chosen the correct HDD or SSD. Once the wiping starts, your data is irrecoverable.

Step 3. Choose Wiping Method.

Choose a suitable wiping method. Recommend Qiling Secure Erase!

Step 4. Check the warning message and click "Proceed" to confirm.

Step 5. Wait for wiping finish and click "Done."

Method 2. Physically Destroy Hard Drive

Aside from third-party software, you could apply the physical methods if you want to destroy the hard drive. Physical solutions refer to the use hammer or screwdriver. Alternatively, you can burn it or buy a physically driven crashed machine. Please skip this part if these two tools do not exist at home.

1. Hammer Hard Drive (Personal Use)

The most straightforward method is to use a hammer to shatter the hard drive beyond recognition completely, but there are still risks. If the hard drive is not hammered thoroughly, someone who wants to steal data will still assemble fragments to extract information. In addition, improper use of the hammer will hurt you. Please use with caution.

2. Destroy Drive's Platter (Personal Use)

If the hard drive stops in use, you can destroy the magnetic platter to ensure the data is unrecoverable. To check the platter, it needs a T7 marked screwdriver to remove a screw. Next, disassemble the main circuit board.

3. Burn It (Personal Use)

Yes, burn it with fire. Make sure the drive's platter is melting. When the platter is corrupted, physical force can never recover the data. However, the burning process will go for a while and release toxic fumes, harming health.

4. Use Hard Drive Destroyer (Office Environment)

If the company tries to destroy all standard hard drives from laptops or PCs, let us look at Hard Drive Destroyer (like Crunch 250 hard drive destroyer), spending 9 seconds to destroy SSDs. This method is safer than using a hammer, and no small pieces will fly out.

5. Melt It with Acid

If you have a strong acid (hydrochloric acid) container, you can dip the hard drive into the container to dissolve the hard drive. However, this method also releases toxins.

All physical methods are workable, but some require specific tools or environments. Better to take third-party software without physical damage. Go back to part one.

Final Words

What is the option? You can make data irretrievable in these ways. Qiling Disk Master is a safe drive eraser software to completely erase all data from internal, external hard drives, memory cards, and another external portable device. Moreover, it can wipe data on disk volumes by the advanced wiping algorithm. Moreover, the file destruction tool also shred files and folders at once. Using this incredible tool, you are free to lift a hammer. All wiping algorithms make existing data unrecoverable.

Of course, third-party software is not the only choice. We also mentioned physical ways to burn, hammer, melt, crash hard disks. Keep eyes safe (goggle is needed.)