how to destroy data not the drive of a hard drive that is not in a computer.?
601498
I used to do consulting work for banks...\nThey had a rule that all disks removed from system had to be taken out in the parking lot and physically smashed up with large hammers.   No way anyone was ever going to get that data back ;-)\n\nIf there is no other way to access the drive, you might consider just taking it apart and snapping the platter into a million tiny pieces.\n\nYou did take backups, right?  :-)
968089
make sure they are not stored on a removable drive and aren't in hidden or readonly folders
1005561
I'm going to go the extra mile, first destroy any data on the hard drive by wiping it with a utility, I like Eraser 5.7, http://www.download.com/Eraser/3000-2092_4-10231813.html some have said burning it, sadly, burning the drive will not destroy the data.  Any data restoration firm will simply replace the control board, make any repairs necessary to the read write heads and if your data has not been wiped from the drive, they will be able to recover ~98% of the data that was on it.\n\nMoving on, after you have wiped the drive using a utility, get yourself a drill, and drill holes in the drive, no particular pattern, you just want to break it to a point where the platters themselves are damaged and the read/write heads can't make sense of what to do.  Damaging the controller board doesn't make sense because those are easily replaced, heck, I've done that.\n\nHousehold magnets won't do the trick either.  You'd need an industrial strenght powered magnet to do any damage to the drive.  If you want to destroy your drive, follow my instructions and no one will be able to access your data.  Even the FBI would have issues with it.  The thing is, you can damage the control board, you can damage the read/write heads but if you don't damage the platters themselves then anyone (okay not anyone) but some would still be able to access your data.\n\nThe platters can be removed from a drive, popped into a working hard drive and voila, whadya know, the data can be read by any old working hard drive.  I've done that too.  You have to physically wipe the data (okay you get my meaning) before damaging the drive with tools.  If the data is still there, people like me, heck, your mom and pop PC shop and of course, hackers could still access the data.
1153746
Shred all the files with McAfee shredder, or zero-out the hard drive (zero-out is on Disk Utility on macs, and norton might have it, i don't know)
443081
Do this go to MajorGeeks.com and download for free "KILLBOX" this will remove any file safely.
483440
if you have norton system works you could use norton wipe info. try zdnet.com. they have a variety of programs to use for deleting files.
398071
Go into DOS and type in C:&#92;format\n\nIt'll ask if you're sure, and you say yes.\n\nHD manufacturers have a small program you can download to write 0s over the entire drive, ensuring that no data can be recovered - run that program after formatting off of a floppy disk, and it should be totally erased.\n\nAlternatively, there are a TON of programs that offer to completely erase hard drives - I have no experience with those, however.\n\nGood luck!
166267
Removal of data.\nIf there are critical data stored on the hard drive, it is best to back up the data and any specialized hardware drivers to CD or DVD discs and then wipe the drive by deleting the partition(s) and then making a new one using a program like fdisk.exe.  The Operating system would have to be reinstalled.\nIf the data is not critical, then removal of any programs using un-install followed by scandisk.exe and defrag.exe should be fine.  If you do not have an IT person and can not do this yourself a local computer store can help.\nCheck with local schools and churches if you wish to donate the old hardware.  Goodwill is another place to recycle.
1044943
You might try BadCopy. I don't know that it is free but I'm sure there some programs like it on the web. \n\nBadCopy will dig anything off of your disk (even deleted files). Still, I wouldn't pay for something you will rarely use.
610566
To format the hard drive before you dispose of it (ie get rid of all the data stored on it) get a magnet and rub it across the disk (silver part in the second image in the link below). This should erase all data on it.\n\nGOOGLE IMAGE RESULTS FOR HARD DRIVE:\nhttp://images.google.co.uk/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=hard+drive&btnG=Search\n\nHope this Helps!
780690
Use a disk wiping software such as wipedrive.  It puts data on every single space on a hard drive over several times to ensure private data is overwritten.  Formatting does not do much except for giving you a false sense of security.  Your data can still be read.
1054728
First you want to backup any files on the C:&#92; drive that you want to keep. Once that is done you can open My Computer right click the C: Drive and click Format.  This will format that drive and erase any unwanted data.
784450
before deleting data, plz save all ur necessary data.\n\n1. Right click on hard drive. e.g. C:&#92;> and click on "Format"\n2. Mark "Quick Format" and click on "Start" button.\n3. Repeat this process for every drive... thats it... \n\nThis thing u can also do from command Prompt\n\n1. C:&#92;> Format\nthat drive will be formatted\n\n2. apply 1st step for every drive.
773023
Contact your local Computer Guy, there are ways to get the disk and the data out of your laptop without powering it up.
761586
if you were to delete them the normal way (sending them to the trash and then emptying the trash) they will not be permanently deleted\n\nif you were to delete the files like this it would be posible to get them back in under 10 min.\n\nyou would need to do a complete wipe.\na wipe cleans the drive by writing over the old data multiple times. Making it impossible to recover information, short for some government MIB type agency. \n\n\nlink has more info with free and paid for tools:\nhttp://www.pcworld.com/article/id,110338-page,1/article.html\n\n many of the free tools  do this just as well as the paid.
1377
If there is no critial data on the drive, use the control panel to remove all of the programs which have nothing to do with the hardware function.  Often you can use an internet search engine to help sort out what is best to leave.  Make sure that you delete any games.  Use Explorer to delete any directories for the games and programs removed.\n\nNext delete all of the files from My Documents.\nNow you need to run a utility called Disk Cleanup.  This will depend upon which version of Windows you have, but you should be able to find it using the Help function (It is usually found in Programs, under Accessories, System Tools).  Delete every thing that you can, including the stuff in the Trash can.\n\nNext open My Computer and highlight and select your hard drive with a single right click.  You should see an options window open.  Left click on Properties to open a drive window.  Next left click on the Tools tab, followed by the Defragment button.\n\nOnce the Defrag is done, your drive is going to be as clean as you can get it without special programs or information.  Windows should not be affected.
1085883
look for the file and delete it.... Unless your backup is on a CD.. then destroy the medium...