The Great Zero Challenge

[Ian Miller]

At 15:28 +0100 8/9/08, James Firth wrote:
>Does anyone have any opinions on degaussing? I use a combination of
>degausser and 4lb hammer.
>
I have always thought the most reliable approach would be to dissolve the
magnetic coating off the surface of the platter.  The ideal solvent will
depend on precisely what they are using for modern storage media.   However
I sure there will be something that will made short work of it.
[ A quick web search suggests that phosphoric acid might be the solvent of
choice for iron oxide. ]
This also allows for extremely fast destruction.  If you have an
appropriate hole drilled in the case and a syringe containing the
appropriate solvent in the hole, then all you need do is push the plunger
and job is done.

Another possibility is to run the disc in a moderate vaccum.  If the
internal air pressure drops sufficiently, then the heads don't "fly"
anymore and they will grind the coating off the surface of the disc.  If
you run an access-the-whole-surface program with head in contact, you
should have a fairly clean platter at the end.  My main worry would be that
the dust might jam the bearings before you had completed it and leave part
of the surface intact.

Ian

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