[ale] OT: Erasing a toasted drive

[greg.freemyer at gmail.com (Greg Freemyer)]

>
> > First, find a whopping-big magnet ...
>
> This is likely a better solution then a simple format.
>
False, disk drives are enclosed in metal that redirects the magnatism
around the platters.  Takes a huge magnet.  Think small refridgerator
size.  Maybe a little smaller for a laptop drive.

I would remove the drive carrier from the Dell.  Then remove the drive
from the drive carrier. Then open up the drive (normally uses some
very small specialty screw drivers.  You can buy those at Fry's I
think).  Be aware that one of the screws is normally in the middle of
the spindle and covered by a paper label.  Removal of this screw is
normally fairly obvious, but I doubt Dell will look very hard.

Once you have the drive open, pop the platters off the spindle. 
(Fairly easy to do the few times I've done it.)  Reassemble everything
but the platters and send it back to Dell.  Worst case Dell makes you
pay for the new drive.

Greg
--
Greg Freemyer
The Norcross Group
Forensics for the 21st Century