Destroy hard drives

[Karl Cunningham]

Andrew Lentvorski wrote:
> Carl Lowenstein wrote:
> 
>> I think you are ignoring the practical problem caused by the 13 orders
>> of magnitude difference between the size of the bit on the platter and
>> the external size of the drive.  It's a lot greater than the ratio
>> between a penny and the national debt.
> 
> Not to mention the separation between the magnet and the platter.  The 
> field is likely falling off as the distance squared, and a write head is 
> *really* close to the surface of the drive.

One could run the current through the platter itself. You'd have to 
remove the drive cover, which as I remember was not within the scope of 
the original question. If the magnetic field from the current didn't 
erase it, heating it above the curie temperature with sufficient current 
should.

I would think a car battery or two with some hefty jumper cables should 
do the trick.

Another possibility is induction heating. Some stoves use this method to 
heat the pan without a separate heating element. Putting the drive 
platter on one of those might do the job as well.

Karl