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Wiping an Unmountable Hard Drive - Printable Version +- MacResource (https://forums.macresource.com) +-- Forum: My Category (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1) +--- Forum: Tips and Deals (https://forums.macresource.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3) +--- Thread: Wiping an Unmountable Hard Drive (/showthread.php?tid=74003) |
Wiping an Unmountable Hard Drive - Kate - 03-09-2009 I have an external Seagate 500gb hard drive that has suddenly refused to mount. I've been backing up to it for a few months, but suddenly, I just can't get it to mount (MacBook Pro, core 2 duo 2.33ghz, 3gb ram, system 10.4.11). It gets power (the light comes on and I can feel movement) and I've tried it with different cables, it just won't mount. Since it's still under warranty I can return it for replacement, but I'd sure like to wipe it before I send it in for replacement. Anyone have a clue as to how to wipe the info when it wont mount? Kate Re: Wiping an Unmountable Hard Drive - Carm - 03-09-2009 Try using a Windows machine to get it to boot. Joe Re: Wiping an Unmountable Hard Drive - Harbourmaster - 03-09-2009 Put it in the microwave on "High" for about 30 seconds... ought to do it. of course that might void your warranty............... Re: Wiping an Unmountable Hard Drive - Black - 03-09-2009 http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/subsection/11/category/117 Re: Wiping an Unmountable Hard Drive - crispy - 03-09-2009 Check your firmware, sounds like the Seagate fiasco where the head parks itself waiting to be unlocked by Seagate Data Recovery Technicians. Re: Wiping an Unmountable Hard Drive - Kate - 03-09-2009 I looked at the sciplus site, not sure what I'm looking for? And how do I check the firmware when I can't get it to mount? Kate Re: Wiping an Unmountable Hard Drive - RAMd®d - 03-09-2009 BL was referring to using powerful magnets to damage the HD. And no, you can't really know the firmware version with out mounting. If the drive won't boot on a PC, you *might* be able to carefully remove it from the enclosure and see if it will boot if connected as an internal drive, or in a different enclosure. These days, I'd almost consider an HD warranty worthless if you keep anything of value on the drive. Since you can't know when a drive will fail, you will almost never have a chance to back up and wipe the HD before it dies. If your HD has personal financial information or *special* pics, you might want to consider it disposable and smash the HD with a BFH, Kate. I don't know if a microwave would damage the platters or just the circuit board. Re: Wiping an Unmountable Hard Drive - Black - 03-10-2009 I would take the drive out of the case and see if it still works long before smashing it with a hammer. |