So, I dropped my laptop (HP Pavilion dv7) at the airport today, badly; the bottom of my laptop case ripped, and when I tried to use it on the plane, it said that there was no hard disc in the computer. So when I got back to my apartment, I opened it up, took the hard drive out, and reseated it. However, it's no good. Memory scan came up 100% but says that there's no OS on my hard drive. Also, my hard drive makes a weird clicking noise for about a minute after turning it on. I think the thing's dead.
So I called tech support and since I have a warranty, they said to just send in the old hard drive and they'll replace it. Thing is, before I do that, I want the thing wiped. Destroying it won't work, since I had to give my credit card as collateral.
No, not to hide porn. Yes, I have porn on my computer, no, I don't care about them seeing it. I'm concerned because my credit card information, bank account, and SSN are on my computer. Also, my composer friends send me a lot of music that has yet to be copyrighted, and I don't want it compromised. I don't know how to wipe a hard drive that won't work. Help?
Right now I've resorted to leaving a high-grade neodymium magnet (yes I have one, as a birthday gift from a friend at MIT), on the drive to see if that'll kill it, but I don't know if that works in real life...
Ideas, suggestions? I have 'til Monday.
tl;dr
Dropped laptop
Hard drive doesn't read, might be broken
Have to send it in to get a replacement
Want it wiped
Have strong magnet on it, skeptical about that method
Help?
So I called tech support and since I have a warranty, they said to just send in the old hard drive and they'll replace it. Thing is, before I do that, I want the thing wiped. Destroying it won't work, since I had to give my credit card as collateral.
No, not to hide porn. Yes, I have porn on my computer, no, I don't care about them seeing it. I'm concerned because my credit card information, bank account, and SSN are on my computer. Also, my composer friends send me a lot of music that has yet to be copyrighted, and I don't want it compromised. I don't know how to wipe a hard drive that won't work. Help?
Right now I've resorted to leaving a high-grade neodymium magnet (yes I have one, as a birthday gift from a friend at MIT), on the drive to see if that'll kill it, but I don't know if that works in real life...
Ideas, suggestions? I have 'til Monday.
tl;dr
Dropped laptop
Hard drive doesn't read, might be broken
Have to send it in to get a replacement
Want it wiped
Have strong magnet on it, skeptical about that method
Help?
