« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2

Author Topic: Destroying hardware  (Read 4050 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Darwin

  • Centurian Lord
  • ********
  • Posts: 6,466
  • Reputation: +0/-0
    • http://www.mierda54.tripod.com
Destroying hardware
« on: May 28, 2004 06:31 am CDT »
I created this topic to discuss how to slowly (within a few weeks, hopefully) break down and destroy hardware.  Some ways are obvious than others, such as extreme overclocking on sub standard cooling, while others might be more difficult.

How would one go about slowly destroying a hard drive?  I'm shooting for a couple weeks til death.  To have it thrash around before it dies would be a nice effect as well.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969 06:00 pm CST by Darwin »
Logged


UnderGod

  • Centurian Lord
  • ********
  • Posts: 2,691
  • Reputation: +0/-0
(No subject)
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2004 06:37 am CDT »
The easiest way though maybe a bit noticed (depending how good you are) Is to break the seal, and put  some dust or something similar between the platters. This will really screw up any form of data I/O. The other thing would be similar but instead, put magnetic chips on the platter making data I/O impossible. If it is an OLD hard drive, you could plug the power cable in backwards and run it for about an hour. That tends to screw things up.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969 06:00 pm CST by UnderGod »
Logged
"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world"

Hack-N-Slash

  • Elvin Legion
  • *****
  • Posts: 492
  • Reputation: +0/-0
(No subject)
« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2004 06:39 am CDT »
Ask Slashdot: How to really and fully wipe a hard drive? 2/21/01

After ravaging the hard drive, finish it off using the thermite method. It isn't hard to make the stuff. Google it though, because linking to a recipie it would be a possible violation of the forum ToS.
« Last Edit: May 28, 2004 06:43 am CDT by Hack-N-Slash »
Logged
[size=200]I am a fat, wealthy, capitalist pig[/size]

Darwin

  • Centurian Lord
  • ********
  • Posts: 6,466
  • Reputation: +0/-0
    • http://www.mierda54.tripod.com
(No subject)
« Reply #3 on: May 28, 2004 06:40 am CDT »
How long are we talking before the dust effect sets in?  I already know the effects of it.

I'm not gonna pour dust on it tho, all I have to do is get just a few particles on it, probably by just setting it out for a minute on my desk.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969 06:00 pm CST by Darwin »
Logged


UnderGod

  • Centurian Lord
  • ********
  • Posts: 2,691
  • Reputation: +0/-0
(No subject)
« Reply #4 on: May 28, 2004 06:42 am CDT »
Well.. With the vibrations of the hard drive, it could be a matter of hours before any problems first start depending on how much and how think the dust you put in. Remember though, when HDs die, they just start having problems.. It isn't really that ongoing.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969 06:00 pm CST by UnderGod »
Logged
"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world"

Darwin

  • Centurian Lord
  • ********
  • Posts: 6,466
  • Reputation: +0/-0
    • http://www.mierda54.tripod.com
(No subject)
« Reply #5 on: May 28, 2004 07:21 am CDT »
I just need to do somehting where it dies while my parents are using it, that way they wont know it was my fault  :twisted:
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969 06:00 pm CST by Darwin »
Logged


WolfTones

  • Centurian Lord
  • ********
  • Posts: 2,501
  • Reputation: +0/-0
    • http://www.imafaggot!.com
(No subject)
« Reply #6 on: May 28, 2004 10:08 am CDT »
Can I ask why the hell you want to distroy a perfectly good hard drive when your parents are using it!!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969 06:00 pm CST by WolfTones »
Logged
Lookieme!  I am a no-talent ass clown!

Hack-N-Slash

  • Elvin Legion
  • *****
  • Posts: 492
  • Reputation: +0/-0
(No subject)
« Reply #7 on: May 28, 2004 10:17 am CDT »
Wait, Celtic gave me an idea. Tell him to fix it.  :lol:

It worked for a CPU, it's gotta work for everything else.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969 06:00 pm CST by Hack-N-Slash »
Logged
[size=200]I am a fat, wealthy, capitalist pig[/size]

Particle

  • Chief Codemonger
  • Administrator
  • Centurian Lord
  • ********
  • Posts: 5,904
  • Reputation: +20/-4
    • Particle's Custom RPG
(No subject)
« Reply #8 on: May 28, 2004 11:19 am CDT »
Quote from: "Hack-N-Slash"
because linking to a recipie it would be a possible violation of the forum ToS.


You're right =)

But it isn't hard to find a formula on a search engine.  The first hit I saw had some neat videos of the thermite as well.  Not that I condone making thermite, but it might be worth looking at.

Try charging a fairly large capacitor and hiding it in the case.  run a thin wire to a switch at a location say 10 feet away and some time when they're using the computer flip the switch and let the capacitor discharge directly across the controller IC on the HDD.  Instant dead HDD.  Be careful about discharge back into the PSU.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969 06:00 pm CST by Particle »
Logged
As a point of history:  Our last server clear was on September 27, 2004.  That is 4963 days ago (13.6 years) as of today.

If you're visiting after a long hiatus and have forgotten your password, try emailing me via the support form at http://www.pcrpg.org.

If your character is from after the 2004 clear but appears to have been deleted or reset, chances are it was caught in one of the inactive account purges over the years.  Backups were made before such events, so try the support form.

UnderGod

  • Centurian Lord
  • ********
  • Posts: 2,691
  • Reputation: +0/-0
(No subject)
« Reply #9 on: May 28, 2004 04:50 pm CDT »
Ahh.. So not only is he going to fry the HD, he is also going to fry his parents.

Well thats eliminating two problems with one jolt.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969 06:00 pm CST by UnderGod »
Logged
"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world"

Silvanoshei

  • Centurian Lord
  • ********
  • Posts: 1,804
  • Reputation: +0/-0
(No subject)
« Reply #10 on: May 28, 2004 05:11 pm CDT »
Quote from: "Hack-N-Slash"
Wait, Celtic gave me an idea. Tell him to fix it.  :lol:

It worked for a CPU, it's gotta work for everything else.

Ahahaha! pwnt!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969 06:00 pm CST by Silvanoshei »
Logged

The DoDoDo.

Your opinion is worthless unless you can support it.
We are not responsible for your stupidity.
I don't take sides. I take action.

Currently Playing:  Warcraft III [PC]

Darwin

  • Centurian Lord
  • ********
  • Posts: 6,466
  • Reputation: +0/-0
    • http://www.mierda54.tripod.com
(No subject)
« Reply #11 on: May 28, 2004 09:23 pm CDT »
I have my own plans for thermite...

Its kind of strange why I want to destroy this hard drive without it being so obvious that I sabotaged it.  My parents computer, which I used to use, was shipped to them with a WD hard drive (which is of the older models) that eventually did start to crap out after a year.  Not only would games run erratically, but the hard drive began making a whining noise.  It drives me insane!  I must kill it.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969 06:00 pm CST by Darwin »
Logged


Particle

  • Chief Codemonger
  • Administrator
  • Centurian Lord
  • ********
  • Posts: 5,904
  • Reputation: +20/-4
    • Particle's Custom RPG
(No subject)
« Reply #12 on: May 28, 2004 09:41 pm CDT »
Would they actually blame you for destroying a HDD?  If not, take it outside at night with a phonebook and a sledgehammer.  Put it on flat concrete and put the phone book on top.  Hit the top hard as fork and put it back inside of the computer.  Dead drive.  Make sure to put something hard below the drive as well to prevent scratches.

===

The cap wouldn't hurt any users.  He would just need to rig a switch that cut the power from the drive as well to ensure the PSU wouldn't get any feedback and only the HDD toasts.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969 06:00 pm CST by Particle »
Logged
As a point of history:  Our last server clear was on September 27, 2004.  That is 4963 days ago (13.6 years) as of today.

If you're visiting after a long hiatus and have forgotten your password, try emailing me via the support form at http://www.pcrpg.org.

If your character is from after the 2004 clear but appears to have been deleted or reset, chances are it was caught in one of the inactive account purges over the years.  Backups were made before such events, so try the support form.

UnderGod

  • Centurian Lord
  • ********
  • Posts: 2,691
  • Reputation: +0/-0
(No subject)
« Reply #13 on: May 28, 2004 09:43 pm CDT »
I know. I just thought it would be funny to throw that in =)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969 06:00 pm CST by UnderGod »
Logged
"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world"

Sinister

  • Uber Menace
  • *******
  • Posts: 1,125
  • Reputation: +0/-0
    • http://www.stormpages.com/snowmann69
(No subject)
« Reply #14 on: May 31, 2004 08:47 pm CDT »
Are your parents computer geeks?  Are they the type that pops the case open and dusts it out every 6 months?  They are probably like any other person's parents.  If something technical goes wrong they either call some tech guy to come fix it or have it replaced.  So I say to you, if they are the type to go out and buy "new" at the first sign of a problem, if I were you, I'd unplug the power to the Hdd.  If they are the type that knows some friend of a friend who is a technical genius and he is gonna come look at it, then look for some way to fool him.  I actually considered doing this same type thing to my parent's computer.  They've had it for 3 years and that thing is a piece of shazbot.  Emachines has yet to make a computer that I would own.  I'm still considering destroying it tho so that they will buy another.   :twisted:
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969 06:00 pm CST by Sinister »
Logged
Pages: [1] 2
« previous next »