# RMA'ing a drive **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [January 9, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535 "2008-01-09T20:21:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![walter](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/walter/32/7202_2.png) [@walter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/walter)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2008, 8:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/1 "2008-01-09T20:21:36Z")
So yea, like this is news. I have two dead Segate Barracuda 250GB HDs. One is d-e-d dead. The other is acting retardo, and probably isn’t healthy. They both are well within wwarranty according to seagate. Any way I can whipe the drive before I send it in? Giant magnet or something? Would prefer to not have copies of my tax returns (ibkiddingporn) floating around. :redface: ---
**Author:** ![dmoffitt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dmoffitt/32/7455_2.png) [@dmoffitt](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dmoffitt)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/2 "2008-01-10T07:05:00Z")
bulk tape eraser? ---
**Author:** ![RuBiCaNT](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rubicant/32/7622_2.png) [@RuBiCaNT](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RuBiCaNT)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/3 "2008-01-10T07:17:24Z")
If they are both not accessible then I would say your only option is to get a large magnet and drag it across a few times. ---
**Author:** ![ILCisDEAD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a87d85/32.png) [@ILCisDEAD](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ILCisDEAD)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 7:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/4 "2008-01-10T07:18:04Z")
just bash them with a sledge then send them back… you don’t have to worry about them getting your stuff then… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cdvma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/48db29/32.png) [@cdvma](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/cdvma)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 10:13am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/5 "2008-01-10T10:13:16Z")
> [@RuBiCaNT](#): > > If they are both not accessible then I would say your only option is to get a large magnet and drag it across a few times. That won’t do shit. ---
**Author:** ![9c1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/9c1/32/7392_2.png) [@9c1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/9c1)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 10:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/6 "2008-01-10T10:23:14Z")
Read this article: [http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,110338-page,1/article.html](http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,110338-page,1/article.html) It points to a few free programs that will do what you need. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Stevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dr.Stevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dr.Stevil)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 10:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/7 "2008-01-10T10:27:37Z")
a drill through the center should do the trick ---
**Author:** ![RuBiCaNT](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rubicant/32/7622_2.png) [@RuBiCaNT](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RuBiCaNT)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 10:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/8 "2008-01-10T10:29:42Z")
> [@9c1](#): > > Read this article: [http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,110338-page,1/article.html](http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,110338-page,1/article.html) > > It points to a few free programs that will do what you need. The drives are not accessible so won’t be able to do anything. ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 10:38am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/9 "2008-01-10T10:38:51Z")
krazyjon? ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 10:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/10 "2008-01-10T10:39:48Z")
> [@Dr.Stevil](#): > > a drill through the center should do the trick I have my doubts about how well they would honor the RMA at that point. I have one of those “lifts 100lbs” magnet in my garage. I tried it on a working 5GB drive and after putting it back in the computer it said unrecognized format. It was working fine before the magnet treatment. Probably some data could be recovered but I’m sure the file system was quite a mess. But really, you’re probably being paranoid. Hard drive companies handle TONS of RMA’s every day and I’m sure they have procedures to properly destroy/recycle them so the data is safe. If they don’t it’s a huge lawsuit just waiting to happen. Or maybe you can drive over to Seagate’s main receiving building, hop in the dumpster, and find 1000’s and 1000’s of hard drives in there. I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Stevil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Dr.Stevil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Dr.Stevil)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 10:41am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/11 "2008-01-10T10:41:20Z")
thats a good point actually… probably not a whole lot to worry about ---
**Author:** ![BuickGN](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/buickgn/32/7200_2.png) [@BuickGN](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BuickGN)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 10:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/12 "2008-01-10T10:45:54Z")
microwave alot of uses besides cooking. ---
**Author:** ![Locutus](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/locutus/32/7574_2.png) [@Locutus](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Locutus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 11:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/13 "2008-01-10T11:09:42Z")
> [@Nikuk](#): > > krazyjon? wipe with software/hardware. what kind of data is on the d-e-d dead hard drive? if its dead you wont be able to wipe… so its up to you… send it to the right person, they can still revcover data… ---
**Author:** ![Locutus](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/locutus/32/7574_2.png) [@Locutus](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Locutus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 11:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/14 "2008-01-10T11:11:44Z")
> [@RuBiCaNT](#): > > The drives are not accessible so won’t be able to do anything. it will still be accessible… original data will still reside on the hard drive ---
**Author:** ![97FormulaWS-6](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/97formulaws-6/32/7384_2.png) [@97FormulaWS-6](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/97FormulaWS-6)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 11:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/15 "2008-01-10T11:23:35Z")
Find some neodymium magnets and wipe it all over the drive. That’ll take care of 99% of the population reading the data… Basically anyone but a specialist _cough, krazyjon, cough_… ---
**Author:** ![Nikuk](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/nikuk/32/7254_2.png) [@Nikuk](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Nikuk)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 11:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/16 "2008-01-10T11:37:31Z")
> [@JayS](#): > > But really, you’re probably being paranoid. Hard drive companies handle TONS of RMA’s every day and I’m sure they have procedures to properly destroy/recycle them so the data is safe. If they don’t it’s a huge lawsuit just waiting to happen. > > Or maybe you can drive over to Seagate’s main receiving building, hop in the dumpster, and find 1000’s and 1000’s of hard drives in there. I doubt it. valid points, and on that note, if you’re that concerned I’m sure you could call up tech support and probe them. Though, You’d prolly have to get to a high level tech to understand your questions. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 11:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/17 "2008-01-10T11:39:21Z")
I know when we pull old PC’s out of credit unions the PC’s get recycled but the drives get sent to some data destruction place. I find it impossible to believe that billion dollar hard drive companies don’t safeguard the data of warranty returned drives. ---
**Author:** ![RuBiCaNT](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rubicant/32/7622_2.png) [@RuBiCaNT](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RuBiCaNT)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 11:39am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/18 "2008-01-10T11:39:26Z")
> [@Locutus](#): > > it will still be accessible… original data will still reside on the hard drive Yes but if they aren’t accessibly in Windows, the BIOS doesn’t see it, etc, no HD wiping program you install in Windows will work… ---
**Author:** ![Locutus](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/locutus/32/7574_2.png) [@Locutus](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Locutus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 11:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/19 "2008-01-10T11:44:10Z")
> [@RuBiCaNT](#): > > Yes but if they aren’t accessibly in Windows, the BIOS doesn’t see it, etc, no HD wiping program you install in Windows will work… lies. windows will see the drive. but whatever, ive done this with degaussers before, what do i know.:massmoon: ---
**Author:** ![RuBiCaNT](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rubicant/32/7622_2.png) [@RuBiCaNT](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RuBiCaNT)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2008, 11:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535/20 "2008-01-10T11:52:05Z")
> [@Locutus](#): > > lies. windows will see the drive. but whatever, ive done this with degaussers before, what do i know.:massmoon: Are you retarded? > [@biggaywalter](#): > > **I have two dead Segate Barracuda 250GB HDs.** One is d-e-d dead. The other is acting retardo, and probably isn’t healthy. They both are well within wwarranty according to seagate. I am not doubting you, I was just quoting the person that suggested to use a software based wiping utility… fuck [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/rmaing-a-drive/41535.md?page=2)