How should I decommission my laptop?

[Zigenare]

I hope they're not paying very good money for this advice!

Once the data is overwritten with zeros it's not coming back without a clairvoyant...

Can you guarantee that there isn't any residual magnetic field left from your previous 1s and 0s?

[WTFH]

Actually it's true that it takes military grade software that runs for days to really zero a disk to unrecoverable.

Military grade? You mean like something that conforms to DOD 5220.22-M?

I'd prefer NSA (7 pass), or Gutmann (35 passes)

[vwdan]

Can you guarantee that there isn't any residual magnetic field left from your previous 1s and 0s?

Instead of asking a question that's impossible to answer - can you show any evidence that any data has been recovered from a previously overwritten modern hard drive in the last, say 20 years?

[vwdan]

Actually it's true that it takes military grade software that runs for days to really zero a disk to unrecoverable.

As my post above, any evidence? NIST disagree, for a start.

[ladymuck]

You could have saved us a whole load of arguing...

OK, wait until your basement flat is next flooded and claim a new laptop on the insurance.

Best I can do at short notice...

PS - Please explain how defenestration was ever a front runner? How pissed do you have to get that you temporarily forget you live in a basement flat?

Ah but it was fun (at first).

I could have done some damage with defenestration as my living room window faces my little courtyard. Trouble is, I have exterior security bars (I don't live in a prison, this week) so there's a significant chance I would chuck it out the window only for it to rebound off the bars right back into my face.

[ladymuck]

And another thing!

If I'd wanted a beardy sandal wearing discussion on hard drive wiping I'd have posted in Technical

[NotAllThere]

And another thing!

If I'd wanted a beardy sandal wearing discussion on hard drive wiping I'd have posted in Technical

How about a minigun?

[BR14]

And another thing!

If I'd wanted a beardy sandal wearing discussion on hard drive wiping I'd have posted in Technical

dinnae mince yer words lassie, - say what ye mean

[jamesbrown]

And another thing!

If I'd wanted a beardy sandal wearing discussion on hard drive wiping I'd have posted in Technical

This is CUK. There is only beardy sandal wearing discussion.

Personally, I’d stick the hard drive on my front lawn with a sign and then change my name and all my bank accounts. That’ll teach ‘em.

[SimonMac]

And another thing!

If I'd wanted a beardy sandal wearing discussion on hard drive wiping I'd have posted in Technical

The thing is with mansplaining love, is often the women in question doesn't know being talked at is in her interest as we know better than she does. So show a little gratitude and make me a sandwich