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Regarding a recently failed WD external hard drive for Mac, please suggest how I can destroy the accessible private data on the device, before I turn it in at an electronics disposal site.
Thank you.
Warren
I write random data then zeros over the whole drive. Including the partition table area.
You mentioned that the WD is failed. However, on an old but working drive, you can leverage Disk utility Erase << Secure Erase option to wipe confidential data through 0s, 1s, 3 passes and 7 passes. Some third-party disk wiping tools provide 35 passes to wipe the sensitive data. Are you able to secure wipe the drive through Disk Utility? Is your failed media appearing on the device list of Disk Utility? Further, what happens when you select your drive and press erase?
Ah, yeah, I didn’t notice “FAILED.”
Smash it up with a heavy hammer.
Or disassemble it, remove the platters, and scuff them with abrasive.
but keep the earth magnets … they’re pretty cool (and strong) and come in handy 
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Hello, all!
I thank each of you for your prompt e-reply to my second of two inquiries.
Donald: The drive developed several bad blocks (as documented my TechTool Pro by Micromat). After a few days attempting to copy/paste a good amount of data on it to my WD EHD for Time Machine backups, I no longer found it appearing on Disk Utility or on my desktop. I no longer see reference to it anywhere, even though it remains plugged in. ( ; - (
I presume that what I should do is open its case and physically abrade the drive’s elements.
If there’s more that you recommend that I do, please advise.
And if any of you can smartly weigh in on yesterday’s first inquiry — which WD EHDs to buy to so that my Time Machine backups and my file storage can each be collected on an EHD and that each archive can be backed up by one or more additional drives — I’d appreciate hearing back from you on that. I don’t want to lose data on EHDs again.
Thanks, everyone.
Warren
I planned to open the EHD and abrade the platter(s). However, my attempts to open the device haven’t been successful.
Mine is a four-year-old My Book Studio. I’ve removed four tiny screws (two at top and two at bottom). Apparently, more needs to be removed before it can be opened.
Do you know what more I need to do?
Thanks, in advance.
Warren
Thank you, Joey.
My device differs from the one shown in the video. After removing the four little screws, it was impossible to to figure out what to do next.
Although your linked video wasn’t helpful, I watched six or seven others, one of which suggested the “slide-out approach” that was needed. With a lot of force and a small, flat screwdriver, I got the case to separate from its metal cover.
An hour later, I finally found the hidden screws on the drive that allowed me to open its cover and abrade the platter.
What a time-consuming effort I made attempting to destroy data on the failed WD drive.
Nevertheless, thanks for getting me started on the correct path, Joey!
Warren
no probs
i always check out Youtube first before tearing something apart … even if it isn’t identical, at least get an idea of what’s involved … glad you sorted it
