So you’ve got an external hard drive and want to make sure it’s clean of your personal data before you recycle it. You’re in the right place! Now before we start, I HIGHLY recommend picking up a Torx drill bit set if you don’t already have them (you’ll need likely between T-5 and T-9 bits). I show you how to do it if you don’t have them that small, but it will make things a LOT easier. Links to 2 kits I recommend below.

Step 1: Back up all your data off the drive. Pretty self explanitory.

Step 2: Wipe the data digitally using www.dban.org. They have a free option that works well. If you’ve got a little bit of a budget and are super serious about this, they have a premium package that’s diesel.

Step 3: Open the drive, find the platter and use sandpaper to scratch it up.

Step 4 (optional) use a drill with a metal-cutting drill bit to bore holes in the platter.

Here are links to the two cheapest Torx bit sets that I would recommend – one is good if you’ll use a drill, and the other is a stand-alone kit that works on it’s own (affiliate links, so at no cost to you I’ll get a tiiiiiny commission if you use the link to buy it):

Torx screwdriver bit set (if you have a drill): https://amzn.to/3dWbPSw
Torx screwdriver kit: https://amzn.to/3dSz2oX

Twitter:
www.Twitter.com/The_ChrisBryant
@The_ChrisBryant

My company:
www.EmpireStudiosNYC.com

My other company:
www.Studio12Academy.com

Please take the opportunity to connect and share this video with your friends and family if you find it useful.