Software... who needs software!? Let format this hard drive for good!

50 thoughts on “How to format a hard drive – permanently”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars chili5555 says:

    Kinda tedious working on computers without air tools, isn't it?

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars John Ervine says:

    Some parts are user serviceable…

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mentology Health Awareness says:

    It’s pretty amazing how you can hear the sound traveling at a distance with each gun shot.

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars john Miller says:

    LOVE IT!!!!

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Perry J Winship Jr says:

    Absolutely awesome

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Nope NottaLib says:

    "He's dead, Jim."

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Nomad Deluxe says:

    Hell yeah! Take that silicone valley.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Peter Szymanski says:

    The only permanent formatting tool I use is a large drill bit through all the platters. Hilarious video though.

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars HometownMachinist says:

    Love the “format procedure”

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mr76Pontiac says:

    I went looking for the S-10 transfer case repair (part 2) and came across this. OH MY GOD. I'm crying from laughter, and from the pain those machines and drives felt. I'm deep into computers, hardware and software, home and enterprise hardware (Even have enterprise hardware at home) and going back to the days when I was working as a repair tech, I WISH I had thought of this technique on formatting drives, and making sure the government chips were taken care of. RAM cleaning is also critical. Unfortunately, where I'm at, gun laws are a lot more strict than what you have in the states, so I can't just go out into the back yard and start firing shots.

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Michael B. says:

    Now that’s the way you do it.

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars TommyMacDaddy1 says:

    Part of me was hoping you would use the hot wrench on them. But this is a much better…format.

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Gromin With Rob says:

    I have a story for you. In my younger days before a wife an kids. I used to play around on a computer for 4-5hrs every night after work. One night I was thinking about it. 4-5hrs everyday, every week, year after year. How much of my life was being pissed away doing and achieving nothing. I calmly unplugged my tower and put it out in the back yard. I went and introduced it to my 12ga. I picked up the remains with a flat head shovel and poured them in the fire pit. A proper cremation. Wish they had tannerite back then. 😂. Ever since then I always question how and what I spend my time on.

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Andrew ROBINSON says:

    Unfortionatly here in Australia we are not allowed to format a harddrive like that. Due to government regulations.the best we can do is throw a stone at it. Not the same. But i love the way you did it. Tthankyou for that formatting lesson.
    Andy Australia

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Griff the Drummer says:

    OMG dude !! Watching you do that was hard to do — kinda like watching "other shops" work on cars !! I said a prayer for those hard drives that they went quickly….

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars steve's auto repair says:

    I thought I had watched all your videos, how in the world did I not see this before lol. That is a fantastic way to format the hard drives

  17. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jeffrey Mlacker says:

    Love this video, good job Eric thanks for the laughs

  18. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Konstantin Tcepliaev says:

    google plus! those were the days

  19. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Sailor Tom says:

    That's how you deny the government of your secret personal data!

  20. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars K S says:

    Can’t wait to see how he defragments one lol hopefully with lots of brake clean and a cutting torch…

  21. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars The older I get the wrong bit gets stiff !!! says:

    Its well seen you were a truck mechanic in a past life. lol

  22. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars James Koralewski says:

    No, it is an effective destroying tool, not a formatting tool!

  23. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars James Koralewski says:

    Please note this dictionary definition of the word FORMAT. The way in which information is arranged and stored on a computer. Notice that there is no mention of erasing or destroying data. It only arranges and stores the data. You need erasing software or hardware to permanently erase data.

  24. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars James Koralewski says:

    Shooting the hard drive with a rifle or pistol does not format the hard drive. It destroys the hard drive just as drilling holes in the drive would have done. And then you don't have to waste money on bullets or buckshot or risk someone being hit by a ricochet.

  25. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars James Koralewski says:

    You cannot format anything in a computer except the hard drive. The CPU and Memory all use RAM which is a temporary storage device, only. As soon as you turn off the computer, the info in RAM is removed. Memory must constantly have power applied to keep the RAM refreshed and capable of storage.

  26. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars James Koralewski says:

    You can't handle a computer hard drive like you handle brake drums. If you do, you won't have a running computer very long.

  27. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars James Koralewski says:

    You looked like a bear in a china shop taking that hard drive out. I hate to inform you, but formatting a hard drive does not erase any data on the hard drive, immediately. All it does is to mark that data for erasure sometime in the future. Then, anytime some data needs to be written to the hard drive it writes over this designated old data. It is possible that it could take months before all that old data is overwritten. A savvy computer tech could easily still retrieve all your remaining data while waiting for your computer to write over all your designated old data. There are 3 ways to erase all the data on your hard drive. You could physically destroy the drive by beating it with a hammer or by drilling holes in it. You could use erase software from the hard drive manufacturer or from a 3rd party provider. You could also use a stand-alone data eraser that does not need a computer connected to it but still can do the erasing by just being connected from the stand-alone device to the hard drive.

  28. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars neilbradley says:

    We call that a "low level format". Compatible with ALL types of drives. 😉

  29. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars David Church says:

    use the biggest drill bit you got and put 2 holes in each.

  30. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars C. Spross says:

    I would’ve used deer slugs lol

  31. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars alan humbert says:

    I have a printer that needs to be Formatted too

  32. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars WinCh says:

    Now, after watching your computer formatting procedure, I wonder how you delete your car's gps history when time comes.. Hhmmm…

  33. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars herb ward says:

    Mr O, I still use my Winchester model 70 220 Swift . But ya know, A big magnet will finish off all those zeros and ones…data that is

  34. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Я4М_ИнтернетЕксплодер_ЕХЕ says:

    170 people who disliked the video:
    BuT ThoSE cOmPuTERs COulD hAve BeEn usEd iN AfRicA!!!!!

  35. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars R1250 GSA Bloke says:

    Bad news Eric, you forgot to remove the batteries, ‘Langley’ will be all over you shortly. 😱😳🤨😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

  36. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Steven Barber says:

    this is a whole new way of low level formating lol

  37. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Big Dave says:

    computer repair "caveman style"

  38. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars rjTwo says:

    What a savage!

  39. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Agostino DiBella says:

    A very effective procedure to format the hard drive!

  40. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Josh Craven says:

    How am I just now seeing this?!? 5 year old video. Need a ASE Certified Computer Technician patch after watching this video.

  41. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Watch Wes Work says:

    Man I wish we could see the look on the employee's face when you dropped those off for recycling!

  42. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Steve Maccollum says:

    Best video ever.

  43. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Richard Jones says:

    Good grouping!😁Great video.

  44. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars cjbehe says:

    Love it Eric but if you sed the same technique today (2021) you could have bought 2 new computers for the same price of the ammo.

  45. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars elvis pressedtalot says:

    At the end of each day !? . Once a month!

    Take your PC outside and use a compressor to blow the dust out!

    The fans usually build up within 2 weeks .
    Keep track, how fast the fans collect dust

  46. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars smitty1952 says:

    Didn’t know you were a bicycle mechanic too. Looks like some serious bike tools on the peg board

  47. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Travis Poppler says:

    Good end to our old phones too. I'll send you 10 I've been wondering what to do with.