The best way to destroy a CD or DVD?
 

I know the only way to be sure that sensitive information on a disk won't be read is to physically destroy the disk, but what's the bes way to do it?

I found a site that suggests nuking the CD (http://toast.ardant.net, pretty funny), but I don't want to ruin my microwave. And I'm not sure if just cutting it up is good enough.

Any suggestions?

Surely got to be some kind of fire. Even if it's not the exciting microwave-sparky kind. Or you could probably dissolve it in something if you have access to organic solvents (which you can often buy at a hardware shop)...

Perhaps putting it on a gas stove until it blackens, but before it starts giving off fumes?

Have any sandpaper handy?

Roll it up in your car window, pinch it vertically and then keep rolling till it shatters and pokes you in the eye. Or throw it at someone.

Or you could put it in an AOL envelope and mail it to someone...

Typically I bite my CDs before throwing them away - a lesson learned from when a family friend's brat ruined one of my favorite PSX discs.

A few seconds over a match or lighter should ruin it, too.

If it's a CD-R, you can usually peel off the writing surface (it's on the side AWAY from the laser) - it comes off like silver paper and leaves you a nice clear frisbee...

I just held it over the burner on my stove until it melted onto itself making a cool little CD-ROM sculpture.

But even though it didn't burn it still stunk up my kitchen, which I am presently airing out, with funky smelling fumes (probably posinous even? it is a plastic...).

So I take it burning it is the only way to be sure :hmm:

Althought the sandpaper idea sounds promising. But, alas, I have none handy :rolleyes:

I think any of the above should keep even the FBI out of your stuff.

What's on it btw? :-P

any rough surface would do....how about the pavement? :) scuff it around with the bottom of your foot.

hahah thats hilariously true

You know, you could probably effectively hide small things in AOL mailers. No one would ever open one of those. Cash, porn CDs/DVDs, etc.

find some cement and throw it at it until it shaters you will lose a lot of the shiny stuff (where the data is) you will never reconstruct it. further you can just bend the cd in your hand till it snaps (carful it can be sharp)

Lighter is the best option, you don't need to destroy the whole cd, you just need to destroy a portion of every track, meaning a line from the center to the outer edge. You don't need it to burn (and thus stink) just warp it a bit.

The data is usually stored on a surface embedded in the plastic closer to the label side of the CD then it is to the transparent side. Sometimes there is plastic on top of the data area and you can't peel it.

They make shredders with CD slots, you could just buy one of those. Or you could just scratch the fuck out of it.

Exploding CDs
 

You can do what this guy did... check out the videos.

<a href ="http://www.powerlabs.org/cdexplode.htm">[link]</a>

westothemax-
That was seriously amusing. And downright tempting.

However I think I would probably be wearing more than sunglasses while attempting this.

Fire.

The leprechaun told you to burn things.

1) Put about a pint of loose gravel into a plastic packet.
2) Insert CD into packet, making sure there's lots of gravel on both sides.
3) Place on driveway. Go find your car keys.

I'm going with the running it over with your car option. That'd be fun :)

Oh man finally someone ask this people actually sell contraptions that destory a cd with no physical effects. You shoudl check tigerdirect.com but I have no idea why anyone would want to do this. Just go with the microwave you get a free light show and a totally destroyed cd.

I microwave mine, never damaged the microwave, can't see why it would. Just snap it half.

You should melt it. One way or another. Organic chemicals, fire, molten lava, steel mill, whatever... :p

I've found that a good paper shredder will do the trick. I used to work at Staples and shredded cd's all the time. Straight cut models from Aurora did well, and straight and cross cut models from Fellowes ate them babies up!!

I much prefer this "scientific" method of destroying a cd
http://www.paintbug.com/cdexplode/

or dvd
http://html.uhome.net/cd-dvd-bang/e_js_n-dvd.htm

Or if you somehow have access to this kind of equipment
http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/cdzap.html

Seriously tho, you can leave the cd outside to help speed up the process of getting the data layer to peel off.

1) Heavy Sand paper
2) Big Hammer
3) High heat stove.

I've always nuked mine while they're sitting on a coffee cup of water. Microwave is fine.. the stuff just starts to give off bad fumes hehe.

i'm in favor of making a pasty substance out of existing fireworks, apply a layer onto each cd you want destroyed, put each layer on top of each other, give a long strip along the entire veritcal side, let dry.

Light that fucker, Burns burns burns in a burning ring of fire.

:)

(i'm a pyro... so sue me.)

I use a shredder. It is a basic unit you can buy at Office Depot or the like. It will shred 12 sheets of paper at a time and takes care of CD's, credit cards and generally anything that fits in it.

Put it on a record player at 78.

snap it in half at that should take care of it and not make any burning smells.

i have the best method. do what me and my friends did.

get a fire pit going. lower the cd into the pit for about 3-5 seconds...then with fire proof gloves...mold it onto a small ball. repeat process to get the following image. its loads of fun at a party when your drunk and makes for a neat object lying around the house.

http://latex.calvinsbox.com/ball.jpg

Garbage disposal :) break it in half and chuck it in there :)

Ive done the microwave one, whats so important that you have that you need to guard against someone repiecing the foil?

oh yeah the fumes from CD are toxic and caustic

so be careful

a. find a shooting range.. put cd in the clay pegion shooter.. fire away..

c. yeah you can nuke a cd.. ive dont it on highest setting and never fried my microwave.. there is no metal so to speak on a cd..

if you refer to the coating that gives its image.. nah..buy a ravolii micro cup.. there is a metal ring.. as long as the metal is sealed it wont fry a micro wave.. (try a grape its cool)

c. tape them to bowling pins.. fire away..

d. tap 6 big bottle rockets around it set it off.. it will spin like crazy.. angle them just a bit and it will spin off into the air.. the .. *pow*

e. over passes are fun.

f. make a cd garden..

g.. grab a nine iron and go clean up the cd garden.

h. get your remote control cars out.. tape the cd's to them and have a demo (snickers) lition durby

i. pretend you a ninja and that brick wall is the enemy..

j. pretend your the worlds strongest man and bend them in two.

k. experment with fire.. see if they will roll through a 220 degree fire and keep their shape.

l. will that alligator eat that cd?

m. they make nifty coasters. they slide easy

n.. if you run outta those candle guard protectors.. cd's WILL work

o. tap them to a ceiling fan.. let the games begin.

p. Given the fact that every thing can reach terminal velocety.. lets try it..

q. boiling water.. (never tried this one)

r. shrinky dinks.. cd's do it to in the oven.

s. paint ball targets..

hehe.. me i do concrete for a living... they make good weight to the concrete.. but then 10,000 years later .. they will find it and make a religion outta AOL heh

suprised i didn't see a refrence to the screen savers lastnight... http://www.techtv.com/screensavers/a...547954,00.html

Acetone will destroy them.