this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2024
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If that drive data can still be accessed, make a copy of everything you care about NOW. It's on its last legs, likely.
Thank you! This is actually my backup drive and I have full copies of all the data on this drive on 2 other computers so what I'll do is get a new drive soon to replace the backup drive.
What do you think I should do with this drive?
Smash it with a hammer before recycling
Too risky, disassemble the drive, shatter the platters, then melt them down and cast the material into a marble and drop it down a borehole at the nearest quarry.
I used to use platters as coffee mats at one of my old jobs.
If it still mounts and doesn't throw any errors probably still keep it as a redundant cold storage just don't add anything to it anymore. That way if your new backup drive dies because of x reason you still have a chance to recover some data.
Edit: this is assuming its nothing too sensitive where you one want a certain amount of copies in the world and its not under warranty anymore. If it is sensitive, you can try removing the drive from the enclosure, this is called shucking, tape it up with a few layer of whatever tape you have, then either take a drill or a pickaxe to it to destroy the shiny disc of metal inside, aka the platter make sure you do this outside. If its under warranty, securely erase it and get it sent off to be replaced by WD
Thank you for bringing up warranty, it's not something I thought about since I thought this was an expected failure mode. Turns out WD authorized an RMA even though I couldn't find my receipt because it's been less than 3 years since the ship out date from their factory and their warranty is 3 years so pretty happy with that.
Aye glad to hear you have a game plan. Hope the replacement process goes smoothly