Will a Demagnetizer Erase a Hard Drive?

Objects that are magnetized will remain that way until you demagnetize, or degauss it. ... However, degaussing is not entirely fool-proof. It can only be used on magnetic media, and there is no way to guarantee that a particular degaussing machine is strong enough to destroy all the data on every hard drive.

Can you use a hard drive after it has been degaussed?

Can a degaussed disk be used after degaussing? No. A degaussed drive is inoperable in any system. The magnetic erasure rearranges the magnetic field to such an extent that standard read heads are unable to find a magnetic reference point for tracking.

Can you demagnetize a hard drive?

Degaussing is the guaranteed form of hard drive erasure, as such; it serves as the standard method of data destruction. Using the right degausser will guarantee that your information is no longer retrievable. Degaussing is simply a demagnetizing process to erase a hard drive or tape.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.