Dead iMac - how zap internal HD...?

[aki]

Well it finally happened, the logic board in my Aluminum 3.06 iMac is history. It's no longer under warranty/Applecare and I gather the pricing for replacing a logic board is insane; and so I'm thinking I'll just toss it and try a Macbook Pro, if I can scrounge up the funds...

Here's my problem. The internal HD, as far as I know, is still fine. I have a backup (thank you Timemachine) so I don't need to access the data; but I don't really want to toss out or sell off the iMac, even in its unbootable/nonfunctional state, with the HD still operational and full of all my personal data... :o

What do people do in such situations? Do I have to figure out how to open up the thing and physically remove the HD and dunk it in the bath or something? Or is there a more elegant solution?

I should say, the iMac really is nonfunctional, meaning I can't get it to boot from a DVD either (so I can't use Disk Utility to erase the drive).

Thoughts?

Oh hey, rereading this before posting, I just had a thought myself - would this work? If I buy say a macbook pro, and then boot the iMac in firewire mode, and zap the HD from the macbook...? How much needs to be working in an imac to get it to boot into firewire mode?

[Warbitrary]

Oh hey, rereading this before posting, I just had a thought myself - would this work? If I buy say a macbook pro, and then boot the iMac in firewire mode, and zap the HD from the macbook...? How much needs to be working in an imac to get it to boot into firewire mode?

That's what I would do. You don't need to buy another Mac, just buy a FireWire cable, and ask one of your friends with a Mac laptop to come over.

If that fails, the only solution I see is opening the iMac, removing the drive and putting it in an external enclosure to erase it.

[flatfoot]

The question is whether target disk mode will still work with a defective logic board. But it's definitely worth a try.

[aki]

Ok, thanks for the advice, I will try the firewire option, who knows...

If I do have to remove the internal HD:

- is there a standard sort of enclosure people use for the HDs that are in imacs? I've never used an enclosure before so I'm not really sure how it works. Is it a one-size fits all deal where I can just walk into amazon and order one? (They aren't too expensive right?)

- if I decide I just want to destroy the data, will water do it? I gather you actually need fairly strong magnets for magnets to work these days. What else, a hammer? Not that the data is like Chinese nuclear secrets or anything but hey :)

[AlphaDogg]

Ok, thanks for the advice, I will try the firewire option, who knows...

If I do have to remove the internal HD:

- is there a standard sort of enclosure people use for the HDs that are in imacs? I've never used an enclosure before so I'm not really sure how it works. Is it a one-size fits all deal where I can just walk into amazon and order one? (They aren't too expensive right?)

- if I decide I just want to destroy the data, will water do it? I gather you actually need fairly strong magnets for magnets to work these days. What else, a hammer? Not that the data is like Chinese nuclear secrets or anything but hey :)

an enclosure is usually pretty standard. there a couple types of drives: PATA and SATA. And there are two common types of enclosures: USB and firewire. The imac uses a 9.5mm 2.5" SATA drive. I would recommend getting a 9.5mm 2.5" SATA enclosure that uses USB. By way of destroying the data, take the drive and put it in an MRI machine. It will destroy not just the data, but the drive too.

[aki]

The imac uses a 9.5mm 2.5" SATA drive. I would recommend getting a 9.5mm 2.5" SATA enclosure that uses USB.

Thanks for the detailed information, much appreciated. I had a quick look at amazon, this is the thing yes?

http://www.amazon.co.jp/OWC-Express-Portable-Enclosure-Drives/dp/B002CL0ZWI/

It's deflating loosing a machine but at least I'm developing a plan now. Thanks very much for all the help everyone!

[Warbitrary]

The imac uses a 9.5mm 2.5" SATA drive. I would recommend getting a 9.5mm 2.5" SATA enclosure that uses USB.

Sorry, but that is flat-out wrong. Intel iMacs use 3.5" SATA hard drives, so if you buy a 2.5" enclosure it won't fit! Check the parts on this page for proof: http://www.ifixit.com/Mac-Parts/iMac-Intel-24%22

[aki]

Intel iMacs use 3.5" SATA hard drives

Eek! Ok doing more research thanks for the warning!