If you can’t boot the PC, or you just want to be 100% sure, you can physically destroy the drive. A strong magnet won’t do it—contrary to movies—so you need something more aggressive. Grab a hammer, a drill, or a sledgehammer and go full Thor on the platters inside. I’m not kidding, but please wear safety goggles; shards of metal are not your friends. Do this outside, because it’s noisy, and your neighbors will think you’re making meth or something.
How To Erase Hard Drive Windows Xp | Detroit Chinatown
The downside? You can never use that drive again. The upside? No data recovery possible, even with a million-dollar lab. It’s the nuclear option for the truly paranoid—perfect if you’ve been storing state secrets or just really cringe fanfiction.
