destroying a BURNT DVD +R Disk /w software?

[pcexpress-guy]

Once I recorded a DVD +R disk, is there software or burn method which will allow me to burn on top of the already burnt DVD +R disk. I want to destroy the disk/data without physically breaking the disk?

Can this be done?

[redwudz]

3 seconds in the microware works for me everytime.

[pcexpress-guy]

are you being serious? will a little microwave action do anything on DVD +R? I thought microwaves need water molecules to work?

I guess you are joking, yes?

any serious way to make a working disk, non-working without physically taking it to the disk?

thanks!

[pcexpress-guy]

Thanks!

[ZippyP.]

A writer will not overwrite any portion of a previously written disk. A microwave will ionize the foil in a CD in seconds (I've done it) but I'm not sure about a DVD. It's obvious though, all burned and cracked.

[louthewiz]

A little acetone (nail polish remover) will do it just fine or scratch the hell out of it with a screw driver.

[pcexpress-guy]

A writer will not overwrite any portion of a previously written disk.

So there is NO SOFTWARE, which will just burn the DVD +R un-readable?

The physical destruction method is a pain. I cracked one of these disks, and it makes a mess. No way to get the SOFTWARE to ignore the previous write and get it to burn the DISK anyway... making it unuseable?

Thanks!!

PS I checked out the microwave technique and it is confirmed, the microwave will do the DVD +R demise. One problem with the microwave technique, is that it creates 4th of july inside the unit. Reminds me of a star trek episode. Anyway... there must be another SOFTWARE way to do this, yes?

[bugster]

Anyway... there must be another SOFTWARE way to do this, yes?

No.

[redwudz]

There is a less exciting method than a microwave. There are CD-DVD shredders, similar to paper shredders. (Don't try this with a paper shredder) Basically just a plastic grinder. Main thing with the microwave is not longer than 3 seconds and keep the disc in the center on a paper plate. If you don't mind the burnt plastic smell, it's still the easiest and most available total destruction method.

[pcexpress-guy]

thanks!

Why less then 3 seconds... in my microwave, less then 3 seconds doesn't seem to change the disk physically? at 5 seconds and sparks fly. I wonder if 3 seconds did its job in my microwave? When you use your microwave, does your disk look like it went through hell. the disk at 5 seconds or so looks like several metalic rings of destruction going from the inside to the outside? Looks all cracked up and the surface of the disk is well... electrically shorted out or something.

Is this what your disk looks like at 3 seconds? It would be great if I could destroy the data but not the look of the disk... warranties are a great thing.

[BobK]

> The physical destruction method is a pain. I cracked one of these disks, and it makes a mess.

If that's the only problem then put the disk in a paper (or plastic) bag and crack it- the mess all stays in the bag.

[pcexpress-guy]

> The physical destruction method is a pain. I cracked one of these disks, and it makes a mess.

If that's the only problem then put the disk in a paper (or plastic) bag and crack it- the mess all stays in the bag.

Well... here is the deal... I have several dvdR disks which are partially readable. I would like to send these back for warranty. And eventhough I know someone like memorex or something has no interest in my data, I feel I can't do this and sleep well at night. I know this is not a big deal, I just hate not to be able to use the warranty on these clean disks which go bad after awhile. (I checked with manufacture and they said they would exchange any media, I had a problem with.)

If worse comes to worse, I will just use microwave and throw out the disks. I think the deep electrical cracks void the warranty No big deal I guess.

[jeex]

i remember the first time i microwaved a disc.. it was scratched and i was trying to clean, i wound up doing more damage.. so i got the bright idea "maybe if i put it in the microwave for a few seconds it will melt the plastic on the bottom and smoothen it out.. SPARK SPARK SPARK..

i wound up taking the disc back to hastings and getting another one..

this happened back in 1999 with the nine inch nails album 'the fragile' (disc right i believe)..

[pcexpress-guy]

I gave the microwave a shot and it was cool. My microwave doesn't really do anything for the first 2-3 seconds... then at 4 seconds... the sparks kick in.

check out the pictures below. What ya think? Can I bring it back to Wal-mart? ahh, well I think these were from Best Buy.

[pcexpress-guy]

here is the backside after 5 seconds in my microwave.

I need a pretext story for refund at Walmart... something.. yea, i got these and my burner freaked out and this is what is left... Refund please. Wal-mart might go for it, but best buy blue shirts may not.

[BobK]

> Well... here is the deal... I have several dvdR disks which are partially readable. I would like to send these back for warranty.

Seems to me that if you do something that intentionally makes them unreadable then the warranty probably wouldn't be valid anymore.

> (I checked with manufacture and they said they would exchange any media, I had a problem with.)

Did you specific that the media would be damaged intentionally?

[pcexpress-guy]

yes, I think technically you are right about the warranty. i could just send in the defective disks, which are partially readable (that is the problem) and get replacements. I think if there was not such obvious destruction, the disks would get replaced regardless to how it failed. But with microwaves, the manufacture might be laughing too hard to replace.

there is always the local return option... but than I may be laughing too hard when the I tell the blue shirt that my burner is ok and the disks are defective.

If it wasn't for some of the data being readable, this would be a simple replacement/exchange with manufacture.

If only I could get my burner to intially screw up the data on the DVD +R, it would be easy too. (jedi mind trick?)

[RabidDog]

MIcrosoft Office can do this! Only problem is that you have to leave it in the box and bring it down heavily on the disc, repeatedly.

I would worry that you may want to mess with evidence in a court case........ a very particular kind of court case.

walmart care nothing for your data..

[pcexpress-guy]

MIcrosoft Office can do this! Only problem is that you have to leave it in the box and bring it down heavily on the disc, repeatedly.

thanks for the message but what is [it]? I didn't follow the suggestion above. Can you rephrase?

I would worry that you may want to mess with evidence in a court case........ a very particular kind of court case.

Case? Evidence? Just trying to delete these data files off of my defective disks, before I send them in for ligit warranty replacement.

walmart care nothing for your data..

This is probably true. But these are business files and client videos segments (I do investigative work.) So the data has to be gone with certainty.

No big deal if I can't take advantage of the warranty... just having a little fun thinking about it. (I am kind of looking forward to another run to the microwave it was just too cool... and in strange way kind of satisfying!)

[gmatov]

Send the clients an updated bill for a quarter a disk and grind them up.

I have a shoddy piece of goods, I'll take it back for refund/exchange, too, but not at dime to a quarter a disk, or even less with the right deal.

Next time you nuke a disk, it might behoove you to put a cup of water in the oven with the disk, or you may just be trying to explain why you need to have it replaced under warranty. They've been known to destroy themselves run empty, let alone with metal foil in them.

Cheers,

George

[indolikaa]

I'm sure the method we used at Sandia Nat'l Labs for hard drives would work well with DVD+R discs.

Bombard the disc with high-energy X-Rays and then place it in the incinerator.

You could also contact the Pakistan or Indian governments and see when their next underground nuclear test is scheduled. If that's not soon enough, I hear the Iranians or North Koreans might be able to meet your more pressing schedule.

[sacajaweeda]

http://www.powerlabs.org/movies/microwavecd.MPG

[indolikaa]

http://www.powerlabs.org/movies/microwavecd.MPG

Sweet!

[pcexpress-guy]

Send the clients an updated bill for a quarter a disk and grind them up.

yes, I know. The cost is really not a big deal. I was just trying to see if I could make the disk unworkable, without physically destroying the disk. The manufacture rep, didn't know and from these post it looks like there is no way to do this without nuking the disk. My disks are more like $1.20 a disk, but that's just local pricing. I guess I pay for the warranty

Next time you nuke a disk, it might behoove you to put a cup of water in the oven with the disk, or you may just be trying to explain why you need to have it replaced under warranty.

Good idea, but I checked the paper work on the microwave's warranty, and it looks like "burning DVD disks in microwave is covered by 10 year limited warranty" It goes on to state the warranty covers DVD +R, +RW, but does NOT cover DVD -R, -RW strange?

BTW: I figured a way to destroy the burner/drive. This is important solution you folks have been waiting for.

This is how you do it fans. Stick that bad boy old burner drive in the microwave for about 8 seconds. Don't use defrost mode, power up microwave at high power (1000+ watts or more would be great.) Put that class of water just below the drive (thanks for the tip) press start and back up & watch the 4 of july. Its like magic, guaranteed it won't work, it won't be recognize by the system, won't spin, won't blink, or anything else for that matter. Well one drive did nothing but blink.. it was like it was so confused it didn't know what do do. It was in pain, I think. (This was like a dog when it gets badly hit by a car, but is still alive kinda) When I realized this, that's when I had to give it another 8 second dose, to take it out of its misery. (RIP you ugly drive, you.)

But for most drives, one killer dose of 8 seconds should do it. (note some drives may make a little clicking noise and it may smell like burnt electronics for a few mins, but the method does work.) It has been tested on several drives and works 98.3%. So now you have the plan... bring popcorn and invite the kids for the show. Great fun, ask me how I know.

[redwudz]

Actually, I have found that the self-cleaning feature on the newer kitchen stoves work even better for data destruction. If your PC is out of warranty and you don't want any of the data to fall into the wrong hands, the whole PC will fit. Just adjust the shelves and hit clean and even the NSA will not be able to recover the data. By the way, the 3 second time for destruction of CD's is with my oven. You burnage may vary. Point is, don't leave it in any longer than absolutley neccessary to limit microwave oven damage. The cup of water is probably a good idea, but it may take a second or two longer for the fireworks.

EDIT:No, I haven't tried the self-cleaning method. I was hopeing someone else would try it first.

[pcexpress-guy]

redwudz, I agree with you: times will vary due to differences in microwave specs. You point is well taken.

I have to say after reviewing my microwave’s warranty policy, that I decided to burn all of my DVD disks, the burner drive, the cd-rom drives, the monitors, etc, in my microwave as the device of destruction of choice. Cleaning mode in a convection oven just takes too long and depending on what you are destroying, may make a mess and smell up the place.

A microwave oven is great, because it does its magic within the circuit boards. the metal and plastic outside is usually left little unchanged. (Unless you are a dvd, in that case the foil can burn the plastic after a few burst of microwaves.) but all in all, the works of a microwave happen internally.

I just burned an old alarm clock, a digital clock, an old vcr, a vacuum pump, a digital scale, and NOW... just in the oven, a 13 inch tv/vhs combo... I had to jump back on this one as I gave it two burst of 10 seconds, no water for this one. (I was worried about the tube blowing up, and throwing class all over the kitchen, but the tube held up. Unfortunately for the TV/VHS combo, the electronics within it, did not survive. It was dead, dead, dead. It was killed! Man! This is so much fun!!

I want to try my cell phone next, but I may need that one. (at least until I can run out and get another one.) One thing is for sure for now is that I can't burn my credit cards... I need those for replacing all this stuff... but boy this is so much fun... well worth it. (I need to go out and get a bigger microwave, so I can put my laser printer in it.) BOY... fun... fun...

[billlb]

Laugh out Loud.
Nice post but you arn't the first to think of it.
http://www.grn.es/electropolucio/balmori04.htm
Bill

[pcexpress-guy]

But I was the first here in the states to do it on a private citizen basis, right!

Now excuse me, I am trying to put my toaster and my electric razor in the micro... i want to see if it works on those too... its been a busy night... I have boxes full of wasted junk. I think I zapped just about anything I could get my hands on that would fit in the thing. All this junk looks good, (except the DVD's these don't) but are completly useless. Like this post. I can't wait to list this stuff on eBay.

I can see the listing now. It reads: "looks brand new, untested, but hot off the oven" whatever the hell that means.

[marvel2020]

For crying out loud, a nice pair of heavy duty sharp scissors will do the job.

Works for me

[pcexpress-guy]

scissors? Man, that's what I used to think too. But what I found out was that there was a better way. I found a microwave and 1000 watts of zap power. I feel much better now. I forgot what this post was about. All I can say is that zapping electronic stuff in the micro is very addictive!

Once you try it, you can't do anything else. You should smell this place, it smells like a big overloaded, over-heated, power supply! And my cheap a$$ microwave keeps cranking out the volts to the stuff.

one little problem... i think I zapped everything but this pc (pda, tv/vcr remotes, walkie talkies, floppy drives, hard drives, motherboards, cd-rom's, dvd burners, 13 inch combo tv/vcr, walkman, tivo... ahh... this might be my last post for awhile... I'm gonna see if this pc will fit in the microwave... if you don't hear back from me, it means my laptop fit in the thing as well. :P