Is Shredding DVD-R the only way?

[Subtitles]

I have a lot of finalized DVD-R disks that I no longer use. I realize that it is impossible to delete the data from these disks.
Is there any software that can damage the discs and make them unreadable, or my only option is shredding? I have a shredder but I would rather not use it if there is another way.
I also don't want to resort to scratching the discs or any other mechanical solutions apart from shredding because of safety reasons.

[ProWo]

You could burn them.

[SaurusX]

Ever put a disc in the microwave?

[Subtitles]

Ever put a disc in the microwave?

Good Idea I will try that. With or without a cat?

[lordsmurf]

Dye layers oxidize, so just rip apart the platters.

DVD-R have foil layers. Have you ever put foil in a microwave? Dumbest suggestion ever. Never do that. You'll start a fire.

[Selur]

Wouldn't leaving the disc in acetone for a while work?
Regarding microwaving: I suspect if you do that, you shouldn't use the microwave for food again,...

[Subtitles]

Thanks for all the suggestion. Looks like shredding is the best option as it takes just few seconds, but I will just have to do it without shredding paper in the same bag for obvious reasons.

[Gromyko]

why shred? It will destroy your cutting blade.

Use a drill. Stack them up and drill one hole through them.

quickest and easiest way.

[Cornucopia]

Just (while wearing gloves), snap them in half.


Scott

[fooledagain]

Pound with hammer

[aedipuss]

why shred? It will destroy your cutting blade.

Use a drill. Stack them up and drill one hole through them.

quickest and easiest way.

LOL sounds like the anti-copy protection method used on 5.25 inch floppy discs back in the day.

[pandy]

LOL sounds like the anti-copy protection method used on 5.25 inch floppy discs back in the day.

First time hear to use drill on floppy drive... perhaps you are referring to converting soft sectored floppies to hard sectored or converting single side to double side - there was dedicated various punch tools to open holes in floppies - drilling is still commonly used to destroy hard disk - just drill few holes across hard drive expected plates and that's all - pretty standard method in government administrations before passing hard drive to dedicated companies doing professional hdd destruction (at least it was in place where i worked - one of our jobs was preliminary destroying hdd before passing them to shredding company)

Anti copy methods usually was more subtle than simple drill - holes was really small - barely visible - probably laser made

[lordsmurf]

Just (while wearing gloves), snap them in half.
Scott

Yep, that will oxidize about 25% of the disc.

With DVD recordables (-R, +R, -RW, +RW, -RAM), you can sling them at a cement sidewalk, and the platters will often split. The was actually a media test of mine, back in the day, to see how well the bonding layers stood up. You can sit on a chair, and it doesn't even take excess force. You can easily get a knife or box cutter, pry the platters apart.

This isn't as hard as some are making it out. Recordable optical media are fragile when mishandled.

[JoeS99]

Microwaving for five seconds works, but produces a stink. Might be harmful.

[pandy]

Probably simple, traditional ironing will be more than enough to destroy dvd plate... on disc (carrier) and recording dye level...

[frank_footer]

i second the hammer method, what's wrong with just breaking them into a few pieces?

[lordsmurf]

You could burn them.

Ever put a disc in the microwave?

Good Idea I will try that. With or without a cat?

Microwaving for five seconds works, but produces a stink. Might be harmful.

In a microwave, foil sparks, and will cause a fire with anything flammable! Do not do this!

Example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhpndQJkNk0

[Subtitles]

What's wrong with shredding? My shredder Martin Yale can shred disks and credit cards. I doubt if the blades will get ruined. It is very safe and takes just few seconds.

[lordsmurf]

What's wrong with shredding? My shredder Martin Yale can shred disks and credit cards. I doubt if the blades will get ruined. It is very safe and takes just few seconds.

Blades get ruined. Even paper ruins blades, but a plastic disc is vastly faster.

Most home shredders will struggle anyway, and reject the disc. Too thick.

[Subtitles]

What's wrong with shredding? My shredder Martin Yale can shred disks and credit cards. I doubt if the blades will get ruined. It is very safe and takes just few seconds.

Blades get ruined. Even paper ruins blades, but a plastic disc is vastly faster.

Most home shredders will struggle anyway, and reject the disc. Too thick.

Thanks for your reply.
I will contact my shredding machine manufacturer Martin Yale and ask how many shredded DVD disks take to make my machine's blades get ruined.
I doubt if I will get a reply but this might be worth asking. Will report back.

[cholla]

I use a heavy duty pair of scissors.
You can cut the dvd in half or quaters or more if you like.

[hech54]

Pound with hammer

Yep. Framing or Drywall hammer with the waffled heads would do the trick.

I take the "You ain't all that - he's just not that into you" approach. Nobody is lurking behind
your garbage can just waiting to use FBI-like forensics lab equipment to extract data from discs that are simply
broken in half.

[TimA-C]

Sandpaper? I guess it depends how important you think the info on the discs is and whether you think that someone would be interested enough in you & your discs to a) target you, and b) go through some pretty serious data recovery . . . ? You could probably put them in boiling water for a few minutes to knacker them? (I haven't done this this so . . . ? Also, I'd check with whoever is in charge of the Kitchen, just to make sure that you don't use their favourite pan.)

Unless you're incredibly famous, or the info on the discs is of such importance that Tom Cruise might be tasked to acquire/destroy it in one of the MI films, I'd probably go with the drill, and put three or four holes in the stack.

[zing269]

Spin them very fast... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs7x1Hu29Wc

[The_Doman]

VWestlife: "The Claw" - Sanyo's CD/DVD Media Destroyer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDTKER_SfS0

[cholla]

If you want to burn them just get a cheap grill like this one.

Cheap Grill

[netmask56]

Maybe pop them one at a time on an induction stove cooktop? Anyone tried that?