I'm looking for a method to quickly disable a computer without having
to handle the hardware such as physically removing a heatsink. The
method should be a valid failsafe which can be executed quickly. A
possibility would be through BIOS or a script to disable the heatsink
or something else necessary for the motherboard's operation, in a way
that is irreversible. Any thoughts?

"Perdition" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm looking for a method to quickly disable a computer without having
> to handle the hardware such as physically removing a heatsink. The
> method should be a valid failsafe which can be executed quickly. A
> possibility would be through BIOS or a script to disable the heatsink
> or something else necessary for the motherboard's operation, in a way
> that is irreversible. Any thoughts?

Although you mentioned not having to handle hardware, placing the hard disk
in a removable caddy would appear to be the perfect solution for your needs.

MJP

MJP wrote:
> "Perdition" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > I'm looking for a method to quickly disable a computer without having
> > to handle the hardware such as physically removing a heatsink. The
> > method should be a valid failsafe which can be executed quickly. A
> > possibility would be through BIOS or a script to disable the heatsink
> > or something else necessary for the motherboard's operation, in a way
> > that is irreversible. Any thoughts?
>
> Although you mentioned not having to handle hardware, placing the hard disk
> in a removable caddy would appear to be the perfect solution for your needs.
>
> MJP

unfortunately this has to be done in a way that doesn't involve
handling directly hardware or it isn't scriptable. These computers also
don't allow the use of external media devices such as cd drives, usb or
floppy. So the answer has to be through software i'm afraid

i should also mention that the data on the computer should be as
difficult to recover as possible, military standard

"Perdition" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm looking for a method to quickly disable a computer without having
> to handle the hardware such as physically removing a heatsink. The
> method should be a valid failsafe which can be executed quickly. A
> possibility would be through BIOS or a script to disable the heatsink
> or something else necessary for the motherboard's operation, in a way
> that is irreversible. Any thoughts?

BIOS password?

MJP

Perdition wrote:
> i should also mention that the data on the computer should be as
> difficult to recover as possible, military standard
>


just wipe the HD...
there are plenty of utilities out there

philo wrote:
> Perdition wrote:
> > i should also mention that the data on the computer should be as
> > difficult to recover as possible, military standard
> >
>
>
> just wipe the HD...
> there are plenty of utilities out there

data recovery techniques these days means that you'd have to rewrite
the entire harddrive over 7 times (7 levels of erasure being DOD
standard) to ensure some security, and even then it won't go over parts
which are flagged as defective. The information has to be erased to the
highest military standard meaning rewrites aren't acceptable, it has to
be destroyed. Whether the entire motherboard is destroyed as well is
irrevelant, the computer must never be used again

Shotgun?

> i should also mention that the data on the computer should be as
> difficult to recover as possible, military standard
>
If you want to quickly destroy the data as well, then it's going to have
to be some kind of incendiary device. Should be easy enough to trigger
through software - maybe using the serial port, or something else that
isn't going to be used for anything else.

HTH.

CK

>
> data recovery techniques these days means that you'd have to rewrite
> the entire harddrive over 7 times (7 levels of erasure being DOD
> standard) to ensure some security, and even then it won't go over parts
> which are flagged as defective. The information has to be erased to the
> highest military standard meaning rewrites aren't acceptable, it has to
> be destroyed. Whether the entire motherboard is destroyed as well is
> irrevelant, the computer must never be used again
>

What exactly are you trying to achieve ?.
You mentioned disabling the Heatsink, whatever that is supposed to achieve
BUT now you are talkng about wiping the HD.
The only place that data is stored, assuming RAM is depowered is the HD, why
not just take it out and smash it (them) to bits with large hammer ?