How to destroy backup tapes?

I have some old tapes that were used for backups, would like to
destroy them before discarding. What's a good method of doing this?

Thanks!

pour petrol over them and watch them burn


"Steve" <a@b.inv> wrote in message
news:gvc2jv42e13fksc6lgs7ipkcl8hhjndc90@4ax.com...
> I have some old tapes that were used for backups, would like to
> destroy them before discarding. What's a good method of doing this?
>
> Thanks!
>
>

Or - if you don't want toxic smoke, just move a good strong magnet around
the tape and that should make it unreadable.

"Sean" <Sean@keen180.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bgrcv6$u91$1@news6.svr.pol.co.uk...
> pour petrol over them and watch them burn
>
>
> "Steve" <a@b.inv> wrote in message
> news:gvc2jv42e13fksc6lgs7ipkcl8hhjndc90@4ax.com...
> > I have some old tapes that were used for backups, would like to
> > destroy them before discarding. What's a good method of doing this?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >
>
>

On Wed, 06 Aug 2003 10:00:44 -0700, Steve <a@b.inv> wrote:

>I have some old tapes that were used for backups, would like to
>destroy them before discarding. What's a good method of doing this?
>
>Thanks!
>

Nail Gun

For old QIC tapes, the big ones, I simply got out a screwdriver and
unscrewed the back plate off (2-3 screws), then pulled the tape out into a
plastic bag. Did about a hundred old tapes, the back plates were thick
aluminums so I had 15$ of scrap too. Had to pry off the steel pins with a
pair of ViceGrips locking pliers.

Unfortunately, I had to toss the tape itself and the plastic pulleys and
bobbins in the garbage, I would have liked to have recycled them but not
possible.

The tapes themselves were old 35 mb to 120 mb tapes, quite useless today.

I would not burn them, or nail gun them, or pound them with a hammer. Just
take them apart. Quicker. I assume noone is going to reassemble them.

If you really want to destroy them, commercial firms do that if you must
ensure that the data is destroyed. They will shred them and give a
cerifiticate of destruction.
"Steve" <a@b.inv> wrote in message
news:gvc2jv42e13fksc6lgs7ipkcl8hhjndc90@4ax.com...
> I have some old tapes that were used for backups, would like to
> destroy them before discarding. What's a good method of doing this?
>
> Thanks!
>
>

Steve wrote:

> I have some old tapes that were used for backups, would like to
> destroy them before discarding. What's a good method of doing this?
>

Cut them up? I doubt anyone would splice them back together just to see
what is on them.

--

Stacey

go to the petstore, get a puppy, don't feed 'em for a couple of days, give
'em the tapes.

"Steve" <a@b.inv> wrote in message
news:gvc2jv42e13fksc6lgs7ipkcl8hhjndc90@4ax.com...
> I have some old tapes that were used for backups, would like to
> destroy them before discarding. What's a good method of doing this?
>
> Thanks!
>
>

Jim Miner wrote:

> go to the petstore, get a puppy, don't feed 'em for a couple of days, give
> 'em the tapes.
>
>

That would work without the "don't feed 'em" part....

--

Stacey, who has learned to get adult dogs instead of puppies.

Let the teenagers play with them.

--
I believe in having an open mind,
but not so open that my brains fall out.