Are there any methods to erase a single-write disc in an optical disc drive?

[Badstormer]

Writing over a single-use disc that's already been written to strikes me as a relatively simple way to destroy the data on it for most practical purposes, but I can't seem to find any method - at all - to write twice to a single-use disc even if data destruction is the goal.

Is my logic correct that simply burning the entire data side of a single-use disc would render most forms of data unusable, and, if so, are there any methods to do this in a conventional disc drive? I'm actually impressed how difficult it is to accomplish this compared to how easy it is to, even accidentally, destroy other mediums for data storage.

edit: specifically asking for methods to convince a disk drive to write over a finalized, non-rewritable disc, not for the purpose of reuse but rather data removal that doesn't involve physically damaging the disc

[skOsH♥]

I agree

Microwave the disc

[Crashed]

d¢님이 먼저 게시:

I agree

Microwave the disc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h46_THPT8cA

[Badstormer]

Crashed님이 먼저 게시:

Badstormer님이 먼저 게시:

I am actually interested in this. Are you familiar with any models that are still sold today?

Not really; I just remember seeing ads in computer publications about them.

At least I know a method exists, then. Thank you for trying to answer the original post - as much as I love hearing of conventional methods to obliterate a disc beyond any reasonable recovery, you are the only one who provided an answer that actually addressed what I asked.

[Nettle]

This makes for interesting reading:

https://goughlui.com/2020/06/18/tech-flashback-disct2-labelflash-pt-2-labelflash-media-more-fun/

[Sigma957]

What you do is snap the disc in half.

[Crashed]

Sigma957님이 먼저 게시:

What you do is snap the disc in half.

When I was a kid my brother did that once; it exploded in shards.

[Badstormer]

Sigma957님이 먼저 게시:

What you do is snap the disc in half.

The first (and last) time I did this, the result was large quantities of plastic particles in the lungs of everyone unfortunate enough to be nearby.

Also, optical discs are remarkably resistant to being snapped for how rigid they are.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

emoticorpse님이 먼저 게시:

I think a lot of paper shredders do optical media?

What for?
You can just bend the disc yourself towards a trash-can until the disc shatters.

People really need special tools for this stuff? Use some common sense folks.

[emoticorpse]

Bad 💀 Motha님이 먼저 게시:

emoticorpse님이 먼저 게시:

I think a lot of paper shredders do optical media?

What for?
You can just bend the disc yourself towards a trash-can until the disc shatters.

People really need special tools for this stuff? Use some common sense folks.

Well, I agree that's an acceptable way for most people to dispose of them but seems like OP still needs a step further considering all the other things wasn't good enough.

But, I'd hope he'd accept if the disc is cut up into like nothing but like a thousand pieces or whatever, there really is like zero chance someone is going to try gathering all those bits piecing them together and taping it then somehow getting a disc reader to read it or whatever even though the the data never was technically erased.

Also, I don't like that idea of breaking discs. Yeah, it's not hard to do. Enough to deter most people from trying to get data off it, but I see it as dangerous. Never know what direction which pieces are going to fly or if you might be cut yourself by a sharp edge/point.

Never happened to me, but I still see a risk. Not sure if you'd look at me as one of these "softer" type people who really play it ridiculously safe, which I don't think I am. I just don't that method trust safety wise.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

There is no reason though to shatter the discs or go out of your way to shred the plastic part of the disc. The plastic doesn't hold the data, the data is held in the very thin film on the top of the disc, like I said before, the label-side. This film is like foil, very easy to scratch it with sharp objects and all that is needed is to rip that foil with sharp object; BOOM. All data is lost and/or unreadable.

[Badstormer]

emoticorpse님이 먼저 게시:

Well, I agree that's an acceptable way for most people to dispose of them but seems like OP still needs a step further considering all the other things wasn't good enough.

The point of my original question wasn't actually for data destruction methods, but rather to see if a method to erase a single-use disc with regular tools was ever even possible. It just struck me as unusual that there wasn't a way to erase a disc without using destructive methods.

edit: that being said, I posit that re-burning the whole disc in a manner that actually alters the data directly is a much more secure data erasure method than just breaking the thing or scratching parts of it, considering someone with enough time and money could realistically reassemble it if the data itself hasn't been altered. Using a microwave or lighter would probably be the next most effective method if you don't mind inhaling plastic fumes.

[Crashed]

Badstormer님이 먼저 게시:

emoticorpse님이 먼저 게시:

Well, I agree that's an acceptable way for most people to dispose of them but seems like OP still needs a step further considering all the other things wasn't good enough.

The point of my original question wasn't actually for data destruction methods, but rather to see if a method to erase a single-use disc with regular tools was ever even possible. It just struck me as unusual that there wasn't a way to erase a disc without using destructive methods.

edit: that being said, I posit that re-burning the whole disc in a manner that actually alters the data directly is a much more secure data erasure method than just breaking the thing or scratching parts of it, considering someone with enough time and money could realistically reassemble it if the data itself hasn't been altered. Using a microwave or lighter would probably be the next most effective method if you don't mind inhaling plastic fumes.

Microwave would be more effective and less fumes (provided you stop it after it sparks before it has a chance to heat up much) than a lighter.

[Badstormer]

Crashed님이 먼저 게시:

Microwave would be more effective and less fumes (provided you stop it after it sparks before it has a chance to heat up much) than a lighter.

I certainly agree with you there. I've seen recommendations for both elsewhere.

[Sigma957]

Badstormer님이 먼저 게시:

Sigma957님이 먼저 게시:

What you do is snap the disc in half.

The first (and last) time I did this, the result was large quantities of plastic particles in the lungs of everyone unfortunate enough to be nearby.

Also, optical discs are remarkably resistant to being snapped for how rigid they are.

You can also cut them in half with a good pair of pliers.

[skOsH♥]

You could also take a blowtorch to it

I think that'll be sufficient.