Patent ID: 7667923

Claim:
A system for impairing at least one pair of data platters stacked parallel to each other in a hard drive, comprising: a hard drive enclosure in which the data platters are mounted; an alignment device pivotably mounted within the hard drive enclosure, the alignment device including an upper arm and a lower arm, the upper and lower arms being spaced apart from and extending parallel to one another, wherein the alignment device is movable between a stowed position in which the alignment device is spaced apart from the data platters to an impairment position in which the upper and lower arms of the alignment device overlay at least an edge of the data platters; and the upper arm including an opening for receiving an impairment tool, the opening being generally aligned with an impairment opening formed in the enclosure when the alignment device is in the impairment position; wherein the impairment tool is inserted through the impairment opening formed in the enclosure and the opening in the upper arm for engaging a surface of the data platters to impair the data platters.