What is degaussing
- Degaussing is the process of decreasing (neutralizing) or destroying a remnant magnetic field by reversing the polarity of the magnetic particles.
- Degaussing permanently destroys information from functional and non-functional hard disk drives (HDD) rendering them un-usable as the electromagnetic field not only destroys data written to the magnetic media but also destroys the servo tracks and could also destroy some sensitive components on the printed circuit boards.
- Degaussing permanently erases information from functional and non-functional magnetic data tapes like LTO, 3592, T10K, 3590, 9840, 9940 etc. rendering them un-usable as the electromagnetic field not only destroys data written to the magnetic media but also destroy the servo tracks.
- Some older data tapes like DLT, SDLT , DDS, 3480, 3490e as well as audio and video (VHS) cassettes and floppy disks do not lose their magnetic properties after degaussing and can be re-used.
