- A
Use a degausser on each drive.
Why wrong: Degaussing is effective but requires expensive equipment and may not be the lowest-cost option for 20 drives.
- B
Perform a standard format on each drive.
Why wrong: A standard format does not overwrite data; it only marks sectors as available. Data remains recoverable.
- C
Drill holes through the platters of each drive.
Drilling physically damages the platters, making data unrecoverable at very low cost. This is a common low-budget disposal method.
- D
Reformat the drives and install a fresh OS.
Why wrong: Reformatting and reinstalling does not securely erase old data; residual data can still be recovered.
Question 478 of 750
Lowest Cost Data Destruction Method
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of data destruction and disposal. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A small business is upgrading its workstations and needs to dispose of 20 old hard drives that contain confidential payroll records. The company wants the lowest-cost method that ensures data cannot be recovered. Which disposal method should be recommended?
Quick Answer
The answer is drilling holes through the platters of each drive, as this is the lowest cost data destruction method that guarantees data cannot be recovered. Physical destruction works by directly damaging the magnetic platters where data is stored, making it impossible for any recovery tool or cleanroom service to read the remnants. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of disposal methods under budget constraints, often contrasting low-cost physical destruction with more expensive options like degaussing or industrial shredding. A common trap is choosing software wiping or formatting, but those are slower and less reliable for confidential payroll records since they can be bypassed with forensic tools. Remember the memory tip: “Drill for the thrill of zero recovery”—if you need cheap and certain destruction, a simple drill bit through the platters is the CompTIA-approved low-cost solution.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Drill holes through the platters of each drive.
Drilling holes through the platters physically destroys the magnetic surfaces, making data recovery impossible without specialized cleanroom equipment. This is the lowest-cost method that guarantees destruction because it directly damages the storage medium beyond repair, unlike degaussing which may not work on modern SSDs or high-coercivity drives.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a degausser on each drive.
Why it's wrong here
Degaussing is effective but requires expensive equipment and may not be the lowest-cost option for 20 drives.
- ✗
Perform a standard format on each drive.
Why it's wrong here
A standard format does not overwrite data; it only marks sectors as available. Data remains recoverable.
- ✓
Drill holes through the platters of each drive.
Why this is correct
Drilling physically damages the platters, making data unrecoverable at very low cost. This is a common low-budget disposal method.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Reformat the drives and install a fresh OS.
Why it's wrong here
Reformatting and reinstalling does not securely erase old data; residual data can still be recovered.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA A+ often tests the misconception that a standard format or OS reinstall permanently erases data, when in fact only a secure wipe (e.g., overwriting with zeros multiple times) or physical destruction ensures data is unrecoverable.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Physical destruction methods like drilling or shredding are recommended for sensitive data because they create irreversible damage to the platters' magnetic layers. Degaussing works by exposing the drive to a strong magnetic field to randomize the magnetic domains, but modern drives with perpendicular recording and high coercivity may require industrial-grade degaussers that are costly and not always effective. In real-world scenarios, organizations handling payroll or medical records often use a combination of degaussing and physical destruction to meet compliance standards like NIST SP 800-88.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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Data Destruction and Disposal — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Data Destruction and Disposal — This question tests Data Destruction and Disposal — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Drill holes through the platters of each drive. — Drilling holes through the platters physically destroys the magnetic surfaces, making data recovery impossible without specialized cleanroom equipment. This is the lowest-cost method that guarantees destruction because it directly damages the storage medium beyond repair, unlike degaussing which may not work on modern SSDs or high-coercivity drives.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on 220-1202
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is relocating and needs to dispose of 50 old desktop computers with HDDs that contain sensitive client data. The policy requires data destruction to be verifiable and the drives to be physically destroyed. Which method meets these requirements?
medium- A.Use a degausser and then donate the drives to a school.
- B.Overwrite each drive with three passes of random data.
- ✓ C.Send the drives to a certified e-waste recycler for shredding.
- D.Reformat each drive and install a fresh OS for reuse.
Why C: Physical destruction methods like shredding or crushing provide verifiable destruction (e.g., through a certificate of destruction) and ensure the drives cannot be reused, meeting strict security policies. Degaussing also destroys data but may not physically destroy the drive.
Variation 2. A company is migrating to new laptops and needs to dispose of 50 old hard drives securely. The drives contain proprietary software and client data. The IT manager wants a method that is both environmentally friendly and compliant with data protection laws. Which disposal method should be chosen?
medium- A.Donate the drives to a local charity after wiping them with a free tool.
- ✓ B.Use a certified e-waste recycler that offers secure destruction and recycling.
- C.Physically break the drives with a drill and dispose of them in the regular trash.
- D.Perform a quick format and sell the drives online.
Why B: Option B is correct because certified e-waste recyclers follow strict data destruction standards (e.g., NIST SP 800-88) and environmental regulations (e.g., R2 or e-Stewards certification). This ensures the drives are physically destroyed or degaussed to prevent data recovery, while responsibly recycling materials, meeting both security and compliance requirements.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1202 exam.
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