- A
Perform a quick format and then donate the drives.
Why wrong: A quick format does not securely erase data; it only removes the file system pointers. Data can be recovered easily, posing a security risk.
- B
Use a degausser to demagnetize the drives, then recycle them as e-waste.
Degaussing renders the data unrecoverable and the drives become scrap metal/plastic that can be recycled. This is a secure and environmentally responsible method.
- C
Overwrite the drives with zeros once and then throw them in the trash.
Why wrong: Single-pass overwrite may not be sufficient for all data recovery methods, and throwing drives in the trash is not environmentally responsible.
- D
Drill holes through the platters and then place them in the regular recycling bin.
Why wrong: Drilling can physically destroy the platters but creates metal shards and dust. Placing them in regular recycling is not appropriate; they should go to e-waste recycling.
How to Securely Erase a Hard Drive Before Disposal (Degaussing & E-Waste Recycling)
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of environmental awareness and impact. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 company is upgrading its fleet of laptops and needs to securely erase data from the old hard drives before disposal. The drives are magnetic (HDDs). Which method is both environmentally sound and ensures data destruction?
Quick Answer
The correct method is to use a degausser to demagnetize the drives, then recycle them as e-waste, because degaussing destroys the magnetic field of an HDD, rendering all stored data permanently unrecoverable while leaving the drive as scrap metal suitable for environmentally sound disposal. This approach directly addresses the need for both secure data destruction and responsible e-waste recycling, as physical destruction like shredding also works but degaussing is the fastest for bulk drives. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your knowledge of data destruction standards and environmental compliance, often appearing alongside traps like “formatting” or “overwriting,” which are insufficient for magnetic media since data can still be recovered. Remember the key distinction: degaussing kills the drive’s magnetic field and the drive itself, making it perfect for disposal. A helpful memory tip is “Degauss to Dump”—once you degauss, the drive is a dead brick ready for the recycling bin.
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
Use a degausser to demagnetize the drives, then recycle them as e-waste.
Option B is correct because degaussing uses a strong magnetic field to randomize the magnetic domains on the platters, rendering all data unrecoverable. This method is environmentally sound as the drives can then be responsibly recycled as e-waste, avoiding landfill contamination.
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.
- ✗
Perform a quick format and then donate the drives.
Why it's wrong here
A quick format does not securely erase data; it only removes the file system pointers. Data can be recovered easily, posing a security risk.
- ✓
Use a degausser to demagnetize the drives, then recycle them as e-waste.
Why this is correct
Degaussing renders the data unrecoverable and the drives become scrap metal/plastic that can be recycled. This is a secure and environmentally responsible method.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Overwrite the drives with zeros once and then throw them in the trash.
Why it's wrong here
Single-pass overwrite may not be sufficient for all data recovery methods, and throwing drives in the trash is not environmentally responsible.
- ✗
Drill holes through the platters and then place them in the regular recycling bin.
Why it's wrong here
Drilling can physically destroy the platters but creates metal shards and dust. Placing them in regular recycling is not appropriate; they should go to e-waste recycling.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think a single overwrite or physical destruction (drilling) is sufficient, but CompTIA A+ tests that degaussing is the only method among the options that both ensures complete data destruction on magnetic media and allows for environmentally responsible e-waste recycling.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Degaussing works by exposing the HDD to a magnetic field of at least 1,000 Oersteds, which overcomes the coercivity of the platter coating (typically 2,400–4,000 Oersteds for modern drives). After degaussing, the drive is typically non-functional because the servo tracks used for head positioning are also erased, making it impossible to read or write. In real-world scenarios, organizations often combine degaussing with physical shredding for highest assurance, but degaussing alone meets the NIST SP 800-88 Clear standard for magnetic media.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Environmental Awareness and Impact — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Environmental Awareness and Impact practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All 220-1202 questions
750 questions across all exam domains
- →
CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
220-1202 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related 220-1202 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Windows OS Features and Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows OS Features and Tools.
Windows Settings and Control Panel practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Settings and Control Panel.
Windows Command-Line Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Command-Line Tools.
Windows Administrative Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Administrative Tools.
macOS Features and Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to macOS Features and Tools.
Linux Commands and File Permissions practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Linux Commands and File Permissions.
Mobile OS Features and Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Mobile OS Features and Tools.
Virtualization and Cloud Technologies practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Virtualization and Cloud Technologies.
Physical Security Controls practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Physical Security Controls.
Logical Security Concepts practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Logical Security Concepts.
Wireless Security Protocols practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Wireless Security Protocols.
Malware Types and Removal practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Malware Types and Removal.
Practice this exam
Start a free 220-1202 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Environmental Awareness and Impact — This question tests Environmental Awareness and Impact — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a degausser to demagnetize the drives, then recycle them as e-waste. — Option B is correct because degaussing uses a strong magnetic field to randomize the magnetic domains on the platters, rendering all data unrecoverable. This method is environmentally sound as the drives can then be responsibly recycled as e-waste, avoiding landfill contamination.
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's IT policy requires that all disposed hard drives be physically destroyed to prevent data breaches. Which method has the least environmental impact while ensuring data destruction?
hard- A.Use a degausser to erase the drive and then recycle it.
- B.Drill holes through the platters and then dispose of the drive in e-waste.
- ✓ C.Shred the hard drive using an industrial shredder and then recycle the metal fragments.
- D.Overwrite the drive with zeros multiple times and then donate it.
Why C: Option C is correct because industrial shredding physically destroys the platters into small fragments, making data recovery impossible, and the resulting metal fragments can be recycled, minimizing environmental impact. Unlike degaussing or drilling, shredding ensures complete destruction without leaving large e-waste components, and the recycling of ferrous and non-ferrous metals reduces raw material extraction.
Variation 2. A security incident occurred when an employee disposed of a hard drive by throwing it in the trash. The hard drive contained unencrypted customer data. Which two practices should have been followed to prevent this environmental and security breach? (Choose two.)
hard- ✓ A.Degauss the hard drive before disposal.
- ✓ B.Place the hard drive in a secure shredding bin for e-waste.
- C.Perform a quick format of the drive before disposal.
- D.Delete the files and empty the Recycle Bin.
Why A: Option A is correct because degaussing a hard drive uses a strong magnetic field to disrupt the magnetic domains on the platters, rendering the data permanently unrecoverable. This is a NIST SP 800-88 approved method for sanitizing magnetic media and ensures that unencrypted customer data cannot be retrieved after disposal.
Keep practising
More 220-1202 practice questions
- During a Windows 10 deployment, you need to ensure that a specific Group Policy setting is applied to a computer before…
- After installing a new printer driver, a user's Windows 11 computer crashes with a blue screen error every time they try…
- A user reports that their Windows 10 computer is infected with a virus that keeps reinstalling itself after removal. Wha…
- A customer reports that their Windows 10 laptop is displaying pop-up ads even when no browser is open. They suspect a ma…
- A technician is configuring a new Windows 10 workstation for a user who handles sensitive financial data. The company po…
- A technician is responding to a security incident where an employee's credentials were used to access a server without a…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.