Destroying HDD data
Does anyone know of a way to destroy data held on a laptop HDD, without using a wiping / shredding program, and without physically destroying the HDD.
The drive in my laptop is knackered, and it is being replaced under guarantee. I have to return the laptop, complete with the drive fitted, but as I can't get the computer to boot up (HDD totally knackered, making grinding noises), I can't run any program to wipe it.
I was wondering if I remove it, would subjecting it to a very large alternating magnetic field do enough scrambling to make it unreadable.
There isn't anything too worrying on the disc, but there are internet passwords, but there may also be some internet banking details.