How 'computers' are depicted in the media

See 'Fringe' Season 1 episode 12 from 7.18s The computer techie is having problems recovering data as 'the harddrive platters must be fused' besides, she says 'I know some pretty aggressive data retrieval techniques, I can give it a shot'. She then dismantles the drives exposing the platters to the air. Does anyone here know what she is on about.