Q:

Is there any difference between "in a manner that does" and "in such a manner as to do"?

I found the following sentence: 

The hard drive is destroyed in a manner that does not allow it to be
  rebuilt.

I would like to know whether it can be rewritten as follows:

The hard drive is destroyed in such a manner as not to allow it to be
  rebuilt.

In fact, when I googled the phrase "in such a manner as not to allow", only some results were found.  Then, I googled the phrase "in a manner that does not allow", much more results were found. So, I am afraid whether the phrase "in such a manner as not to allow" sounds strange to natives. 

A:

The phrases "a manner that does not allow. . ." and "such a manner as not to allow. . ." have different meanings.   The first uses an indicative relative clause to identify the manner.   This clause represents something like result or consequence.   The second identifies the manner with an attributive infinitive phrase.   This phrasing commonly represents something like intent or purpose.   
Intent is not as strong a statement as result.   What we want to do and what we accomplish may be two different things.   
The idea that the drive cannot be rebuilt could represent either a hope or a fact.   In the original statement, it is presented as a fact.   In your paraphrasing, it could be interpreted merely as a hope.   

