Safe hard drive or not?

[AndrewHimself]

Why do hard disks fail? Can I just take it out of my computer, let it sit in a dry area and expect it to be okay? I want to back everything up on my computer onto a hard drive, then just remove it, wrap it up in some ESD bags, and place it somewhere safe. Is this recommended, or is my data still in danger of becoming corrupted?

Thanks for your help!

[AreEss]

Sure. The only real concern with storing drives is humidity and temperatures. Just keep it in a cool, dry place, and things'll be fine. I do this myself.

[billb]

Why do hard disks fail? Can I just take it out of my computer, let it sit in a dry area and expect it to be okay? I want to back everything up on my computer onto a hard drive, then just remove it, wrap it up in some ESD bags, and place it somewhere safe. Is this recommended, or is my data still in danger of becoming corrupted?

Thanks for your help!Just keep it away from magnitisn...speakers, TV's etc. Why not just unplug it and leave it in the case? Or even easier, leave it plugged in and just don't use it.

HDDS generally fail when the arm hits the platter. This can be caused by shock (thermal or gravitational) or just ware on the bearings in the arm and platter. So leaving it in the case and using it for an occasional back-up will ensure as long a life as possible.

[protias]

well, the magnetism part wont really affect a drive just for the fact there are 2 powerful magnets that move the arms back and forth.

[dtess17]

well, the magnetism part wont really affect a drive just for the fact there are 2 powerful magnets that move the arms back and forth.

very true, it will take a large rare earth magnet to really cause any trouble with the drive.

Speakers and such pose more of a threat to a crt or a tv than they do to your hard drives...
ever see that ugly green on a display from a unshielded speaker?

[unhappy_mage]

Just keep it away from magnitisn...speakers, TV's etc.
Ten Gauss. That's what it takes to write a bit to a hard drive. MRI machines, as an example, generate... one Gauss. Hard drives can generate a more powerful field because they only have to do so in a very small area. Magnetism is an inverse cube relationship. I don't think natural magnets strong enough to wipe a disk exist, you'd need an electromagnet of epic proportions.

But vibration caused by a speaker *could* be a problem. Especially if you've got your machine right next to your subwoofer, and like your gangsta rap loud.

http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/150072.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&tm=33&id=150072)http://www.hardfolding.com/utag1.php/mem/428/1.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=36&id=428&type=1)

[Rykoro]

Its perfectly safe to unplug it and store it somewhere cool and dry. Just wrap it in a ESD bag and if you have one around place it in one of thoes plastic cases that HDs come in and you'll be fine. I have a few 20mb HDs that my dad used to backup his web stuff sitting around in ESD bags and they are still fine (checked it out about a year ago and they are many years old and HUGE!) Personally I have 2 of my own 4.6gb HDs sitting around with pictures on them that I use as a backup for my digital camera and I plug them in once a year to update them and leave them be the rest. They are just in the plastic cases that the HDs originaly came in.

It's fine, just don't store it in an oven or in the freezer (although the freezer thing sometimes brings dead HDs to life) and don't leave it in a tub of water and you'll be fine.