What Can Go Wrong in Hard Drives?
by: jameswalsh
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Word Count: 787
Hard drives, which are non-volatile data storage devices, digitally encode data on the surface of the fast-revolving magnetic platters contained in them. Low level formatting divides these platters into tracks and sectors. (Tracks are concentric circles while sectors are pie-shaped wedges on the tracks and hold a limited number of bytes.) High level formatting writes file storage structures like file allocation table (FAT) on the platters and prepares it for data storage.
Data is usually taken to mean information or knowledge. These get stored in hard disk over years of effort and it is important for the user, whether contained in a home pc or in a business computer. However, the unreliable nature of hard disks places such important information at risk. All hard drives eventually fail; it is only a matter of time, for they are mechanical devices. Many hardware or software problems can affect a hard disk, leading to data inaccessibility.
What Turns Data Inaccessible?
Data contained in a hard disk turns inaccessible when the hard disk fails either due to a physical or a logical problem. Physical problem occurs either due to a mechanical or electronic failure of the drive. Mechanical failures get indicated by varied noises emanating from the drive. Treat these as warning signals and shut down the pc immediately. This measure will help you retrieve lost data; otherwise the hard disk could get permanently damaged.
Another common physical problem is the electronic failure of the circuit board that lies at the bottom of the hard disk. The circuit board enables the hard drive to communicate with the computer and its failure leads to data inaccessibility. However, data lost thus, can be recovered by the data recovery experts who might painstakingly solder the circuit board (if required.)
Natural wear and tear of the magnetic coating of the platters also leads to data loss.
Information also turns inaccessible, when the drive is accidentally formatted, important or crucial files are accidentally deleted or when the hard disk gets infected by a virus. In such conditions, the drive will boot, but it will not be recognised by the BIOS (basic input output system.) Though situations leading to data loss cannot be fully eliminated, these problems can be avoided to a certain extent, by proper care of the hard disk.
Handling the Hard Disk
· The hard disk can be protected from a virus attack by regularly updating the anti-virus software. Deleting unopened attachments from little known contacts is another precautionary move that keeps files safe.
· Physical problems of the hard drive can be prevented by placing the computer in a dust-free environment. Dust damages the disk. Hard drives contain air filters, but if they get damaged, dust begins settling on the disk.
· The magnetic platters in the hard disk revolve at high speeds of 7,200 rpm to 15,000 rpm, generating heat up to 70º F in the process. It is necessary to keep the pc in a well-ventilated area. (Well ventilation should not be taken to mean a place where the system will be exposed to direct sunlight for extended duration.) Though the system contains built-in fans and cooling equipment, they might prove insufficient to prevent disk component damage. It is also necessary to equip the pc with monitoring software to alert the user, when crucial heat levels are reached.
· The read write head is separated from the magnetic platter by sub micron distances. Moving the pc when it is powered on might result in the head crashing on to the platter; however, such accidents are rare, for most computers have a built-in mechanism to prevent such accidents.
· Improper shutdown of the pc also leads to hard drive failure.
Usually, warning signals precede disk problems. A few of these indicative signs could be in the form of frequent error messages, changes in the file and folder name, missing folders, long time to access files, etc. These signals indicate that the important data should immediately be protected by a backup. Failure to take timely action might lead to subsequent data loss. Information kept stored in the hard disk is so important, that when it turns inaccessible, people abuse their pc in frustration. They fail to realise that, by these acts, they are permanently turning their data inaccessible.
About the Author
James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you are concerned about data loss and would like more information on Data Recovery see http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk
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