HAPPY FRIDAY All,
A client presented a portable hard drive to our lab last week, stating it had been making funny noises for a few weeks and was now not reading….Upon opening the drive in the clean room we found severe platter damage…
Hard drive platters can get damaged due to several reasons, including:
Physical Impact: Dropping or jarring the hard drive can cause the read/write heads to crash onto the platters, resulting in physical damage.
Head Crash: If the read/write head makes contact with the spinning platters, it can scratch the surface, causing data loss and platter damage.
Dust and Contaminants: Even tiny particles of dust can cause damage if they get inside the hard drive enclosure and come into contact with the platters.
Manufacturing Defects: Occasionally, defects in the materials or manufacturing process can lead to platter damage over time.
Heat: Excessive heat can cause the platters to warp or the magnetic material to degrade, leading to data loss and physical damage.
Magnetic Fields: Strong magnetic fields can disrupt the magnetic surface of the platters, leading to data corruption and potential physical damage.
Wear and Tear: Over time, normal wear and tear from the read/write process can gradually degrade the surface of the platters.
Electrical Failures: Power surges or electrical failures can cause the read/write head to malfunction and crash into the platters.
Firmware Errors: Errors in the firmware controlling the hard drive can lead to improper read/write operations, potentially causing physical damage to the platters.
If you notice any type of unusual behaviour or sounds from your drive…POWER IT DOWN IMMEDIATLY and seek professional help…
have a good weekend 😉