Unlike solid state drives (SSDs), hard disk drives (HDDs) are not that susceptible to data rewrite cycles. However, as personal observations show, they fail even more often. The thing is that HDDs are very susceptible to their operating conditions. Once inside a desktop computer, they may stop working even after a power surge. When it comes to external hard drives, they most often suffer from regular shaking and other mechanical damage. However, just a few tips will help you increase the lifespan of your HDD. This is not difficult.
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It is imperative to monitor the temperature
Modern hard drives operate well in temperatures ranging from 5 ° C to 60 ° C – at least Western Digital claims this is the optimal operating condition. However, usually temperatures above 50 ° C are already excessive for most HDDs. When heating approaches this value, you should think about how to lower it. If this happens regularly, you need to at least lower the temperature in the room, and it is better, if possible, to equip the computer with additional cooling. This can even be done for a laptop – there are special stands.
Specialized software will help to check the heating level of the internal components of the computer. On Windows, you can use the popular AIDA64 application for this. When using a Mac, the temperature of the components will be monitored by the iStat Menus program, which displays all the data in the menu bar.
The computer will not hurt to regularly clean it from dust
Dust that accumulates inside the case of any computer, regardless of the specific model, complicates the process of cooling. This can lead to overheating of the hard drive and other components of the machine. That is why it must be cleaned regularly to remove any internal contamination.
Any mechanical damage should be avoided
As practice shows, it is most often possible to damage a hard disk during installation or uninstallation, as well as during transportation. In order for the HDD to work correctly as long as possible, it is highly undesirable to drop it and subject it to shock. The thing is that inside each such storage device there is a complex electronic-mechanical system, which includes, among other things, moving components. With a not very careful attitude, the latter are especially easy to disable. As a result, you can lose important data with a minimal likelihood of the possibility of further recovery in any qualified service.
Best to reduce vibration when using
Since inside any hard drive there are extremely compact moving parts that are very sensitive to mechanical damage, when using HDD it is better to even reduce vibration. This especially applies to the moments of active work with data on the hard disk. It is better to refuse this in a moving car, train, plane. It is better not to operate the included HDD on the go, even at home or in an office space. Inside the case of a desktop computer, there are many components that generate vibration, such as coolers. Rejection of them for the sake of “dropsy” will also be ideal.
No need to use HDD upside down
Hard drives are tested by manufacturers in a purely horizontal position. That is why their vertical installation in a computer case looks like an extremely dubious idea. Returning to the moving elements inside the housing, it becomes clear that if they change orientation in the long term, they can stop working correctly. Moreover, it is also undesirable to use HDD upside down – this is especially true for external drives, which are not always placed on the table exactly as the manufacturer intended. Be sure to pay attention to this in the future.
It is important to provide a stable power supply
The duration of the trouble-free operation of hard drives depends quite strongly on the stability of the power supply – this applies to both voltage drops within the network and power outages. If something like this happens on a regular basis in your area, you should at least get a voltage stabilizer, or better – an “uninterruptible power supply”. An uninterruptible power supply allows the computer to work for a few more minutes after the mains voltage has disappeared. This will be more than enough to shut down the machine in a safe manner.
Of course, all of the above does not apply to laptops, which neutralize network power problems using the built-in battery. When choosing an uninterruptible power supply, you need to focus on the power of the computer’s power supply – an additional device should not be inferior to it.
Shutting down the computer is important only programmatically
You need to shut down the computer using the appropriate item in the main menu of the operating system. This will allow the machine to gracefully stop all running processes and adequately shut down the hardware. If you regularly use a forced shutdown using the corresponding button on the computer case, or simply pull it out of the network (if we are talking about desktop PCs), this will lead to accelerated wear of absolutely all internal components – especially the hard drive, which is extremely susceptible to abrupt termination of work.
Need to use safe removal of external HDD
When disconnecting external HDDs, be sure to use the Safely Remove function. It will give the hard drive the ability to gracefully stop its work before directly disconnecting from the computer. If you do not do this, the device may fail at one “fine” moment.
It will not hurt to regularly defragment the disk
With the active use of the built-in or external hard drive, fragmented clusters inevitably appear on it – scraps of files scattered over the entire physical surface of the drive. In this case, the head, which is responsible for reading the data, has to significantly increase the activity of its work, which leads to its faster failure. That is why it is better to regularly defrag the HDD with built-in tools or third-party applications. During this procedure, the scraps of files will be gathered together, which will definitely slow down the wear on the drive.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
