These Habits Can Damage Your Hard Disk!

The hard disk drive (HDD) is an essential component of computers and laptops, storing our photos, documents, and precious memories. However, some everyday habits can gradually damage the hard disk. Let's take a look at these habits and how to avoid them...

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Sudden Shutdowns

Many people, in a rush, simply pull out the power cord or press the power button to shut down their computer. This habit can be extremely harmful to your hard drive. When you abruptly shut down, the read and write heads of the hard drive stop suddenly. This can damage data sectors or the mechanical parts of the drive. Over time, this damage accumulates and can eventually lead to complete failure of the drive.

Solution: Always shut down your computer properly to ensure the drive shuts down safely.

Physical Shocks and Movement

Hard drives in laptops are particularly sensitive to physical shocks. Shaking or jolting the laptop while the drive is active can cause the read and write heads to come into contact with the platters, resulting in data loss or drive failure.

Solution: Avoid moving your laptop while it is running.

Overfilling the Hard Drive

People often fill their hard drives with so many files that there is no free space left. This habit affects the drive's performance. It forces the system to work harder, causing increased heat and wear and tear. Additionally, data fragmentation occurs, resulting in slower file access times.

Solution: Always keep 10-15% free space on your hard drive. Delete unnecessary files or transfer them to an external drive.

Neglecting Heat and Dust Protection

Heat is bad for hard drives. Dusty fans and blocked air vents can create oven-like conditions inside the computer. This can cause data errors and permanent damage. Temperatures above 55 degrees Celsius are worrisome, and above 60 degrees Celsius can pose a serious risk. 

Solution: Clean the fan vents regularly. Use free tools like CrystalDiskInfo to monitor the temperature.