In the thirty years
since IBM launched their personal computer, data and data storage devices have
become such an integral part of people's lives that it seems almost
unbelievable that in the 1980s very few people had their own computer at home.
In 2009, the Office for National Statistics reported home computer ownership in
the UK to be 75%, rising to 98% in the highest income group. Data and its safe storage
has therefore become an increasingly high priority in people's lives, and the
technology industry has responded to this need by creating ever higher storage
capacities both in personal computers and external hard drives (EHDs).
EHDs offer many advantages
to the user; they can protect a user's data by providing a back up capability
for the main computer, they are useful for storing and archiving large
multimedia files and the increasingly popular compact portable versions are
particularly useful for data transportation. However, despite all their
advantages, we need to be careful with these disks. EHDs are among the most
common of all devices sent to data recovery companies. There are two main
reasons for this:
1. EHDs are vulnerable
to human clumsiness. Desktop EHDs may have liquids spilt on them or they may
accidentally be pulled over or dragged onto the floor by trailing data or power
cables. Portable EHDs are often placed into trouser pockets or bags which may
be sat on or otherwise damaged during transit.
2. In their attempts to
keep EHDs as compact as possible, manufacturers often omit the cooling fan
which would always be found in a PC or laptop hard drive. EHDs are therefore at
risk of overheating which can have repercussions for the stability of the data
stored on the disk.
So, how do we know when
and why our EHD has failed? And more importantly, what can we do about it?
Well, in addition to the drive spinning then dying or not being recognised in
the BIOS, there are a variety of noises that damaged EHDs can make, including
screeches, beeps, bleeps, ticks, knocks and buzzes. We will take a look at some
of these symptoms in more detail and describe the underlying causes:
* Beeps, bleeps and
screeches: Many manufacturers use Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) technology in
preference to ball bearings as the disks run more quietly and have better shock
resistance. However, our research has shown that when the disk is powered on
from cold the fluid takes time to reach its optimum viscosity, and during this
time is vulnerable to vertical vibration. This can lead to read/write errors
and a resultant beep or bleep noise.
* Buzzing: EHDs contain
a spindle which is responsible for rotating the platters. Only a small part of
the spindle comes into contact with a comparatively heavy part of the drive,
and a sudden knock or jolt to an EHD can cause the spindle to seize, and the
drive will not be recognised by the computer.
* Ticking or Knocking:
Inside EHDs there is an arm with read/write heads which, as their name suggests,
read or write data to and from the platters. If there is damage to the heads or
the motor, the arm can knock against other components in the disk as it
continually tries to read the data, which creates a regular ticking sound. In
our experience this is usually caused by the EHD being dropped or knocked over.
* Running slowly and
suddenly dying: This may have accompanying noises (such as a repetitive
scratching sound) and is caused by overheating due to lack of ventilation
around the disk.
There are therefore many
problems that can befall EHDs and preventing these by taking care of the disks
is important; however should disaster strike the crucial piece of advice from
the data recovery industry is to immediately power off the disk, and not to
risk running a repair utility which may further damage access to the stored
data. Reputable data recovery companies use specialised equipment and clean
room laboratory conditions to retrieve valuable data. Their expertise and
experience is reflected in the prices they charge; unfortunately there are many
companies, typically those at the low end of the market, who greatly exaggerate
their abilities. Potential customers would be well-advised to carefully
research the reputation and skill-sets of data recovery companies before
entrusting them with their crucial files.
Sue Bellass is a
technical author at the UK data recovery company Data Clinic Ltd http://www.dataclinic.co.uk.
Established in 2002, the company provides worldwide data recovery solutions
from all forms of failed computer media. For more information visit our site or
contact us on +44 161 761 0620.
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