Proper Care and Feeding for Disk Drives
Even if hard drives are not as fragile as floppy disks they are still not indispensable. Hard drives are sealed inside metal cases, which makes it more resistant to liquids and dust unlike the floppy disks. But not being able to take care of it properly would mean losing a lot of the valuable data in it.
There are two major ways to damage or worse, to completely lose all data in the disk drive. One is by knocking the computer off a surface and dropping it on the floor. Second is by moving your computer unnecessarily for one area to another. Keep in mind that not all hard disks are made equal. Some are made to be more sensitive than the others.
A common hard drive malfunction is known as the head crash. This happens when your computer falls on the floor. This causes a permanent damage on your drives. There is an essential gap between the read/write heads and the disk surface. If this space would have any encounter with any type of particle, the system would go berserk. When your disk drive crashes, the read/write heads fall into the disk itself. This is what happens when the disk drive encounters a head crash.
So how do you take care of your hard disk drive?
- Do not move your computer unnecessarily from one place to another.
- Be sure to regularly back up all your files. In case an inevitable system crash happens, your data is still safe.
- Pack your computer in its original packaging if in case you are going to relocate your office.
- The most important of all, never drop your computer. This will not only harm your hard disk but the entire unit.
Over time, it is normal for your computer to accumulate numerous fragmented files. Files are fragmented to make sure that there is ample amount of space for the succeeding files that would be saved in the disk. Defragmenting your files on a scheduled basis will ensure its efficiency. It is just easy to defragment your files; in fact, Windows already has built-in applications for defragmenting your disk.
Another way that can help you care for your disk drive is by running scan disk. This utility makes it possible to search for errors and clean them as they are detected. This will render your computer more efficient, as files that are causing problems are corrected with the scan disk.
Caring for CD/DVD Drives
CD/DVD ROMs allow a user to store huge amount of data and information in a CD/DVD. It can be installed inside the system or attached via a special plug. It is ideal for storing applications, which require a huge amount of space, such as multimedia applications.
CD/DVD ROMs are susceptible to certain hazards such as dust and liquid, and even fingerprints. Special care should be taken when handling them, especially the area near the middle. Remember that this is where the valuable data are encoded.
The proper way to hold CDs/DVDs is by holding them along the edges or putting your finger in the hole found in the middle. Meanwhile, the best way to clean CD/DVD drives is by wiping them with a soft cotton cloth from the center out. When cleaning CD and DVD, it is highly advised that you use a specialized solution. You can easily purchase a CD/DVD cleaner in the market. Never feed damaged CDs or DVDs in your CD/DVD disk drive as this can cause significant damage which may eventually turn your CD/DVD unusable. Follow the aforementioned steps and you are sure to enjoy the service of your disk drives for a very, very long time.
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