The Most Venerable Component

scott

  Consider the parts that make-up your computer. There are very few moving parts. The fans, the keyboard, the mouse, and CD/DVD drives are the only components besides the hard drive that has moving parts. All of these items can be easily replaced. But the data on the hard drive can't.



Most modern hard drives have rotating disks called platters. The platters spin at 10,000 or more RPM's continuously (unless you're using power saving features). The read and write heads float just above the platters at less that a hair's width distance. During read and write commands the heads move back and forth at incredible speeds.

Imagine driving your car at 200MPH. You know that one mistake, you and your car will never be the same. Have you considered the external forces that could cause you to have an accident? Some one could get in your way, or run in to you. The engine could suddenly seize, a tire could blow, a belt could break. Any of which could lead to severe damage to the vehicle, not to mention your body. Besides the potential for catastrophic damage, cars do eventually wear-out. Your hard drive is just as venerable.

Hard disk drives have indeed become more reliable over the years. But they all have one thing in common, still, to this day ... all hard drives will eventually fail. Have you prepared contingencies for this eventuallity? Have you backed-up today?