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by GAZOO548 on June 23rd, 2006

GAZOO548

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What damage if any can a magnet cause on a hard drive?

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  • by scubabob on June 23rd, 2006

    scubabob

    Lots. Lets start with the fact that hard drives store their information, magnetically on platters inside them. Change the orientation of the magnetized particles on the platters with a magnet and you change the data stored on the drive. Read write heads inside the drive do this for you in an organized fashion, something your PC understands. An external magnet applied to a drive scrambles that into information the PC can't understand. Basically, wiping out anything stored on the drive.

    Comments

    • This is a good answer.

      Beverlyofhills

      by Beverlyofhills on July 4th, 2006

    • While this is a good answer, it is only partially correct. The actual fact is that the magnets inside most Hard Disk drives used to read and write data are extremely strong. These magnets come within 3 nanometres(3/1,000,000,000th of a meter). When you consider the magnetic field, and its strongest point in this field is nearest to the magnet and the distance needed(input mathematical equation), one would need a specialized electromagnet to focus enough magnetic disturbance to lose data on a hard drive. Lets not mis-inform.

      Rashaverak

      by Rashaverak on March 25th, 2011

    • Will you swipe a magnet anywhere near your hard drive just for kicks Rashaverak? If you took an A+ course, you'd find that it's taught never to introduce a magnetic field near a hard drive. I am A+ certified.

      scubabob

      by scubabob on May 16th, 2011

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