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Why a Hard Disk Lets You Down

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Computers are very powerful digital devices that are a perfect blend of the processing capabilities of a micro-processor and software programmes that are tailor-made to execute various tasks. Indeed, it is impossible to think of the modern economy without the driving force of information technology. So many industries such as bio-technology and nano-technology would simply be impossible without digital devices.

Computers process a lot of data in their day-to-day operations. What is required is a digital storage device that can store all of it, with room to spare. Also, the device should have very high capacity, offer very fast data access speed and be reliable enough to tolerate writing and rewriting data millions of times. Until today, only one data storage device exists that meets all these parameters – the hard disk.

Hard disks are, in fact, so useful and versatile that they are being used not only in computers but also in consumer electronic items such as digital still cameras, digital video cameras, DVD players and even mobile phones. The commonly available hard disks today have a storage capacity of 160 GB, though there are also models with a capacity of a whopping one terabyte.

What makes a Hard Disk Tick?

A hard disk looks like a small rectangular metal box. It is designed to be air-tight so as to protect its interiors from dust particles or other contaminants suspended in the atmosphere. This is because the components of a hard disk are dust-sensitive and even a tiny speck of dust can make the entire system to crash. Inside the box are a series of platters arranged vertically, built around a single spindle. The spindle stands on a motor that spins the platters wildly, at about 150 revolutions per second.

The platters carry a thin coating of magnetic paint. All data is stored on the surface of these platters as a series of magnetic patterns. These patterns are read, written and manipulated by a read / write head that hovers above the platters at no more than a sub-micron height. This head can move quite fast all over the platter surface, accessing the data as per the commands of the operating system. The benefit of this is that data access in a hard drive is random, instead of sequential as in tape drives, where the entire tape has to move back and forth scraping the stationary read / write head.

Each hard disk has a controller card that acts as an interface between the disk and the operating system. It controls the movements of the hard disk and carries out commands of the various software programmes. In addition, there is a circuit board that supplies power to the hard disk components. From the hard disk, a power cable goes out to the power supply (SMPS) to draw electric power. Another cable, the data cable, attaches the disk to the motherboard on which resides the micro-processor.

What can Go Wrong?

Hard disks can crash and the entire data on them become inaccessible due to two factors – hardware and software errors. Hardware errors are associated with the malfunction of one or more physical components. The biggest danger is that the read / write head may become unhinged and come crashing down on the platters. As a result, the platter surface may get scratched and physically damaged. This is a very unfortunate occurrence because it may lead to permanent data loss.

It is almost impossible to extract any data from a hard disk whose platter coating has got destroyed. Whenever you switch on your computer and hear a screeching sound from the hard disk, this is a sign that the disk has crashed and the read / write head is scraping the surface of the spinning platters. You should in such a case immediately switch off the computer and seek professional help from data recovery companies.

Other reason for the hard disk becoming non-functional is failure of controller card or circuit board due to some faulty component or electric surge that destroys the circuitry. In all cases of hardware damage, there is little that the user can do at home. Only professionals can extract data from such hard disks.

The data on a disk may also become inaccessible due to a variety of software errors such as accidental deletion of a data file by the user and emptying of recycle bin, corruption or damage to data structure, virus attack, reformatting the hard disk, and so on.

In cases of software error, the users can try to extract the data at home by using DIY data-recovery software that are easily available on the Internet. In most scenarios, these are quite effective in recovering your data and getting you back on your feet quickly and cheaply.

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<h1>Why a Hard Disk Lets You Down</h1><br />by jameswalsh<br /><p>Computers are very powerful digital devices that are a perfect blend of the processing capabilities of a micro-processor and software programmes that are tailor-made to execute various tasks. Indeed, it is impossible to think of the modern economy without the driving force of information technology. So many industries such as bio-technology and nano-technology would simply be impossible without digital devices.</p> <p>Computers process a lot of data in their day-to-day operations. What is required is a digital storage device that can store all of it, with room to spare. Also, the device should have very high capacity, offer very fast data access speed and be reliable enough to tolerate writing and rewriting data millions of times. Until today, only one data storage device exists that meets all these parameters – the hard disk.</p> <p>Hard disks are, in fact, so useful and versatile that they are being used not only in computers but also in consumer electronic items such as digital still cameras, digital video cameras, DVD players and even mobile phones. The commonly available hard disks today have a storage capacity of 160 GB, though there are also models with a capacity of a whopping one terabyte.</p> <p><b>What makes a Hard Disk Tick?</b></p> <p>A hard disk looks like a small rectangular metal box. It is designed to be air-tight so as to protect its interiors from dust particles or other contaminants suspended in the atmosphere. This is because the components of a hard disk are dust-sensitive and even a tiny speck of dust can make the entire system to crash. Inside the box are a series of platters arranged vertically, built around a single spindle. The spindle stands on a motor that spins the platters wildly, at about 150 revolutions per second.</p> <p>The platters carry a thin coating of magnetic paint. All data is stored on the surface of these platters as a series of magnetic patterns. These patterns are read, written and manipulated by a read / write head that hovers above the platters at no more than a sub-micron height. This head can move quite fast all over the platter surface, accessing the data as per the commands of the operating system. The benefit of this is that data access in a hard drive is random, instead of sequential as in tape drives, where the entire tape has to move back and forth scraping the stationary read / write head.</p> <p>Each hard disk has a controller card that acts as an interface between the disk and the operating system. It controls the movements of the hard disk and carries out commands of the various software programmes. In addition, there is a circuit board that supplies power to the hard disk components. From the hard disk, a power cable goes out to the power supply (SMPS) to draw electric power. Another cable, the data cable, attaches the disk to the motherboard on which resides the micro-processor.</p> <p><b>What can Go Wrong?</b></p> <p>Hard disks can crash and the entire data on them become inaccessible due to two factors – hardware and software errors. Hardware errors are associated with the malfunction of one or more physical components. The biggest danger is that the read / write head may become unhinged and come crashing down on the platters. As a result, the platter surface may get scratched and physically damaged. This is a very unfortunate occurrence because it may lead to permanent data loss. </p> <p>It is almost impossible to extract any data from a hard disk whose platter coating has got destroyed. Whenever you switch on your computer and hear a screeching sound from the hard disk, this is a sign that the disk has crashed and the read / write head is scraping the surface of the spinning platters. You should in such a case immediately switch off the computer and seek professional help from data recovery companies. </p> <p>Other reason for the hard disk becoming non-functional is failure of controller card or circuit board due to some faulty component or electric surge that destroys the circuitry. In all cases of hardware damage, there is little that the user can do at home. Only professionals can extract data from such hard disks. </p> <p>The data on a disk may also become inaccessible due to a variety of software errors such as accidental deletion of a data file by the user and emptying of recycle bin, corruption or damage to data structure, virus attack, reformatting the hard disk, and so on.</p> <p>In cases of software error, the users can try to extract the data at home by using DIY data-recovery software that are easily available on the Internet. In most scenarios, these are quite effective in recovering your data and getting you back on your feet quickly and cheaply.</p> <br /><h2>About the Author</h2><p>James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you are concerned about data loss and would like more information on <a href="http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk">Data Recovery</a> see <a href="http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk" title="www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk">http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk</a></p> <br /><h3><a href="http://www.content4reprint.com/computer/data-recovery/why-a-hard-disk-lets-you-down.htm" title="Why a Hard Disk Lets You Down">Article Source:</a> <a href="http://www.content4reprint.com" title="Free high quality articles">Content for Reprint</a></h3>