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Physical Hard-Disk Data Arrangements and Drive Failures?

Posted by Cliff on from the theoretical-weight-of-information dept.

Tadau asks: "Knowing not much of the low-level and molecular aspects of a hard drive platter, I'm wondering if it is possible to cause a weight change/imbalance on a hard drive platter by say writing solid 1's to approximately 1/2 of a side of the platter? If there is a weight change, then could that attribute to drive vibrations by an ever-so-slightly unbalanced platter, which may result in an eventual drive failure?"

2 of 46 comments (clear)

  1. I worked in the HDA industry by nytes · · Score: 4, Informative

    The answer is yes. If you write all 1's to one side of a drive, and all 0's to the other side, the drive will eventually fail.

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    -- I have monkeys in my pants.
  2. Seriously here is a link by Y+Ddraig+Goch · · Score: 3, Informative

    to an online utility and an explanation of how it works Hard Drive Balancer

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    Meddle thou not in the affairs of Dragons, for thou art crunchy and with most anything.