Often, the processor of your computer is referred as the brains of
the computer. Operations and calculations are demanded by the processor
constantly from every user and program on the computer. With every
keystroke and mouse movement, behind the scene workings are kept track
of by the processor. The processor isn't the only critical device
working away behind the scene. The hard drive is the workhorse of
your computer. Information is saved and organized throughout millions
of storage rooms called sectors. A typical 120GB hard drive can have
over 200,000,000 sectors.
When you save a file to your hard drive, it is magnetically recorded
onto a platter inside your hard drive. Most hard drives have several
platters mounted on a spindle that allows them to spin as fast as
15,000 times per minute. Each two-sided platter is mounted on a single
arm with a slider that lets the heads move across the surface of the
platter to read and access data. This design is similar to a record
player. In regards, to storage space and organization, data isn't
always stored in the most efficient manner. Occasionally your hard
drive will make a whirring sound as it searches for a file. This is
the sound of the platters spinning as the read heads zoom back and
forth to access each sector where the data has been stored. To increase
data read and write capabilities, the hard drive must be maintained
on a regular basis. Much like changing the oil in a car, it must be
done to achieve proper operation and reach the life expectancy.
Proper hard drive maintenance involves disk defragmentation, hard
drive performance checks, and file cleanup. Disk defragmentation is
the process of reorganizing the data on the disk to increase file
searching and saving. In addition to unorganized files, inactive and
temporary files cause two problems. First, these unnecessary files
clutter the hard drive result in slower searching and saving of files.
Second, useful hard drive is deprived and wasted by these unnecessary
files. Properly cleaning the inactive and temporary files will enhance
the performance the computer. In addition to cleaning and organizing
the hard drive, checking the performance of the hard drive is critical.
This process should be done every two or threes months to ensure data
is being saved to viable and safe sectors on the hard drive. If any
type of physical damage is found on the hard drive's platters, such
as a bump or scratch, data can be improperly saved and lost. A hard
drive performance check will search for damaged areas, attempt to
recover any data, and flag the area as a bad sector. This will stop
the system from saving information in bad sectors.
The average life span for today's hard drive is between three and
five years. Simple maintenance can keep your hard drive running efficiently
and smoothly through its life expectancy. Unfortunately, the question
isn't will my hard drive fail; the question is when will the hard
drive fail? Since hard drives can't run forever, it is important to
make sure all data is backed up on a routine basis.
