Computer Hard Drive Tips

According to the Dux Computer Digest publication, the computer hard drive was first introduced in 1956. This first early hard drive had a storage capacity of only five megabytes, a small fraction of modern storage space. Today, hard drives have become very common, but are still susceptible to several problems. There are several tips that can help you prevent the loss of hard drive data.
Disk Cleanup

Like all pieces of hardware, properly maintaining a hard drive is important. Hard drives have finite storage space. If this space becomes overly cluttered and disorganized, the computer can have a difficult time locating necessary files. This can lead to a slowdown of the computer, or errors if the files cannot be located. One of the simplest ways to clean up a hard drive and keep it operating properly is to remove unused files and folders. This is done manually. If a piece of software is no longer being used, it should be uninstalled. Nearly every program has an "uninstall" option that can be accessed from its program directory. Completely removing unwanted programs allows the computer to find the files it needs on the hard drive in less time. In addition to removing unused files, disk cleanup utilities can be used to keep a hard drive running at top performance. A disk cleanup utility removes many types of files that are not commonly visible, but which can accumulate over time. These files typically include temporary Internet files, files placed in the recycle bin, and older unused files. A disk cleanup utility is commonly included with a computer. For example, the Windows cleanup tool can be accessed on the Start menu under "System Tools." Other operating systems have similar utilities.
Failure Prevention

Even with routine disk cleanup maintenance, hard drives are still susceptible to failures caused by malfunctions or physical problems. These failures can be minimized or prevented by following several guidelines. One of the most common types of hard drive problem is caused by "logical failure." This means that the hardware itself is not broken, but is not interfacing with the rest of the computer system properly. One easy way to help prevent logical failures is to never delete or move system files. These special files are used by the operating system to function properly. Such files are commonly located in a folder containing the label "System." These files should only be modified by a computer professional. Hard drive failure can also be caused by actual mechanical failure. Inside of every hard drive are several small moving parts. If these parts become damaged, the drive will not function properly. Because of this susceptibility, computers should not be dropped or jarred in any way. This is especially important for laptops, which can be easily dropped from a desk or during transport.
Drive Recovery

Even if routine cleanup maintenance and failure prevention guidelines fail, and a hard drive becomes damaged, the data is not necessarily gone. Several methods exist for recovering data on a drive that has stopped functioning properly. Data on a damaged hard drive can possibly be recovered using special recovery software. This software can commonly be downloaded from the computer manufacturer's website, or from popular software websites such as Microsoft.com and Download.com. For recovery to work, the hard drive must be removed and connected to a properly running computer. When the recovery software is run, it will attempt to extract as much data from the broken drive as possible, and save it safely. In cases where the hard drive is so physically damaged that it cannot be connected to another computer, professional data recovery services are available. These services open the protective case of a hard drive and attempt to recover data from the internal components. While usually a last-resort method, this service is typically offered by any major computer repair company and can be used if the data is very important.