How a Hard Drive Works
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Importance
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Hard drives are used to store to files and other information for your computer system. They contain virtually all the information necessary for your operating system to interact with other computer components, such as your printer or digital camera. They also allow you to store files, like pictures and documents, for future use and editing. Most computers will not function without a properly installed hard drive.
Components
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The most common type of hard drive uses magnetic technology to store data. It is made of several components that work in tandem to write, erase and access data. The drive is encased in a thin, metal shell that protects delicate components from impact. Inside the casing, two electric motors spin the platters, which store the data, and the read-write head, which accesses the data. These two components are very similar to a record player. The platters spin quickly on a spindle, like a vinyl record, while the read-write head hovers closely to read the data, like a turntable's needle. Unlike a record player, the read-write head never actually touches the surface of the platters.
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Writing and Reading Data
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The platters of a hard drive store data through a magnetic coating. When you write or erase data, the read-write head hovers over the platter and realigns the magnetic material to represent binary data. An extremely small neodymium magnet in the drive creates the field necessary to change the alignment of the material. When data is read, the hard drive transmits the binary data to the computer program attempting to read the file for interpretation. Since the drive's platters spin incredibly fast, the read process takes less than a second, although the writing process can take an extremely long time.
Potential Problems
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The most common problem with hard drives is a misalignment of the platters and read-write head. This results in a sound that most users describe as a "clicking," which is caused by the read-write head colliding with the platters, also known as "head stepping." Because data is stored through the alignment of magnetic material, a drive exposed to a strong magnetic field will suffer some degree of data loss. Larger magnetic fields, such as those emitted by large rare earth magnets, can potentially destroy the drive. Hard drives are also subject to data loss or damage if they are moved, through shaking or a fall, while in use. This sudden motion can mis-align the platters or cause the head to "crash" into them.
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