In computer hardware, active hard-drive protection refers to technology that attempts to avoid or reduce mechanical damage to
hard disk drive
A hard disk drive (HDD), hard disk, hard drive, or fixed disk is an electro-mechanical data storage device that stores and retrieves digital data using magnetic storage with one or more rigid rapidly rotating hard disk drive platter, pla ...
s by preparing the disk prior to impact. This approach is mainly used in
laptop computer
A laptop computer or notebook computer, also known as a laptop or notebook, is a small, portable personal computer (PC). Laptops typically have a Clamshell design, clamshell form factor (design), form factor with a flat-panel computer scree ...
s that are frequently carried around and more prone to impacts than
desktop computer
A desktop computer, often abbreviated as desktop, is a personal computer designed for regular use at a stationary location on or near a desk (as opposed to a portable computer) due to its size and power requirements. The most common configuratio ...
s.
Implementation
Usually, the system consists of
accelerometer
An accelerometer is a device that measures the proper acceleration of an object. Proper acceleration is the acceleration (the rate of change (mathematics), rate of change of velocity) of the object relative to an observer who is in free fall (tha ...
s that alert the system when excess acceleration or vibration is detected. The software then tells the hard disk drive to unload its
heads to prevent them from coming in contact with the
platters, thus potentially preventing a
head crash
A head crash is a hard-disk failure that occurs when a disk read-and-write head, read–write head of a hard disk drive makes contact with its rotating hard disk platter, platter, slashing its surface and permanently damaging its magnetic media ...
.
Many laptop vendors have implemented this technology under different names. Some hard-disk drives also include this technology, needing no cooperation from the system.
See also
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Hard disk drive failure
A hard disk drive failure occurs when a hard disk drive malfunctions and the stored information cannot be accessed with a properly configured computer.
A hard disk failure may occur in the course of normal operation, or due to an external factor ...
*
Head crash
A head crash is a hard-disk failure that occurs when a disk read-and-write head, read–write head of a hard disk drive makes contact with its rotating hard disk platter, platter, slashing its surface and permanently damaging its magnetic media ...
*
Sudden Motion Sensor
The Sudden Motion Sensor (SMS) is Apple's motion-based data protection system used in their notebook computer systems. Apple introduced the system January 1, 2005 in its refreshed PowerBook line, and included it in the iBook line July 26, 2005. ...
References
Data security
Hard disk drives
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