Defraging Hard Disk

[Mel66]

Hi Guys and Gals,

I heard somewhere that too much defraging wears out your HD.
I use 'Diskeeper Lite' about once a week as I am an IT Journalist and test loads of utilities which I get rid of after thet've been tested.
So does too muck wear out the HD, or is it an urbam myth?
Thanks, Mel66

 

[stduc]

IMHO its an urban myth. I guess there's a tiny tiny shred of truth to it though. Similar to the idea you shouldn't drive your car around too many corners in case it wears the steering out. lol

 

[captaincrunch00]

I've gotta say it's a myth.

It does use the hardware more, but that is why it was made: To be used.

I dont know why you'd do it every week, but I know some people who do Spyware scans weekly...

 

[linney]

Defragging or not Defragging, each for different and opposing reasons cause some mechanical wear over time on hard drive components.

Nobody defrags more than I do (almost daily for years - a sort of compulsive disorder), I am yet to wear out or have a hard drive go bad.

It will happen one day, as it does to one and all, but that's the nature of all things.

 

[2ffat]

There are some things to remember about hard drives. Whether or not you use them, as long as they are on, they are spinning. Anywhere from 3600 rpm to 7200+ rpm.

The heads never really touch the drives. They are literaly a hair's breadth from the disk. They "float" over the disk but never really touch it like cassette player heads touch the tape.

There are two places where the damage most likely would occur. The actuator, the arm that the head is attached to and the drive bearings. The arm most move very rapidly back and fourth during reading and writing sessions. Defraging actually helps prevent rapid movement since, supposedly, the data is more aligned.

The bearings on the disks get the most wear and tare during the boot process since the disk must start from 0 rpm to maximum rpm in a matter of seconds.

How do heads get damaged? From "stiction." (A combination of friction and sticking.) This is most likely to occur when a disk drive has been on a long time then gets shut down. The internal heat can cause the heads to weld to the disk when it stops. The spinning drive provides air flow to keep the head off the disk during use. If the drive is suddenly stopped, the head can touch the hot disk and stick to it. Luckily, most hard drives automatically park their heads even if they have no power.

Roughly bumping a hard drive can also cause the heads to hit the disk.

Here's bit of trivia for you, old (1980's) hard drive platters where made from burnished metal oxide, a.k.a. rust.


James P. Cottingham
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^{I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!}

 

[stduc]

The one thing that will prematurely age a drive is the heads staying over one track. Despite the fact that they are not in contact with the surface it will slowly heat up and cause a crash, where the heads touch the surface material. So exercising the disks is probably a good thing. Alternatively set them to shut down after a period of non use. When they are used they re-start from warm, not cold, so the stresses of power up are avoided.

It's all a matter of opinion really. As long as you don't bang them with a hammer, cook them or freeze them, but treat them well they should last a long time wether you thrash them or give them an easy life.

For what its worth one rule I follow that appears to have kept me out of trouble is this. If I intend to use my PC tomorrow - I leave it on overnight.

More trivia.

As far as I am aware the surface still is metal oxide. It's just not iron oxide anymore. Much the same stuff is still used for mag tape (audio). I think its chromium dioxide mainly on mag tape these days. But I'm sure someone will correct me.

 

[Mel66]

Thanks everyone for all the info.

Bring on the hammer!!

Mel66