Magnet and a clicking hard drive, related?

[thecougfan]

My roommate placed a magnetic noise making device in my laptop bag. The device was in a sleeve directly touching my laptop sleeve. The laptop hard drive started clicking shortly there after and was diagnosed as damaged by the "Genius Bar". Are the two events related? No data was lost, but it doesnt sound like the hard drive will last much longer with the noise it makes.

 

[Hawkeye22]

You definately don't want magnets around magnetic storage devices (HDD's). Was the magnet strong enough to interfere with the drive? That's the question. If the magnet was strong enough, then yes, the two events are related.

 

[RetiredChief]

Nice roommate.
I think it is more coinidental. The magnetic field would need to be pretty strong to effect the HDD. However it is possible depending on the strenght of the magnetic field..

 

[thecougfan]

Everything I have read talks about data loss. This is definitely a clicking sound, could a magnet cause physical damage like that?

 

[the great randini]

send your roomate the bill its shot.

 

[Hawkeye22]

Everything I have read talks about data loss. This is definitely a clicking sound, could a magnet cause physical damage like that?

The read write head is basically a magnet. Again, if the magnet is strong enough, it can damage the drive.

 

[RetiredChief]

Read / write head is only a magnet when current flows through the coil (electromagnet).
External magnetic field would not effect it. External magnetic field will effect:
.. Ferromagnetic parts in that it will leave a residue magnetic field.
.. Realign the magnetic domains on the platter (corrupt data) - This would require an extremely strong magnetic field, based on the distance of the device -> the Platter.

 

[fzabkar]

No need to worry about magnets:
http://forum.hddguru.com/fujitsu-mht2060at-how-update-firmware-t12730.html

http://s45.radikal.ru/i109/1010/72/bfedb023a684.jpg
http://s51.radikal.ru/i131/1010/c6/42105afa7696.jpg
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