It’s a known fact that hard drives do wear over time and lose their storage ability. We have a whole discussion on the data storage device life span. Where you can learn more about how many years different storage devices like computer hard drives last. Just like every other storage device, hard drives also have a life span and after a certain amount of time, your hard drive will eventually lose its storage ability.
10 Years Old Hard Drive – How Is It?
Hard drives usages permanent tiny magnetic fields to store data. The poles of those tiny magnets represent binary bits zero (0) and one (1). The orientation of those tiny magnets represents binary data stored in them.
These magnets can wear out after a few years. Usually, a hard disk drive lasts for three to five years. But in some rare cases, they can last up to 10 years. Usually, old hard disks are used as an external storage device rather than using directly inside a computer. So, your hard disk drive may fall into these cases.
1. Rarely used
If your hard disk drive is accessed rarely then there is some risk. Hard disk drives have a lot of moving parts. These parts may wear down over time. If you store your hard disk drive in a moist place it may catch rusts over time. As a result, your data may get lost and your hard drive may stop functioning.
2. Used often
If your hard disk drive is often used, you may also lose your data after a certain amount of time. This is because your hard disk drives permanent magnets get worn down after repeated usage for several years.
When a hard disk drive writes new data, the tiny magnets change their orientation. So, the more you use the hard disk drive the more these magnets changes their orientation. After several years of usage, they wear down and the hard drive loses its storage ability.
To sum up
If you have a 10-year-old hard disk drive, you should be worried that it may stop functioning suddenly. The older a hard drive gets the more there is the risk of its damage.
So, if you have a 10-year-old hard disk drive, it is better to have a backup. If you have a back up then you should not worry about it. Your data is completely safe until your hard disk drive wears down or breaks down.
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