First published April 2005
by ActionFront Data Recovery Labs
www.ActionFront.com
Data Recovery Handling Tips & ESD Precaution
Mishandling is a leading cause of hard disk drive failure.
ESD (Electrostatic Discharge)
A familiar form of Electrostatic Discharge, often called “static electricity”, is the shock we receive after walking across a carpet. In a technical environment, ESD can be very costly by harming devices or components. ESD may cause a catastrophic failure that appears immediately or a latent failure in which gradual degradation occurs during use, resulting in eventual failure.
ESD Precautions
Computer professionals should purchase ESD wrist straps, floor mats and educate themselves on the ESD precautions.
A personal user should discharge the static on themselves by touching a metal object before touching a computer, hard drive or other component. Humid air helps to dissipate electrostatic charges in very cold or dry areas.
Hard Disk Drive Do’s
– Handle a hard disk drive as you would handle an egg.
– Always use ESD precautions.
– Handle drives one at a time.
– Handle drives only by the sides.
– Pad all hard disk drive work surfaces.
– Handle even failed hard disk drives with care.
– Wait 10 seconds after power down before moving to assure the drive has stopped spinning.
– Eliminate movement of unprotected drives: Use ESD packaging (anti-static bag) while moving and minimize
Hard Disk Drive Don’ts
– Never drop drives.
– Never allow drives to come in contact with hard surfaces.
– Never stack drives, even in the ESD protective bag.
– Never contact the PCBA with tools or without ESD protection.
– Never stand drives on end.
