Usually, the most common reason for a hard disc drive to start clicking is because of a defective movement. Caused by wear and tear, a power surge, physical damage or a manufacturing defect. When the hard drive is damaged, the hard drive cannot function properly, creating a noise that sounds like clicking.
Usually, hard drives break when you don’t want them to break. You can lose everything that you have been working on, including your client. This is why it’s important to backup files! If you work remotely with a toddler in the same room, have more regular backups!
In this article we have listed out some basic information about hard drives, finishing with a few alternatives. There are plenty of options available for people looking into backup up their data. It’s best to have more than one backup to be safe.
Table of Contents
What does a hard drive do?
A hard drive is the hardware component that stores all of your digital content such as documents, pictures, music, videos, applications, and even operating systems. Hard drives can be external or internal.
How is storage size measured on a hard drive?
Everything stored on a hard drive is measured by its file size. Documents are generally small whereas pictures are bigger, with music and video files generally being the largest. A hard drive determines the storage size of digital files using kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes (GB), and terabytes (TB).
What Is the Best Hard Drive Size?
The best hard drive size for you depends on what you need to transfer. If you simply just need to move over your pictures or documents, a smaller drive will work fine. If you want to backup your entire computer or store big video files, a larger hard drive would be more suited to your needs.
Is Hard Drive Speed Important?
Many people don’t look into the Spin speed (rotations per minute, or RPM) when purchasing a new hard drive. But, it is the one thing I look for, as I work to lots of time constraints. No one wants their computer freezing up while sitting next to a potential client.
The faster a disk spins, and the larger the RPM number is, the faster your computer can find the file you want.
Should I Choose an Internal or External Drive?
Every situation is different. Upgrading your computer’s internal hard drive provides built-in storage for all of your files. An external hard drive gives you portable, on-the-go storage at your fingertips.
I am personally always driven to use external hard drives, as they are easier to replace and store.
Is it ok to keep my external hard drive plugged in?
Most external hard drives do not have an attached fan or cooling system. This means that it can heat up quickly. If you keep your external hard drive plugged in all day, it’s important to have good ventilation and airflow. Also, check wires to make sure nothing has burnt out. A hot external hard drive may have reduced performance and lifespan. HDD hard drives have moving parts, creating friction and greater heat.
What is the difference between a HDD and SSD?
The main difference between an HDD and an SSD is in how data is stored and accessed. A hard disk drive (HDD) is a traditional storage device that uses a spinning disc to read and write data. A solid-state drive (SSD) is a more modern and faster type of device that stores data on memory chips.
What are some alternatives to spinning hard drives?
The USB stick
External SSD
SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is an excellent everyday alternative to the hard drive. Perfect for working remotely. Nothing in this SSD spins or clicks. This one should last a little longer than the traditional spinning type as they can survive more g-force than a typical HDD. External solid-state drives, generally have a faster boot-up speed and are quicker at reading and writing.
Apple’s Time Machine
For the Mac users out there, Apple’s Time Machine is an option that backs up to your mac or external hard drive automatically. This option allows you to keep hourly, daily or weekly backups. The oldest backups start to get deleted when the disk becomes full.
WD My Cloud
With more homes having multiple computers, and more people working remotely from home; the idea of a home server has an attractive appeal, especially for those looking to save files from more than one source.
The WD My Cloud doesn’t need to travel with you everywhere, you leave it at home. You won’t need to be worrying about physical damage as much as you would with a portable hard drive. With prices coming down, this dedicated wireless storage solution is a convenient option that requires less thought. With this model, you can access it from anywhere with an internet connection.
Dropbox & Google Drive
While your own home server is essentially your own Cloud Server, there are plenty of third-party cloud storage options around. Dropbox and Google Drive are our favourites.
If your computer’s hard drive is damaged, there is a risk of losing all your digital content. This is why most people back up their content twice. Just make sure that you remember you do it. We backup files weekly, using google, dropbox and the very reliable SanDisk SSD.
Often people don’t think about backing up files until it’s too late. Don’t make that mistake, it could be very costly! For more gadgets, view our Packing List for Remote Working 👜
