We hear this question more often as more people use key drives, thumb drives and external hard drives. This article will not address all the causes of data loss, but it will address the proper use of external storage devices. It’s the improper handling of these devices that can cause data loss.
Let’s discuss how your key drive and external hard drive work. These devices connect to a data port such as an external SATA port, Firewire port or USB port. These ports allow the device to communicate with the computer, BUT these ports also have power. When the device is plugged into the computer, the computer will ID it and then access it as a hard drive, specifically, a removable hard drive. There are other processes that occur, but they do not pertain to this article.
The possibility of data loss starts from the handling of the device. Here are some common causes.
-Most external hard drives are mechanical devices. Dropping the device can damage the head of the hard drive or misalign the platter.
-The devices are small, so they get lost. Literal “data loss”
-The data connection point for the device may break.
-Plugging the device when you have built up a static charge. This is a very common cause of data loss.
A nice thing about external storage devices is they can be plugged and unplugged while the computer is on. We do NOT recommend plugging and unplugging devices when the computer is on. A static charge can build and when you touch your external storage device or computer, the static charge can discharge and damage the electronics. We always recommend plugging and unplugging devices when the computer is off. If you decide to plug in an external storage device, try to discharge yourself before touching the device or computer, and remember to disconnect or “Trash” or whatever method your operating system requires, to remove/disconnect the external storage. Then unplug the external storage device from your computer.
We recommend
-Always backup your data
-Never plug in a device when the computer is on
-Never unplug a device when the computer is on
-Always adhere to good anti-static practices
Why can’t i access my data on my external storage device?
We hear this question more often as more people use key drives, thumb drives and external hard drives. This article will not address all the causes of data loss, but it will address the proper use of external storage devices. It’s the improper handling of these devices that can cause data loss.
Let’s discuss how your key drive and external hard drive work. These devices connect to a data port such as an external SATA port, Firewire port or USB port. These ports allow the device to communicate with the computer, BUT these ports also have power. When the device is plugged into the computer, the computer will ID it and then access it as a hard drive, specifically, a removable hard drive. There are other processes that occur, but they do not pertain to this article.
The possibility of data loss starts from the handling of the device. Here are some common causes.
-Most external hard drives are mechanical devices. Dropping the device can damage the head of the hard drive or misalign the platter.
-The devices are small, so they get lost. Literal “data loss”
-The data connection point for the device may break.
-Plugging the device when you have built up a static charge. This is a very common cause of data loss.
A nice thing about external storage devices is they can be plugged and unplugged while the computer is on. We do NOT recommend plugging and unplugging devices when the computer is on. A static charge can build and when you touch your external storage device or computer, the static charge can discharge and damage the electronics. We always recommend plugging and unplugging devices when the computer is off. If you decide to plug in an external storage device, try to discharge yourself before touching the device or computer, and remember to disconnect or “Trash” or whatever method your operating system requires, to remove/disconnect the external storage. Then unplug the external storage device from your computer.
We recommend
-Always backup your data
-Never plug in a device when the computer is on
-Never unplug a device when the computer is on
-Always adhere to good anti-static practices
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