It’s going to be a long, hot summer here in Texas. Our data recovery specialists at our newly launched facility in New York City, too, will be experiencing extreme heat if this spring is any indication. 24 Hour Data offers these tips to ensure your hard drives don’t overheat, which can cause mechanical failure of the drive and the loss of data, leaving you with a data recovery emergency.

Don’t:

Keep your laptop, netbook, tablet, flash drive, portable drive or any other mobile storage devices in your car. – Even if your hard drive and mobile device aren’t turned on, the heat that generates inside a closed car can fry the delicate electronics inside and damage the hard drive.  It won’t help much to open a window (and that only tempts people to steal your mobile devices, a situation even the best data recovery firm can’t help you with!) or to bury your electronics so they are out of the sun. Treat your electronics as you would a child or a pet — don’t lock them in the car on hot days.

Use your laptop on your lap (ironically!) or on a bed or other soft place without a fan beneath it. 

Run your computer in a room with no air conditioning over 75 degrees. If you’re uncomfortable in a room, so is your electronics equipment. Computers and hard drives perform best in temperatures between 68 and 71 degrees, also the optimal temperature for human beings. It’s okay if your computer’s surroundings exceed this temperature for a short time, but prolonged use at higher temperatures can cause your computer’s delicate components, including the hard drive, to burn out sooner. 

DO – 

Set office-wide energy priorities – If you experience a brown-out or rolling black-out, put first priority on keeping the server farm cool — or shut down for the day. 

Know what to do if your computer is overheating – First, check the components. Is airflow to the computer blocked? If so, make sure the computer is not being operated on a soft surface or inside an enclosed cabinet, where temperatures can spike. Power down your machine and place it in front of an air conditioning vent or a fan, where it can be given a chance to cool down. When you power up, keep a close eye on it, and listen for any unusual hard drive sounds that could indicate a problem. 

Upgrade your system’s cooling fans, improve airflow around your machine, or add a heatsink if you experience problems with overheating.