the magnets inside a hard drive are dangerously strong

Jul 10, 2007
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seriously, i had no idea.
if u need a strong magnet and have a dead hard drive laying around, take it apart.
 

Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
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Hmm I have a couple sitting around. I might have to pull one of them apart. I'm guessing you are referring to the heads?
 
Jul 10, 2007
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Originally posted by: Superself
can you elaborate on the "dangerously strong" remark?

given its small size, you would never expect it to have such a strong magnetic pull.
put it near any metal objects and it will pull it towards the magnet at a high rate of speed.
put the 2 magnets together (comes in 2s) and it would be a struggle to pull them apart, possibly injuring yourself in the process.
 

hoihtah

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2001
5,183
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what's even more amazing is how the magnetism is canceled by another piece of metal attached to the magnet not much larger than the magnets themselves.
 

Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
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Originally posted by: pnad
How could somebody on anandtech not already know this?

I've never fully disassembled an HD. Sorry I'm not a NERD!!

I couldnt' find any of my old HDs in my box of wires and components, so I'll have to get one out of storage.
 

pnad

Senior member
May 23, 2006
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I have not fully disassembled a HD either but I do read.

I don't consider myself half the nerd as the majority here. Just figured anyone on anand would know some of these basic things about computers.

Did you know an HD can make music? I have never done it, but I have seen it done.
 

Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
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Originally posted by: pnad
I have not fully disassembled a HD either but I do read.

I don't consider myself half the nerd as the majority here. Just figured anyone on anand would know some of these basic things about computers.

Did you know an HD can make music? I have never done it, but I have seen it done.

I guess you missed my sarcasm and me digging through a box of resistors, transistors, caps, etc... looking for one of my old HDs.

 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
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1) get two dangerously strong magnets
2) you and a friend stand on opposites sides of an enemy
3) at the same time, throw magnets at enemy's crotch
4) carnage
 

Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
1
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Originally posted by: eaj0010
Originally posted by: Canai
Originally posted by: pnad
How could somebody on anandtech not already know this?

Sorry I'm not a NERD!!


The fact that you are at Anandtech in the first place negates this...

Uh, sorry, but I'm a geek!

*pushes up glasses defiantly*
 

thecoolnessrune

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2005
9,673
583
126
Originally posted by: Leros
1) get two dangerously strong magnets
2) you and a friend stand on opposites sides of an enemy
3) at the same time, throw magnets at enemy's crotch
4) carnage

I seriously cringed at the thought of that.
 
Jul 10, 2007
12,041
3
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Originally posted by: pnad
I have not fully disassembled a HD either but I do read.

I don't consider myself half the nerd as the majority here. Just figured anyone on anand would know some of these basic things about computers.

Did you know an HD can make music? I have never done it, but I have seen it done.

i know there are magnets inside an HD. I didn't know they were this strong.

you sir, are the condescending nerd at school that gets your ass beat by bullies after class.
 

Canai

Diamond Member
Oct 4, 2006
8,016
1
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Originally posted by: BlahBlahYouToo
Originally posted by: pnad
I have not fully disassembled a HD either but I do read.

I don't consider myself half the nerd as the majority here. Just figured anyone on anand would know some of these basic things about computers.

Did you know an HD can make music? I have never done it, but I have seen it done.

i know there are magnets inside an HD. I didn't know they were this strong.

you sir, are the condescending nerd at school that gets your ass beat by the other nerds after class.

fixed ;)
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
yep, they are very strong.
Not as strong as ones you can buy, like the 35lb variety. meaning it takes 35lbs of force to pull them apart.

If the magnet was oriented towards the platter it would wreck havoc on the data.
Instead it makes the actuator function, that moves the arm back and forth, and also serves as an auto head parking mechanism.


Fun thing to do with these I did last week.
Take a eraser, the big ones that are kind of flat.
Hollow it out enough to pllace the magnet in the bottom.
Glue it in place.

Two things you can do now.
Attach it to metal objects and watch as peopled try to pick it up.

Or my favorite.
Amaze the kids.
Place the eraser on a table top and place the other magnet below the table surface.
Use your 'mind power' to make the eraser move :)


Oh, and make sure you keep it far away from your wallet.
It can corrupt credit cards in a single pass.
 
Jul 10, 2007
12,041
3
0
Originally posted by: Modelworks
yep, they are very strong.
Not as strong as ones you can buy, like the 35lb variety. meaning it takes 35lbs of force to pull them apart.

If the magnet was oriented towards the platter it would wreck havoc on the data.
Instead it makes the actuator function, that moves the arm back and forth, and also serves as an auto head parking mechanism.


Fun thing to do with these I did last week.
Take a eraser, the big ones that are kind of flat.
Hollow it out enough to pllace the magnet in the bottom.
Glue it in place.

Two things you can do now.
Attach it to metal objects and watch as peopled try to pick it up.

Or my favorite.
Amaze the kids.
Place the eraser on a table top and place the other magnet below the table surface.
Use your 'mind power' to make the eraser move :)


Oh, and make sure you keep it far away from your wallet.
It can corrupt credit cards in a single pass.

oh crap, it was kinda on my thigh near my wallet when i was messing around with it.
didn't even think about it.
 

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
Originally posted by: Modelworks
yep, they are very strong.
Not as strong as ones you can buy, like the 35lb variety. meaning it takes 35lbs of force to pull them apart.

If the magnet was oriented towards the platter it would wreck havoc on the data.
Instead it makes the actuator function, that moves the arm back and forth, and also serves as an auto head parking mechanism.


Fun thing to do with these I did last week.
Take a eraser, the big ones that are kind of flat.
Hollow it out enough to pllace the magnet in the bottom.
Glue it in place.

Two things you can do now.
Attach it to metal objects and watch as peopled try to pick it up.

Or my favorite.
Amaze the kids.
Place the eraser on a table top and place the other magnet below the table surface.
Use your 'mind power' to make the eraser move :)


Oh, and make sure you keep it far away from your wallet.
It can corrupt credit cards in a single pass.

I took apart an old 20gb hard drive 2 days ago. The head was not automatically parked, it was right over the platter!

I put a bunch of steel balls from the wheel bearing off my old car, a 240sx, on the magnet. It's like a dynamic sculpture.