I have a 2TB Toshiba external hard drive filled with important data. While transferring data to a new external drive of the same model, I noticed they were heating up quickly. To cool them down, I placed an ice pack between the two drives (the new one on the bottom) and added some tissues to avoid direct contact. I did this for hours, swapping out for colder packs as needed during the copy process.
Now that I've done this, I've read online that it might have been a bad choice. Both hard drives are still functioning, but I'm worried I might have caused them serious damage. Is there any chance my drives will be okay? Also, how can I check their condition?
5 Answers
It's generally not a good idea to cool your hard drives with ice. If they’re still working, that’s a good sign, but be cautious. Just make sure there isn’t any condensation from the ice that could get inside the drives. If they feel dry and function properly, you might be in the clear, but watch out for any unusual noises or performance issues.
They might be fine, but the risk lies in moisture forming from the ice, especially if it gets cold enough to cause condensation inside or around the drives. Check if they're fully dry and look for any signs of damage. If they seem okay and you can access your data without hiccups, you should be good, but definitely don’t repeat that trick!
Yes, ideally, moisture shouldn’t get to the delicate parts, but keep an eye on it. If they're operating fine now, just continue using them normally and avoid any icy methods!
Remember the 3-2-1 backup rule! Always keep data backed up on multiple devices and in the cloud. That way, if one fails, you won't lose everything. It's a great safety net for anyone using external drives.
LOL, that’s one way to cool down your drives! But seriously, using ice is a big no-no. Just ensure proper airflow in your setup instead.
Instead of ice, an 80mm fan can help cool your drives if they’re overheating. External drives usually don’t have built-in cooling, so a little fan could really help keep temperatures down when transferring large amounts of data.
Good point! I didn’t think about using a fan since it's external. Guess I need some better cooling options!
So you’re saying water can really get into the drive? What if that happens? It felt cool, but not freezing, so I hope that helped.