7–18 Hardware and Software Guide
Hardware Upgrades and Replacements
Caring for Drives
Drives are fragile components that must be handled carefully.
Follow the guidelines in this section to protect your drives.
ÄCAUTION: To prevent damage to the computer or a drive and loss
of work:
■Initiate standby before you move a computer or external hard drive
from one location to another.
■Before handling a drive, discharge yourself from static electricity by
touching a grounded metal object.
■Do not touch the connector pins on a removable drive or on the
computer.
■Excessive force can damage drive connectors. Do not use excessive
force when inserting a drive into a drive bay.
■Handle a drive carefully; do not drop or compress the drive.
■Before removing or inserting a drive, shut down the computer. If you
are unsure whether the computer is off or in hibernation, turn the
computer on, and then shut it down through the operating system.
■Avoid exposing a drive to magnetic fields. Security devices with
magnetic fields include airport walk-through devices and security
wands. The airport security devices that check carry-on luggage,
such as conveyor belts, use x-rays instead of magnetism and will not
damage a drive.
■Do not type on the keyboard or move the computer while the drive
is writing to a medium. The write process is sensitive to vibration.
■When the battery pack is the only source of power, be sure that the
battery pack is sufficiently charged before writing to a medium.
■Avoid exposing a drive to temperature or humidity extremes.
■Avoid exposing the drive to liquids. Do not spray it with cleaning
products.
■If you must mail a drive, place the drive in a bubble--pack mailer or
other suitable protective packaging, and label the package
“FRAGILE.”