1 Drive care

Drives are fragile computer components that must be handled with care. Refer to the following cautions before handling drives. Additional cautions are included with the procedures to which they apply.

CAUTION To reduce the risk of damage to the computer, damage to a drive, or loss of information, observe these precautions:

Initiate standby, and allow the screen to clear, before you move a computer or external hard drive from one location to another.

Before handling a drive, discharge static electricity by touching the unpainted metal surface of the drive.

Do not touch the connector pins on a removable drive or on the computer.

Handle a drive carefully; do not drop a drive or place items on it.

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.

Do not use excessive force when inserting a drive into a drive bay.

Do not type on the keyboard or move the computer while the optical drive is writing to a disc. The write process is sensitive to vibration.

When the battery is the only source of power, ensure that the battery is sufficiently charged before writing to a medium.

Avoid exposing a drive to temperature or humidity extremes.

Avoid exposing a drive to liquids. Do not spray it with cleaning products.

Remove the medium from a drive before removing the drive from the drive bay, or traveling with, shipping, or storing a drive.

If a drive must be mailed, place the drive in a bubble-pack mailer or other suitable protective packaging and label the package “FRAGILE.”

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.

ENWW

1