Chances are, if you've been using computers for more than a few years, you've encountered a hard disk failure at some point or another. And if you don't have your data backed up, these failures can be heartbreaking to say the least.
To help you forget about the loss of those priceless photos of your child's first steps and the great American novel you were writing in your spare time, know this: a dead hard drive is a great source of some sweet and powerful magnets! Behold:
At the base of the arm that rapidly whisks back and forth over the spinning data platters inside your hard disk are two strong rare-earth magnets (the area labeled "actuator" in this drawing). At the end of the actuator arm is a coil which acts as an electromagnet, moving back and forth within the magnetic field created by the rare-earth magnets allowing for quick and precise movements without any moving parts. These are your prize—all it takes is a special star-shaped Torx screwdriver set and a little patience to reveal them. Check out the video above to see how it's done. —John Mahoney
Illustration: Surachit
I have had fun with hard drives since I was a kid. Always collected the magnets to see how much they could pick up from a distance. I will add one thing that was not mentioned in the video. These magnets are not wimpy, they are strong and you could easily get pinched if you get your figures caught between two magnets or the magnet and the metal.
Posted by: Ryan | August 08, 2007 at 02:49 PM
the platters themselves are kinda cool too
they be shiny
the disks have a bit of a yellow tint to them though
shiny things are good for mobiles and distracting people
Posted by: Isaac | November 08, 2007 at 06:28 PM
The fridge doors are not so durable nowadays as they font close shut properly . ... so in away its good that another helpful magnet is on the way.
Posted by: Cheap Computer Canada | April 07, 2010 at 01:14 AM