I am supposed to be transitioning to using Linux for work, starting with Ubuntu. I was told that when I have a laptop with Linux I should not move it while it is operating before I make sure disc protection is enabled in Linux. Is this true? This is scary. Can I damage my disc so easily?
Respuesta1
Most harddrives are designed, from the factory, to handle a fall from a certain height and still survive without data loss (shock resistance). This is usually specified on the hard drive's sticky label. Not sure how many Gs this is, but I would guess they should be able to survive a 2-3 foot fall onto carpet, say from a coffee table. (If anyone knows better about this, like say from a purchasing group, please comment on this and I'll add the info to my answer). Falls from say a boardroom table, I suspect, would really start to push it. Of course, there are no guarantees here. But most hard-drives are designed to take a bit of a beating.
When on, however, a drive's ability to survive a fall drops significantly. Some laptops (notably ThinkPads) include accelerometers that can detect if your laptop is tipping or being jostled, and will turn off the drive if the software that governs that behavior is loaded, with the goal of improving data integrity. I'm certain you can get an app for Ubuntu to do this too. Mainly the turn-off feature is useful when using your laptop in a bumpy environment, say on a bus or train, or in the back of an automobile, to limit the possibility of a head crash occuring. No amount of software can prevent physical damage to your disk from a major fall, though. If your'e going to be moving your laptop around a lot, it's definitely something you'll want to have active.
As always - just be careful, don't let your kids attack your laptop, and try to limit the drops it makes to the floor as much as possible. If you ride the bus/train/carpool and use your laptop during those rides, I'd try to get a jostle-detection tool on your laptop, assuming it has the appropriate hardware. It's not the end of the world if it doesn't, though, as many other posters have noted.
Respuesta2
I should not move it while it is operating
Esta es una tremenda exageración. Mi computadora portátil no tiene sensor de caída libre y la muevo todo el tiempo mientras está en funcionamiento. Sería malo que cayera desde una altura significativa, pero "moverse" no es un problema.
Respuesta3
Creo que la "protección del disco" (es decir, si detecta una caída repentina, desconecta el cabezal de lectura/escritura para guardar la unidad) se basa completamente en hardware. En cualquier caso, nos llevamos bien durante años sin "protección de disco", así que no lo dejes caer y todo estará bien de todos modos.
Respuesta4
Respuesta corta: no, los discos duros pueden fallar y poco tiene que ver con el sistema operativo.