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    Is it bad to move your M17x while it's on?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Mike2839, Jun 10, 2011.

  1. Mike2839

    Mike2839 Notebook Consultant

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    Like especially with an HD. First, the desk that i have my M17x on is wobbly and I probably bump into it about 3-5 times a day, will this affect the harddrive or anything? What about bringing your M17x up the stairs? Is it best to just put it into sleep or completely turn it off?
     
    Mike2839, Jun 10, 2011
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  2. GallardosEggrollshop

    GallardosEggrollshop Notebook Evangelist

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    Bumping into it whilst it's on a desk should be fine for the HDD. As for carrying around while it's on, that is unadvised since the hard drive spins it could harm the drive eventually and cause it to fail. It is best when moving the laptop to turn it off or put it into hibernate/sleep.
     
    GallardosEggrollshop, Jun 10, 2011
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  3. Apoxxx

    Apoxxx Notebook Evangelist

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    Well considering a spinning drive is essentially a gyro, it will want to stay in it's original position even when subjected to external movement, so moving the laptop around is perfectly fine, that's kinda one of the reason they made laptops.

    Disks usually don't take damage unless you apply heavy sudden movement, like dropping your computer, and even then they could be fine if the write head wasn't in a vulnerable position where it could scratch the platter.
     
    Apoxxx, Jun 10, 2011
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  4. hteng

    hteng Notebook Consultant

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    i don't think it's that much of a problem to move around while it's on, i move my G73 around just fine, there's 2 HDD in there too.
     
    hteng, Jun 10, 2011
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  5. ECKS

    ECKS Notebook Prophet

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    ^^He's right. I've dropped an external hdd several times, and one time it did mess up. I got so scared cuz it wouldn't run. I then just ran a defrag program for it (it was still plugged into my desktop as an external), and voila---good to go again. I think Apoxxx is correct though, that your lappy is meant for mobility :) If it's not, then get it warrantied out.
     
    ECKS, Jun 11, 2011
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  6. GallardosEggrollshop

    GallardosEggrollshop Notebook Evangelist

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    Though moving it while it's on will not show effects in a short period of time I have found that in the long run it will wear the drive. Your talking about a moving part that is spinning at 5400 or 7200RPM. Granted that if you move it and keep it as level as possible it shouldn't be a huge issue but what I've seen at least from working IT is people tend to close the laptop lid, and while the laptop is still on, they carry it in a vertical position. I can't tell you how many hard drives I've had to replace because someone was moving their laptop in such a manor. Anyway, it should be fine but it will increase the likelihood of the drive failing down the road.
     
    GallardosEggrollshop, Jun 11, 2011
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