Degauss near hard drives?

[detroitdiesel]

Safe distance? Thinking of breaking out the ol 24 track again. It will live next to the computer. You see the conflict...

DD

[Nick Sevilla]

Safe distance? Thinking of breaking out the ol 24 track again. It will live next to the computer. You see the conflict...

DD

Only if you want some data erased.

Some degaussing wands can have a field 3-5 feet long. And it takes very little to mess up a hard drive.

Cheers

[Magnetic Services]

I've got the same problem. The only thing to do is move either the machine or sensitive materials (hard drives, tapes, other tape decks, etc.) far away. I've got an eight track, so it's more feasible for me to move my machine. yours is a different story, however... if you've got a remote control unit for it you could always place the machine in a separate room.

[detroitdiesel]

Thanks for the replies. What about sheet lead? I can get some for free. Is a standard demagnetizer linear? If the lead is between the demagnetizer and the computer (as the electrons fly) I should be fine, yes?

Faraday cage?

[The Scum]

Why not give it a try? What's to lose if something goes wrong?

You have meaningful life experience in dealing with RF and electromagnetic interference, right?

And if you don't, you will shortly.

What about sheet lead?

Last I checked, lead wasn't ferrous. Maybe useful for those pesky X and Gamma rays, tho.

Is a standard demagnetizer linear?

To the degree that the inverse-square law is linear.

Techy answer - depends on the coordinates it's plotted against. Log/Log?

Faraday cage?

Only as useful as it's biggest hole. And more useful for RF problem solving...like a Telecaster picking up AM radio.

[Nick Sevilla]

Thanks for the replies. What about sheet lead? I can get some for free. Is a standard demagnetizer linear? If the lead is between the demagnetizer and the computer (as the electrons fly) I should be fine, yes?

Faraday cage?

No.

No.

And no.

Cheers

[The Scum]

http://physics.stackexchange.com/questi ... etic-field

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromag ... _shielding

[detroitdiesel]

Thank you Nick and The Scum, you both offered very informative responses.

I have looked over the info and links.


What I'm able to glean from this is that no amount of tinfoil/chicken wire/deer antler spray/concrete condoms/royal guards/deodorant will keep the hard drives safe from a demagnetizer that is too close.

I will flip-flop the controll the control room to have the reel waaaay over to the right and the computer and drives waaaay over to the left. (about 13 feet apart)

Good luck to you both in your endeavors.

Cheers and thanks,
DD