moving your computer while hard disk is spinning can damage computer ??

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moving your computer while hard disk is spinning can damage computer ??

I just purchased a macbook and on page 15 in the "Everything Mac" info booklet is a boxed warning: "...Moving your computer while the hard disk is spinning can damage it, causing loss of data or the inability to start up from the hard disk."

I'm a novice for sure, but I've never heard this before.

How much can my MacBook be moved or jostled while it is up and running?
What precautions... or limitations, are suggested for use in more rugged & mobile outdoor situations -
(as opposed to easy desktop living)?

thank you,
peter

excuse the previous bobo in my battery question - "discarded" was supposed to be "discharged"

MacBook 4,1, Mac OS X (10.5.2), 2.4GHz - 2GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

Posted on Jun 10, 2008 12:42 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 10, 2008 12:56 AM in response to peterm-co

Well, you won't damage your computer but it can certainly damage your hard drive. In my experience with my Macbook and my school's laptops (HP's), your computer with live happily with the soft movements when it is sitting in your lap, the problem is really the sudden movements (but that is also a problem for desktops), although your mac has one thing called sudden motion detection that will protect your hard drive a little bit (for more info see the information here).

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Answer 2

peterm-co Author

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Jun 10, 2008 1:09 AM in response to Joaquim Lopes

thanks for the info and reference article, it was definitely helpful.

though I hate to underline my ignorance, I'll still ask: isn't the hard drive the heart of the computer and if you allowed that to be damaged you've pretty well killed your computer too?

peter

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Answer 3

Jun 10, 2008 1:47 AM in response to peterm-co

The hard drive is important but if it gets damaged you just replace it (something which is not really expensive). The heart of your computer is the CPU and the motherboard. If these two pieces get damaged then you are in trouble, specially if your warranty has expired.

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Answer 4

Jul 3, 2008 8:33 PM in response to peterm-co

How about carrying it from a desk to use in another room while it is on. Does it have to go into sleep mode before it is moved?

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Answer 5

Jul 3, 2008 8:41 PM in response to archi67tect

Moving it around is fine. Putting it on the desk is fine. Dropping is not.

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