disk and make two copies.
What about working with hard disks? Well, Winchesters are more
dependable than floppies. On the other hand, they commonly store many
times more material than do the soft disks—meaning perhaps a fiftyfold
increase in your agony if one fails.
“Always try to use an uninterruptible power supply with your
Winchester,” warns Fitzgerald, whose former company produces hard disks
as well as floppies. Some manufacturers say their hard disks don’t need
this protection. But, in general, it’s a good idea; here’s why.
Normally, the head picking up the magnetic patterns is only ten or
twenty thousandths of an inch from the oxide-coated disk. The disk is
aluminum—and shear-prone in the event of a crash. Instead of the typical
soft whirl, you’ll hear an ear-piercing squeal like a car brake out of
adjustment, except that the aftermath will be more costly. Repairs may
run into the hundreds of dollars, not to mention the loss of data.
Not every power failure will produce a disk crash. But why gamble with
your Winchester and its data?
An uninterruptible power supply will protect them by pumping out juice
long enough for you to know something is amiss and shut the disk down.
It sells for several hundred dollars, commonly, and is normally worth
it.
“Also,” says Fitzgerald, “be sure the drive is grounded and shielded as
the manufacturer recommends. If not, power surges could cause it to lose
track of its data.”
He suggests one more precaution. Since the disk and the head are so
close, why not warn furniture bangers? This could change. Hard disks are
shock mounted in some portables nowadays, so that the equipment isn’t
quite _that_ delicate. But I’d still try not to be too klutzy around
it—and to be careful in other respects.
You can back up a Winchester in one of several ways: