Hard Drives From the 1990s Are Failing, Says Data Archival Firm

Time to Revert to Floppy Disks?

In the 1990s, as personal computers became more prevalent, many users stored their massive collections of digital photos on floppy disks. Given the storage constraints of the time, the idea of storing gigabytes of data on a single hard drive seemed like a dream.

Fast-forward to the present day, and our storage capacities have increased exponentially. Yet, many of the hard drives that were used in the 1990s are starting to fail, putting the data stored on them at risk.

What Is Causing the Hard Drive Failures?

According to data archival firm Iron Mountain, the failure rate of hard drives from the 1990s is increasing rapidly. Iron Mountain blames these failures on several factors, including:

• Mechanical wear and tear: Hard drives from the 1990s are simply getting older, and the mechanical components are starting to wear out.
• Environmental factors: Hard drives are sensitive to extreme temperatures and humidity, and many of the drives from the 1990s have been exposed to these conditions over the years.
• Magnetic media degradation: The magnetic media used in hard drives can degrade over time, leading to data loss.

What Can Be Done to Protect Data?

If you have any data stored on a hard drive from the 1990s, it is prudent to take steps to protect it now. Iron Mountain recommends the following:

• Back up your data regularly: The best way to protect your data is to back it up regularly to a reliable storage device. This could be an external hard drive, a cloud storage service, or even a USB flash drive.
• Store your hard drives in a cool, dry place: Hard drives are sensitive to extreme temperatures and humidity. When not in use, store them in a cool, dry place to extend their lifespan.
• Consider using a data recovery service: If your hard drive has already failed, you may be able to recover your data using a data recovery service. These services can be expensive, but they may be worth it if you have important data that you cannot afford to lose.