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How to Build a Computer 26: Spindles and Platters and So Forth
We’ve discussed what it means to actually store information on a hard disk drive, how you magnetize it and how you pull that information off. Neat stuff, but a bit heavy on the abstract physics. Today we’re going to zoom out a bit and look at the mechanical bits of how hard drives work. Here, let me start you off with a picture. Take a look at these two hard drives (conveniently cracked open for viewing purposes), one I borrowed from the boss man, and the other I picked up off the “Free Stuff” shelf when they moved the engineering department. Tell me which you think stores more data:

None of the above. Neither of is ever going to run again. Look at that dust!