Because an external hard drive (EHD) is a separate device from your computer, and is not housed in the protective case of the computer, some attention should be given to make sure that the device is well-taken care of. Here are a few pointers to make sure your device is kept in top-condition.

1. Keep dust and debris away from your external hard drive. You can use a soft clean cloth to remove dust from the surface of the EHD. Also, keep other surrounding surfaces free of dust. Vacuum floors and furniture often, to prevent dust build-up in the surrounding environment.

2. Choose a safe place for your EHD. The best place for an EHD is
• Clean and dry
• Flat
• Stable
• Moderate climate

Coming in contact with other solid or liquid substances can damage and sometimes completely ruin electronic devices. This is just as true with an external hard drive as it is with any other gadget. So pick a place that is clean and dry, and is not likely to become wet or dirty. Hint: the kitchen table is probably not this place.

Keep the device flat, rather than tilted or on its side. Also make sure that it is in a place that it will not be accidentally knocked onto the floor or bumped. To keep it in top shape, the climate for an EHD should not be in the extremes of temperature or humidity. Keep it away from heater or air conditioner vents, and away from humidifiers.

3. Use a surge protector. If your EHD requires its own power source, use a surge protector to prevent damage from power surges.

4. Don’t move your EHD while it is turned on. Moving it around while it is in use can cause damage.

5. Keep it ventilated. You don’t necessarily need to keep a fan blowing on it, but make sure that it has plenty of open space around it for the air to flow freely around it to prevent it from overheating. Keeping it in an enclosed cabinet can cause it to overheat. Also, don’t let it get covered with cloth or plastic or anything else.

6. Keep out of reach of children. Kids and babies, as a general rule, love electronic gadgets. As fun as it is to see little ones exploring their new world, it is also good to teach them to develop self-control and learn not to touch or play with certain things. This is for their own safety as well as to protect gadgets from unnecessary harm. If necessary, keep your external hard drive in a place that is inaccessible to little fingers and mouths.

7. Use as directed. Although some EHD’s are designed to be portable, some are designed for stationary use. Don’t use a stationary external hard drive as a portable device. Also, use only the recommended cables or accessories stipulated by the manufacturer. For instance, as a rule, internal and external SATA and eSATA cables and connections are not interchangeable. Using them interchangeably can cause malfunction and damage.

Conclusion

For the most part, caring for an external hard drive involves just using common sense measures that you’ll want to use with any electronic devices. Taking good care of your EHD can give you longer term use from it, as well as a better usage experience. Take a look at EHD from Dell here.

Jared Jacobs works for Dell. He loves technology and consumer electronics. Personally he is a Rockets and Texans fan.