Ad:

Storage Discussion Thread
Unsolved
Views: 4207

Oct 14th, 2005

Is using a laptop in a car bad for its hard drive?

Expand Post »

I'm going on a very boring, 3 hour trip. My laptop battery will last me long enough that I can have a computer during that time, but I thought I'd ask first, is this a bad idea? Could bumpiness during driving crash the harddrive, or cause other damage to the laptop while it's turned on?

It's a Sony VAIO VGN-A690, and it's pretty heavy. I'll have a hard surface between it and my lap to keep it from overheating. The car will be a van, and it will be fairly clostrophobic in the back, so it shouldn't end up moving around. Can it handle it?

Similar Threads

Trouble formatting IBM Thinkpad Laptop hard drive in Storage
Hyperactive Laptop Hard Drive in Storage
dell laptop not recognizing the primary hard drive in Storage
Presario laptop doesn't recognize hard drive in Troubleshooting Dead Machines
slaving laptop hard drive to desktop machine in Storage

Kamex

Reputation Points: 12

Solved Threads: 0

Junior Poster

Offline

133 posts
since May 2004

Permalink

Oct 14th, 2005

Re: Is using a laptop in a car bad for its hard drive?

Well, a laptop can handle minor to fair amounts of jolts. But in the end, it is a hard drive and the normal rules apply. Don't let it fall off, don't use the machine on bumpy terrain. It'll be fine while driving under normal conditions.

goldeagle2005

Team Colleague

Reputation Points: 67

Solved Threads: 45

Finkus Stinkalotus

Offline

1,423 posts
since Jun 2005

Permalink

Oct 14th, 2005

Re: Is using a laptop in a car bad for its hard drive?

Laptop harddrives can handle quite a lot. I used to ride my bike with a running laptop inside it. I think I was the first person with a 4GB portable MP3 player. Oh... The laptop kept running for years after using it in this way.

chrisbliss18

Reputation Points: 38

Solved Threads: 25

Posting Shark

Offline

902 posts
since Aug 2005

Permalink

Oct 18th, 2005

Re: Is using a laptop in a car bad for its hard drive?

Well, the trip was canceled, but it's good to know this. Thanks a lot guys.

Kamex

Reputation Points: 12

Solved Threads: 0

Junior Poster

Offline

133 posts
since May 2004

This thread is more than three months old

No one has posted to this discussion for at least three months. Please let old threads die and do not reply to them unless you feel you have something new and valuable to contribute that absolutely must be added to make the discussion complete. Otherwise, please start a new thread in this forum instead.

Previous Thread in Storage Forum Timeline: data recovery tools and advice

Next Thread in Storage Forum Timeline: Lack of IDE port?

DaniWeb Message

Cancel Changes

User Name
Password