Data Recovery · LanCologne

What are the consequences of prolonged overheating for a Server hard drive?

Hard disk drives are usually specified for operating temperatures of up to around 55–60 °C. If the air conditioning in the Serverraum fails or a fan is faulty, these limits are quickly exceeded. The consequences often only become apparent weeks later – in the form of a spate of failures affecting several drives.

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Technical background

Heat accelerates the wear and tear of bearings and electronic components, alters the properties of the lubricant and can affect the fly height of the heads. SMART logs temperatures (attribute 194, and in some cases 190) and – depending on the manufacturer – the duration for which temperatures exceed the threshold. In RAID arrays, all drives are affected simultaneously.

What you should – and shouldn’t – do now

  • Following a temperature drop, check or create a full backup immediately.
  • Read out the SMART values for all drives and back up the temperature history.
  • In the event of initial failures, do not initiate a rebuild on previously damaged discs until all discs have been backed up.

Here’s how we do it

  • Condition assessment of all panels in the composite structure.
  • Start by backing up the discs with the worst performance.
  • Reconstruction of the composite image from individual images.

Borders

  • Heat-related damage to mechanical parts and surfaces is irreversible.
  • If several discs are failing at the same time, a rebuild may trigger further failures.

Possible results

Recovered data and – if requested – an assessment of which hard drives can continue to be used.

How we carry out data recovery

Every data storage device is first diagnosed in our own laboratory in Cologne; the diagnosis is free of charge. You will then receive a written quote and can decide whether to accept it. If you decline, you can collect the data storage device from the laboratory by appointment – there are no postage costs involved – or we will post it back to you; in which case postage and packaging costs may apply. Data is recovered from copies, not from the original – using professional data recovery hardware such as the PC-3000. If a drive needs to be opened, this is carried out on a HEPA H14-filtered clean bench. We do not offer a guarantee of success prior to diagnosis, as this is simply not possible in a professional context. Your storage device and your data will remain confidential and will not be passed on to third parties.

1Enquiries and submission by post or in person at the laboratory by prior appointment
2Free diagnosis of the cause of the damage
3Written quotation – we will only proceed once you have approved it; if you decline, you may collect the item from the laboratory or we will return it to you (postage and packaging costs may apply)
4Recovery, data verification and confidential handover

Request a diagnosis   Find out more about the process, costs and confidentiality →

Frequently Asked Questions

At what temperature does it become critical?+
That depends on the model; the technical data sheets specify the permissible operating temperature. Experience shows that sustained temperatures above around 50 °C shorten the service life.
Should I replace all the panels following a power cut?+
At the very least, check the backup and monitor the SMART values. If any values appear abnormal, it is advisable to plan for a replacement.
Can heat delete data directly?+
Not in standard Server operation. The risk lies in mechanical and electronic failure.

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