Potential magnet damage to laptop HDD

[cobalt124]

My specific question is can the magnets in an Ashton BA15 40W bass amp damage the HDD in a laptop (we have a Samsung about a year and a quarter old and an Acer about a year old). I've read the following threads:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=411895&highlight=magnet
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=112183&highlight=magnet

so I'm sure the only possible damage would be to the HDD, which I'm fairly certain would be safe, but not quite certain enough. Can anybody raise my certainty levels?

 

[AlephZero]

Modern speakers intended for use with computers are magnetically sheilded so they are safe (provided you read and follow the instructions!)

With older speaker systems, it's a toss-up. On the one hand they were usually not sheilded, but on the other hand they tended to have weaker magnets.

so I'm sure the only possible damage would be to the HDD, which I'm fairly certain would be safe, but not quite certain enough. Can anybody raise my certainty levels?

That's not a very sensible question IMO. Your "personal confidence level" has absolutely nothing to do with whether the laptop will be damaged or not!

The only possible answer is "well, it might be damaged"...

 

[DaleSwanson]

If you are just looking to sit a laptop on top of a speaker then I think you'll be fine. It might be worth just getting a piece of iron and seeing just how much of a magnetic field there is in the area you are going to put the laptop. It is also worth pointing out that hard drives have strong magnets in them. Modern hard drives are pretty resilient to magnetic fields and it would take a pretty strong field to cause data loss. The strip on a credit card is much more sensitive than a hard drive. Anywhere your wallet survives without wiping the credit cards is going to be safe for a laptop.

 

[cobalt124]

Thanks for the responses!

Modern speakers intended for use with computers are magnetically sheilded so they are safe (provided you read and follow the instructions!)

The speakers are about four years old, and we have lost the instructions.

That's not a very sensible question IMO. Your "personal confidence level" has absolutely nothing to do with whether the laptop will be damaged or not!

The only possible answer is "well, it might be damaged"...

...and so you don't put the laptop anywhere near the speakers! Yep, I see your point. And if it were my speaker and amp that is what I would be doing. Problem solved. However, this isn't an option which is why I'm asking.

If you are just looking to sit a laptop on top of a speaker then I think you'll be fine. It might be worth just getting a piece of iron and seeing just how much of a magnetic field there is in the area you are going to put the laptop. It is also worth pointing out that hard drives have strong magnets in them. Modern hard drives are pretty resilient to magnetic fields and it would take a pretty strong field to cause data loss. The strip on a credit card is much more sensitive than a hard drive. Anywhere your wallet survives without wiping the credit cards is going to be safe for a laptop.

I'm now more confident that it's OK, but personally I still wouldn't do it.

 

[LudusRex]

I can provide some insight into the potential damage that magnets can cause to a laptop HDD. The threads you have read are correct in stating that the only possible damage would be to the HDD itself. This is because HDDs use magnetic fields to read and write data, and any external magnetic field can interfere with this process and potentially corrupt or erase data.

However, the strength of the magnet in an Ashton BA15 40W bass amp is unlikely to cause any significant damage to the laptop HDD. The magnets in most electronic devices, including amplifiers, are typically small and not strong enough to affect the HDD. Additionally, the HDD is usually shielded from external magnetic fields by its casing and other components within the laptop.

That being said, it is always better to err on the side of caution and avoid placing any strong magnets near electronic devices. If you are concerned about potential damage, you can always keep the amplifier and laptop a safe distance apart to minimize any potential interference.

In conclusion, while it is possible for magnets to cause damage to a laptop HDD, the likelihood of this happening with an Ashton BA15 40W bass amp is very low. However, it is always important to handle electronic devices with care and avoid exposing them to strong magnetic fields.