harddrives withstanding cold temperatures?

**Nick DC** · 12-10-2004, 09:13 PM

Hey all,

I'm just starting a carputer project here in Canada and i've pretty much got everything setup but I *really* wanted to use my excisting 80gb maxtor 3.5" harddrive instead of having to buy another one. I'm just worried about the hardrive dieing because of the cold temperature out here in the winter time. It could go to -30C outside on very cold days in the winter. My car warms up pretty but if the harddrive tries to start up with cold temperatures that bad, it might die? The operating temperatures are +5C-40C and non operating are -40C to 70C .. so it's fine to store it in the cold but not to use it. I looked up on harddrives that are designed for the cold or hot environment and hitachi makes one.. the Endurastar J4K20. I can't find it anywhere around here..or quotes on how much that thing would cost.. but if I could save some money I would rather not spend much more..especially since all this cost me a lot as it is.

Any ideas on what I should do? or should I not worry?

any help would be awesome!!

Thanks!
Nick

**kiltjim** · 12-10-2004, 09:28 PM

The only thing I would be concerned about would be the hard drive. And that would only be if they use fluid dynamic bearings. There has been some posts around here concerning this before. But I don't think anyone is from that far north, or from that cold of an area.

Everything else generates its own heat, so it should be fine.

**IntellaWorks** · 12-10-2004, 11:32 PM

Check out what we're doing in the software "operating systems" section. We're researching ways to get windows XP on Solid State media (which can withstand, much colder temps because there is no mechanical parts)

**Nick DC** · 12-11-2004, 12:33 AM

hmm i'm going to check that out. but i'd really need something bigger then one of those 1gig compactflash especially with running co-pilot. Also maybe i exagerated in terms of how cold it gets, it maybe gets this cold like a few days in january then it starts getting warmer..but still a problem, i'm not that far north comparing all the other cities north of me in canada lol.

**low4life1** · 12-11-2004, 07:53 AM

It is definately doable. Just last week I installed a motorized self pointing satelite dish on a trailer that does 2 way high speed internet. The company that makes the setup uses a mini pc with no hard drive. It runs windows xp pro, and in order to update the settings on it, you have to go in to a dos prompt, turn off the write protect, do what you have to do, reboot the computer, and when windows shuts down it updates the flash drive. Then when the computer turns back on you re protect the flash. No hard drive at all. its super sweet. Real small too. Im going back next week. i'll take some pics.

**TruckinMP3** · 12-11-2004, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by Nick DC

Hey all,

I'm just starting a carputer project here in Canada and i've pretty much got everything setup but I *really* wanted to use my excisting 80gb maxtor 3.5" harddrive instead of having to buy another one. I'm just worried about the hardrive dieing because of the cold temperature out here in the winter time. It could go to -30C outside on very cold days in the winter. My car warms up pretty but if the harddrive tries to start up with cold temperatures that bad, it might die? The operating temperatures are +5C-40C and non operating are -40C to 70C .. so it's fine to store it in the cold but not to use it. I looked up on harddrives that are designed for the cold or hot environment and hitachi makes one.. the Endurastar J4K20. I can't find it anywhere around here..or quotes on how much that thing would cost.. but if I could save some money I would rather not spend much more..especially since all this cost me a lot as it is.

Any ideas on what I should do? or should I not worry?

any help would be awesome!!

Thanks!
Nick

Search for cold hard drive or read the sticky FAQ in the Newbie section (it is covered)..... really new people (like you) ask this same question with different words every two weeks. Many of us are happy to help, but please save yourself and others the hassel and do some reading.

Yes I will answer the question.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/sear...earchid=587516

an example thread
Does The Cold Affect System?
another
Cold Weather vs Hard Drive

and a third
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulleti
n/showthread.php?t=36246&highlight=cold+hard+drive

a quote from one of them (from me, yes this is my favorite soap box to stand on):

Originally Posted by TruckinMP3

begin Rant/

FFS people at what point did you new folks think that this has not been covered in grizily detail (every month).

A small amount of searching will tell you mount it firmly in any orientation, use good power and make sure your cables are secure.

Cold will not hurt HDs, drives with fluid bearings will not spin up cold as they do not reach the correct RPMs but are fine after they warm up.

HDs survive car wreck better than people, Mount it firmly a Desk top or laptop will be just fine. Physical size and power consumption are the only real difference between them.

/end Rant