A BIOHD-8 error code indicates a failing storage device — most commonly, a hard drive, though solid-state drives (SSDs) may also present this issue under certain circumstances. The error occurs on HP laptops and desktops during the boot process. Below,...

SMART hard disk error 301 indicates a failing hard drive or an overheated laptop. Here’s what you need to know to address this common issue.

Microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) is a new technique for increasing the areal density of hard drives, which allows for substantial improvements in data storage capacity. In this article, we’ll provide a basic overview of the technology — and the potential...

Japanese manufacturer Showa Denko has announced the shipment of 3.5-inch hard disk media with a storage capacity of 2.6 terabytes (TB) per platter — potentially allowing for hard drive capacities of 30TB or more by late 2023.  The Showa Denko...

Shingled magnetic recording (often abbreviated as SMR) is a technique used to increase the areal density of a hard drive, allowing manufacturers to store more data on each square inch of the discs (or platters).  The word “shingled” provides a...

Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HMAR) has been touted as the next great technology for increasing hard drive capacities without reducing other key performance metrics. How does HAMR work — and does it offer clear advantages over current tech? First, a quick...

Areal density describes the amount of data that can be stored within a given amount of physical space on a hard drive’s platters.  Generally speaking, a higher areal density is a good thing. Hard drives with a higher areal density...

In order to recover data from a physically damaged hard drive, engineers need to return the drive to a working condition. That’s easier said than done — hard drive components are extremely drive-specific. In some cases, drives with identical model...

What is an advanced format hard drive? Here’s an explanation, along with guides for determining whether your hard drive uses an AF format.

A hard drive crash occurs when the actuator heads come in contact with the platters. Here’s what that means for your data (and what to do next).