Will magnets on a computer tower ruin the hardware?

Question

I am about to be a college student living in a dorm, and space consolidation and organization are massive pluses. I have, therefore, wondered about the possibility of putting certain papers I need to keep handy on my computer tower via refrigerator magnets. I also have a magnetized organizer that is something like 18"x12" (just a rough estimate); would that cause problems?
I've heard that magnets will fry a harddrive, but I've also heard that you need a *strong* magnet to do so. Help is appreciated!

Answer 1

Yes, but no.

There are two components that can be damaged by magnetic fields;

Hardrives and the CMOS/BIOS.

Niether of these will be affected by a 'refrigerator' magnet on the outside of the case. However powerful magnets (like ceramic or neodymium) might coorupt the data on these drives.

For an interesting anecdote, I work on computers and often use a magnetised screwdriver (very weak), they are handy for picking up a run-away screw in a crevice of the computer.

Answer 2

Refrigerator magnets on the case of the computer should have no effect. If you are using diskettes, keep the magnets away from those. Hard drives are pretty well shielded from all but the strongest magnets. A heavy speaker magnet or rare earth magnet could do some damage.

Answer 3

Yes magnets do erase hard drives but not any magnets you will have around in your dorm room not even the big speaker magnets do that. The hard drive is encased in a metal case and so therefore any electromagnetic force will be only on the surface and will not harm your data unless it goes over the resistance of air which i doubt any of your magnets will do. I think it requires about 15-20 Tesla to erase your hard drive with a magnet. most normal house hold magnets do not reach 0.5 Tesla.

Answer 4

Personally, I wouldn't take the chance! I have seen the magnet in cell phones mess up disks that people carry in their backpacks with the cell phone in the outside of the backpack. These magnets are big either. I know how valuable my data is to me; therefore, I wouldn't chance it. Magnets can wipe disks and hard drives. Yet, the magnets that could wipe a floppy disk don't have to be as strong as a hard drive, but I wouldn't want to find out how strong the magnet has to be to kill a hard disk. My data, again, is more important to me than taking that chance.

Answer 5

All chips and drive media normally get corrupted or fried by magnetic influence. Try passing a magnet over a floppy disk and the DATA will get corrupted.

Even simple static electricity from a human body will fry components on ram, cards, etc.

Answer 6

If you want to kill you PC then by all means, make it look like a fridge. Magnets will mess with every part of your PC. Direct contact is bad but the field that the magnets generate is bad for them too.

Answer 7

It's not recommended to use magnets around these things, but if you really have to & your magnets are not really strong, I think it won't matter, u can stick them to the side that is far from the hard. And remember that it disturbs your monitor aswell.

Answer 8

I feely strongly attracted to both views!

I know that I don't bring my Twystron Magnet close to the HOUSE with my 80 computers!!! I keep it in the shed, with the old floppies (in shoe boxes)!

Answer 9

Firg magnets do not have anywhere near the strength to make any difference. I would keep them clear or your monitor though.

Answer 10

no it will not damaged yoour hard drives or any internat parts of your computer but it may damaged your floppy disk