When you use the "Safely Remove Hardware" function in Windows and the drive letter disappears, it means that the operating system has stopped accessing the drive and has released its hold on it. However, this does not necessarily mean that the drive's mechanical components, such as the magnetic plates and read/write heads, are immediately stopped or parked. In most modern hard disk drives (HDDs), including the ones you mentioned (WD10JPVX-08JC3T5, HGST HTS541010A99E662, and Seagate ST500LM030), the drive's firmware is responsible for managing the parking of the heads and the spin-down of the disks. When the "Safely Remove Hardware" function is executed, the operating system sends a command to the drive to stop any ongoing operations and prepare for removal. In spite of this, the drive's firmware may not immediately park the heads or spin down the disks. Instead, the drive may enter a low-power state, where the disks are still spinning, but the heads are retracted and the drive is waiting for a power-down command. This is often referred to as the "standby" or "idle" state. In this state, the drive is still consuming some power, and the disks are still spinning, but the heads are not actively reading or writing data. The drive will typically remain in this state until it is either powered down or a new command is received from the operating system. It's worth noting that the exact behavior of the drive in this situation may depend on the specific drive model, firmware version, and enclosure case being used. However, in general, it's safe to assume that the drive's mechanical components are not immediately stopped or parked when the "Safely Remove Hardware" function is executed, and that the drive may still be consuming some power and spinning its disks. Always use the "Safely Remove Hardware" feature in Windows (or the equivalent in other operating systems) to stop the drive. This command tells the operating system to finish any ongoing operations and prepare the drive for removal. Wait for Confirmation: After you execute the "Safely Remove Hardware" command, wait for the confirmation message that indicates it is safe to remove the hardware. This ensures that the operating system has completed its tasks. Check Drive Activity: Before unplugging the drive, check for any activity indicators (like LED lights on the enclosure) to ensure that the drive is not actively reading or writing data. If the light is off or steady, it usually indicates that the drive is idle. Wait a Moment: After stopping the drive and before unplugging it, wait a few moments to allow the drive's firmware to complete any necessary operations, including parking the heads. By following these steps, you can help ensure that the HDD's heads are parked and that it is safe to unplug the drive without risking data loss or damage to the drive.
If my hand hits or moderate shock the enclosure case after ejecting, will the HDD heads scratch the disks? without disconnecting the USB cable after ejecting?
To put it simply, when ejecting a device, you should immediately disconnect the line and turn off the power. If you just eject the device, the hard disk will still be running, which will cause damage to the hard disk for a long time. It is not recommended that a power-on hard drive be exposed to vibration. However, due to hard drive technology, slight shocks will not cause any problems. You can use relevant tools to check the status of the hard drive instead of asking what will happen.
Code: If you are just storing data, I recommend that you store files offline and make backups instead of powering it up to run or hibernate.