PC myths: the truth

Posted on 14 Jul 2008 at 15:02

 

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If everything we read about computers was true, we'd never use one for fear of losing our work, our minds - or worse. Stewart Mitchell sets out to separate myth from reality.

From health scares to urban myths, the world of computing has thrown up more bunkum than a political party conference. The internet has done nothing to stem the flood of misinformation. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and online rumours turn into fact in the blink of a blog. Before you know it, they're being taken as gospel and we find ourselves changing the way we use computers based on scare-mongering.

Sometimes rumour-mill myths are merely amusing, but others are downright dangerous. In this article, we uncover the truth behind some of the most notorious computing fables. Did Saddam Hussein really build a weapons programme on the back of a supercomputer cobbled together from old PlayStations? Is it really a good idea to use your laptop in the bath? Read on, and discover which myths to ignore and which you need to take seriously.

Freezing a hard disk or CD can recover data
Credibility rating 7/10
Origin Mad computer scientists

Some say that chilling frees up the platters when they stick, while others say it cures chronic overheating problems. But the big-chill advocates insist that sticking a clapped-out hard disk in a freezer could resurrect it for long enough to rescue data.

Recipe times vary from a few minutes to two hours, but the basics seem the same. "Freezing for 20 minutes or more will loosen the head from the platter, because metal tends to shrink the colder it gets," says forum poster Mr Bean. "So the gap between heads and platter increases by a minute amount, and you can (hopefully) recover your data."

Experts are less convinced but don't dismiss the notion out of hand, accepting that it might work in a few cases. Data recovery specialist Ontrack's engineering manager Robert Winter says, "I suppose it's possible that if the hard drive had seized up or overheated, cooling it right down could get it moving again. It shouldn't cause any damage."

Advocates recommend wrapping the disk in kitchen paper and Ziplock bags to protect against moisture, and that you should repeat the process each time the unit heats up until all the data is recovered. If cold storage doesn't work, anyone trying this at home should leave the errant drive unwrapped to dry out slowly in order to preserve it for data-recovery professionals.

Using a laptop in the bath is safe
Credibility rating 3/10
Origin Outrage over Creative Labs advert

When Creative Labs released an advert featuring a soapy young lady enjoying a bath while listening to tunes on her laptop, there was widespread indignation. The Advertising Standards Authority forced the company to pull the ad after complaints that the advert "encouraged a dangerous practice" - namely, people could fry.

Even after this dressing-down, Creative was bullish. "The use of laptops in the bath was not dangerous because they were battery-powered, low-voltage devices," the company said. "Even if mains electricity was used, the voltage would be stepped down to battery-levels." This water-off-a-duck's-back attitude infuriated electrical experts, who suggested Creative should head back to school. "It's not the voltage that kills you; it's the amps," wrote one concerned commentator. "Ten volts with sufficient amps could easily kill anyone stupid enough to bathe with a notebook."