When it comes to external hard drives, a few factors come into play concerning their durability and the potential for damage.
1. Ejecting the HDD: You mentioned that you properly ejected the HDD in Windows 10. This is good practice as it ensures all data is written and no processes are accessing the drive. However, if the LED was still on, it might indicate that the drive was still in a power state or that it took a moment longer to complete all processes.
2. Physical Movement: Hitting the external HDD case gently may or may not cause damage. Hard drives, especially traditional spinning drives (HDDs), are sensitive to physical shock, particularly when they are operating (spinning). If the disk was spinning at the moment of impact, there’s a chance for damage, but usually, small bumps won't result in serious issues.
3. Solid-State Drives (SSDs): If your external HDD is an SSD, the risk of physical damage is significantly lower since SSDs have no moving parts. They are generally more robust against physical disturbances.
4. Post-incident checks: After such an event, it’s advisable to check the HDD for any signs of failing. You can do this by:
- Listening for unusual noises (clicking, grinding).
- Checking its functionality: ensure that files can be accessed without issues.
- Running SMART diagnostics if your HDD supports it (you can use tools like CrystalDiskInfo).
5. Best Practices: Always handle external drives with care, especially when they are plugged in, to prevent any accidental movements or drops.
In conclusion, while there is a possibility of damage if the drive was in use during the incident, small bumps generally don’t lead to serious issues. Conduct some checks, and if everything operates smoothly, it’s likely you're in the clear!
