Hi,

I would like to open a thread about optimal conditions and useful products for the long term storage of hard disk drives.

On this forum is already a thread named Hard Drives: Can they be used for offline storage?
My question is close to it, but not in the perspective of data preservation, but about storing hard drives as donors.

One issue seem being the corrosion of platters.

Temperature must be kept low if possible.

I observe that there are several qualities of ESD bags.
Some seem being anti-static only, whilst others also ensure a long term anti-moisture barrier.
On this page of a specialist in ESD protection, we can see the two kind of bags:
https://shop.statech.ch/fr/equipment-de-protection-esd/emballages/sachets-de-protection-esd

The anti-moisture bags have more layers and offer more protection against the corrosion.
Such bag can be inflated or vaccumed.

Such bag should be used together with a dessicant and possibly a humidity indicator.

I assume that an anti-moisture bag sealed with a machine offers better moisture barrier than a zipper one.

What about oxygen?
To increase the quality of the long term storage, should hard drive also be protected from oxygen as well?
This paper suggests it: http://priorart.ip.com/IPCOM/000014352
So, I assume that vaccum should be applied to the anti-moisture bags instead of inflation.
Should one use oxygen absorbers as well (e.g. http://www.drypak.com/oxygenAbsorbers.html) and oxygen indicators (e.g. http://www.drypak.com/oxyInd(ILC).html)?

Should one make hard drives spin a few seconds on a regular basis ?
One friend who is a car mechanic told me that a car that never rolls ages faster, because the grease freezes.
I haven't heard about such problem with hard drives, but wonder however if they should spin periodically.

Thanks for sharing.

I would worry more about humidity than oxygen. Humidity can accelerate corrosion. If you are using anti stat bags then put a couple of those silica gel bags and check them every few months

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