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I read that HDD's lose magnetism over time and they must be re-recorded periodically to preserve the data. On 3.8.2025 I tested a retired Toshiba 500gb HDD that was formatted and filled up about 98% capacity with photos and videos on 2.17.2015. After it was retired, it was put in a ziplock bag and stored in a garage where temperatures ranged from 45F to 85F for the 10-year period. It was not run during that time. When I looked at it, all the data (photos / videos) were fine. I didn't do any drive software tests on it, as I didn't have any to use. I downloaded some drive software awhile back and it took over my computer, so I was happy to get rid of it. I archive audio, photos, videos and text files. Either they work or they don't work...those are the tests I'm using here. I then decided to do a microwave test on the HDD. I had originated this use of microwaving drives by accident. Last year I had ordered a 4TB Samsung SSD and it had problems from the start. But I was hopeful the bugs would work out and tried to use it anyway. I was transferring a 1.8TB file to it and it jammed near the end of the transfer. I was horrified to find out it would not let me delete my data before sending it back for a refund. Hence the microwave came into my head. It was a natural offshoot from using the microwave to treat moldy and mildewed paper, which I do regularly. I can't tell you how long this original microwave test was on the 4TB SSD, but it was just a few seconds. I didn't know what would happen or if it would wreck the microwave, so it was short. When I plugged the SSD into the computer it would not show up. I was happy with the results and gave it a little more microwave radiation after that for good measure. All we hear about nowadays is EMP danger with digital, so that also inspired me to do some microwave tests. Here are the tests for the HDD, SD card and thumb drives tested in a 1000-watt Samsung microwave. Toshiba 500gb HDD 1 second microwave test: Passed (I don't think the microwave does much microwaving in the first second.) 2 second microwave test: Passed 3 second microwave test: Failed - drive made a loud pop and sparks near the cord port. Computer would not recognize the drive. (Drive was microwaved without the cord.) Generic 4GB SD Card 1 second microwave test: Passed (I don't think the microwave does much microwaving in the first second.) 2 second microwave test: Passed 3 second microwave test: Passed / Failed (?) Some sparks. One computer would not recognize about 80% of the files and they only showed up as icons. When I clicked on an icon it would not load and it said the file was corrupted. Another computer played everything fine. 4 second microwave test: Failed - card made lots of sparks, plastic started to melt in spots on both sides of the card and there was a strong burned plastic smell. Both computers would not recognize the drive. Note: This test should be rerun with multiple cards for 3, 4, 5, 6 second tests to pinpoint the failure. I used 1 card and it received a total of 9 seconds of microwaving before it failed. (Not counting the 1 second test.) Generic 8GB Thumb Drives I used 2 thumb drives for this test. Thumb drive #1 1 second microwave test: Passed (I don't think the microwave does much microwaving in the first second.) 2 second microwave test: Failed - drive made an audio sound when inserting into the USB port, but the computer would not recognize it. I tried it on 2 computers. Thumb drive #2 3 second microwave test: Failed. Drive made a loud pop and sparks inside of the USB connector. Both computers would not recognize the drive. The rest of the HDD magnetism tests will be 12-year, 15-year, 18-year, 20-years and 22-years...if I'm still around. <><><><> Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Archival Collection Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Small Gauge Film Archive Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Advertising Archive Daniel D. Teoli Jr. VHS Video Archive Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Popular Culture Archive Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Audio Archive Daniel D. Teoli Jr. Social Documentary Photography