The best prevention is to always remember to back-up your data!
Accidents may happen: coffee is spilled on your CD or Zip drive, a CD falls on the floor and gets scratched, the hard drive does not want to spin after being unused during 2 humid summer months, … Anything may happen, but you should not worry if your most valuable data is stored separately in a safe place.
Another thing to remember is to use anti-virus software routinely, especially if you download from the Internet! Your data could be as easily corrupted by a computer virus as by any natural disaster. To protect your data from the newest viruses, update your antivirus program as often as possible.
Avoid electro-static discharge (ESD) during installation of the drives and later handling. Do not touch electric contacts on the controller board with your bare hands. When handling the drives, try to keep your other hand on a metal part of your PC, which will serve as a “ground”.
Keep your storage systems clean!
Particulate contamination is a clear and present danger for all types of storage media since is causes mechanical damage which is rarely recoverable and can crash the entire storage device!
Keep your data cool!
Storage systems, especially magnetic media, may suffer from the so-called ‘thermal decay’ of magnetic information. In other words, your magnetic domains will lose their magnetization much faster at higher temperatures, and your bits of information will disappear… Magnetic drives are designed to operate in conditions comfortable for humans. Therefore, there is no danger in keeping your drives at 40 (104F) and even 50C (122F). But, exceeding this temperature by much can be harmful.
Prevent impacts on your storage device, especially when it is running! For example, don’t move your desktop when the power is on! All commercial storage systems are designed to withstand significant shock and vibration, but there is always a chance that your drive may be damaged by an impact.
Keep away your magnetic storage from strong magnetic fields!