Don't sweat it.
a) your hard drive actually uses magnets to function.  Dead hard drives are
a great source for cheap, strong magnets
b) your hard drive is in a metal case (i.e., shielded)
c) most importantly, the strength of a magnetic field decreases
exponentially with distance from the magnet

Any little household magnets aren't strong enough to begin to phase a hard
drive, even if you took it out of the computer and rubbed them all over it.
=)

Can a magnet kill a hard drive?  Yes, but it would have to be a *very*
strong, large magnet and be close to the actual magnetic media inside the
hard drive.

However, you should keep floppy disks (if you still use them) away as they
are not shielded and very susceptible to damage (both magnetic and
otherwise).

Cheers,
JD

----- Original Message -----
From: "Katherine J. Maas" <kathmaas@TELUS.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 11:04 AM
Subject: [VANAGON] Question about using magnets to hold back table in place

I frequently travel with my laptop, and I use it on the back table.  I�ve
been using a bungy cord to anchor the table, but I must say I�m attracted to
the magnet idea < seems more secure and easier to �unhook�.  But I�m worried
about using my laptop so near a magnet < couldn�t it screw up my hard drive?

Katherine & Vanita
--
Katherine J. Maas
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in
sideways, champagne in one hand - strawberries in the other, body thoroughly
used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO HOO - What a ride!"  -- Unknown