Standby/Sleep mode with laptops

It is well known that to shift a powered on laptop could lead to HD damage (I suppose that when done carefully and for a short distance it's OK).

My question is what happens to the the hard disk drive's head when it is in sleep mode? Does it retract? Is it safe to carry the laptop with the display panel closed in sleep mode? The reason I ask is that sometimes with my netbook to move to another floor at work it might save a lot of time if you have to see somebody for say 10 minutes or if you are in a hurry.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

In sleep mode the Laptop shuts off after saving your current session to memory(RAM). So, only your RAM remains powered on, the rest of the Laptop is off, including your hard disk.

 

Here is a flash graphic (open the url in a new window) that explains what happens to the hard disk head during sleep state.

Actually the graphic explains a WD technology called "securepark" which securely parks the head during hard disk's "idle" states or when hard disk sensor senses free fall.
This is also where the head is when hard disk is powered off.

 

Thanks. So it would be quite safe to put it in its bag and carry it around as if it was completely off (no heat problems).

 

Yeah, you can carry it around in a closed bag, as it is completely off.

 

As far as I know my Asus netbook doesn't have this "sensormeter" for free falls, now reading your post, is this common practice to all laptops HDs drive heads? I'm aware that only Asus could answer, on its instructions help file it only says that the drive head retracts when the computer is turned off.

 

What hard disk is inside the Asus. I am sure Asus does not manufacture hard drives.

No, the free fall sensor and secure park technology are available only in the newer drives by some manufacturers, so they are not standard. But all disk drives park their heads securely when they are powered off or when computer is put in sleep mode.

 

Thanks Raza0007, I've done some research following your suggestions and my Asus Eee 1002HA has a Seagate Momentous 5400.5 HD which according to the specifications is built for rugged conditions. I think it has the secure park technology but not the fall sensor (laptops are not supposed to be dropped anyway!)