Are magnetic screw drivers safe?

[Syntax]

I've built many computers, and I've always stayed away from Screw drivers with magnetic tips. I figured the charge on the screw driver would destroy the harddrives. Do magnets really have negative effects on harddrives or any other componenets?

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[Ned_Flanders]

magnets do have VERY negative effect of harddrives! They can cause data corruption / wipe the harddrive. But this is only with strong magnets...
The magnetic tip of a screwdriver has such a small magnetic field that I couldnt get through a sheet of paper (try it). There is NO chance of it damaging your harddrive.

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[Crashman]

I always use them, I've damaged a few floppies laying the screwdriver on top of them, but never, ever a hard drive.

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[blackphoenix77]

Yeah...I crippled my last system...but I touched the screwdriver to the motherboard. Come to think of it...thats when I started getting into computers. I saw all the parts inside and I filled the cup.

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