it would take a hugely powerful magnet to affect the harddrive though the case and even a floppy can only be damaged if you pressed it right on to the disk surface and moved it.
NOT TRUE... My Friend... back in the old days, when I couldn't format a FD, I used to lay them on top of my Stereo Speakers to erase them, or better said to randomize the Magnetic poling on the surface of them... and that had nothing to do with SCRATCHING at all...
about the HD, I am not too sure, as some powerful magnets are in the case them selves... the ones to move the arms... so there you may be right...
