Abstract: A portable mass storage device (e.g., a hard disk drive) is shock-isolated at all times; (a) within the chassis of a computer and (b) during its removal and transport to a location remote from the computer chassis. The mass storage device is housed within a canister which is removably mountable within the chassis. A bracket is attached to each lateral side of the mass storage device and a pair of suitable elastomeric shock-isolators extend between each respective one of the brackets and its adjacent canister sidewall so as to mount it in spaced relation to the canister. Power supply to the mass storage device (or any other electrical component) may be disabled/enabled automatically in response to relative separation/closing movement between a pair of connectors. In this manner, "arcing" and other problems which might occur with such a removable unit are automatically avoided in a fail-safe and cost effective manner.