A hard drive should not be:
-
parked and boxed when removed from the computer
-
protected from magnetic devices
-
defragmented and backed up at regular intervals
-
formatted before removing from the computer
Formatting a hard drive erases all data, so you should NEVER format it before removing from a computer unless data destruction is intended. Proper procedure includes parking the heads, protecting from magnets, and maintaining regular backups - formatting is an irreversible destructive action.
A hard drive should not be formatted before removing it from the computer — formatting destroys the data and partition structure, so if the drive is being removed for storage, transfer, or troubleshooting, formatting first is unnecessary and destructive; any needed wiping should be a deliberate, separate decision, not a routine pre-removal step. The other options describe genuinely good practices (parking/boxing to protect the heads, keeping it away from magnetic fields, and regular defragmentation/backup), so they are not the 'should not' answer.