Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!bionet!apple!sun-barr!decwrl!ucbvax!ucdavis!iris!heberlei
From: heberlei@iris.ucdavis.edu (Todd)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Apple internal HD80 sticking?
Message-ID: <4965@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu>
Date: 27 Jul 89 17:14:57 GMT
References: <18768@mimsy.UUCP>
Sender: uucp@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu
Reply-To: heberlei@iris.ucdavis.edu (Todd)
Organization: U.C. Davis - Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Lines: 43

In article <18768@mimsy.UUCP> spector@brillig.umd.edu.UUCP (Lee Spector) writes:
>I remember some discussion a few months back about "sticking" Apple hard
>drives.  Well, my new (< 1 month old) IIcx just failed to recognize its 
>Apple 80 meg internal hard drive at startup.  I restarted but the problem 
>persisted.  Then I disconnected the power, waited a few minutes, and tried 
>  1) Was the problem with sticking drives ever officially recognized or
>   Lee Spector (spector@brillig.umd.edu)

I looked into this problem a few months ago before buying an SE/30.  I
had heard several complaints about HD stiction, and I wanted to find
out why to try and avoid it.

* In the SE/30s (I don't know about the rest of the line) Apple has been
putting in both Quantum and Sony drives (I have a Sony).

* I could not tell if the failures were random or due to a
design/manufacturing flaw.  I do know lots of HD companies have had
troubles in the past (the HD seems to be the most delicate part of a
computer).  I believe IBM recalled a number of HDs on its PS/2 line
recently.  Quantum is aware of complaints, but I do not know if they
know whether it is random failuers or a design flaw.

* I have been told of two causes for stiction: 1) lubrication
solidifying on moving parts, and 2) the head actually sticking to the
disk.  I do not know at what temperature the lubrication (grease?)
solidifies.

* One solution is to nudge (or shake gently) your machine; HOWEVER, it
is generally not a good idea to move any HD at all (ie. carrying it from
home to work).

* I have been told that the problems get worse, but I do not know
anyone personally who has experienced it getting worse.

* I would recommend that anyone with an Apple supplied HD get "Apple
gauge".. I mean "Apple Care".  Apple gives only a 90 day warranty
while the HD manufatures give [to Apple] a much longer warranty.
Bummer deal!


Good luck with your problems,

Todd