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From: mapjilg@gdr.bath.ac.uk (J I L Gold)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Always-running 3/5" drive
Message-ID: <1990Jul25.133047.28605@gdr.bath.ac.uk>
Date: 25 Jul 90 13:30:47 GMT
Organization: Bath University Computing Services, UK
Lines: 19

>This is in reply to Battle Squadron always running df0:
>1. Is this harmful to the drive?  Because the game supports two players, we've
>been up late playing this thing for hours... and the drive keeps running.
> 
>2. Is this harmful to the disk itself?
> 
>3. Does anyone know of any other games that incorporate this activity?  Sure, 
>the game runs fast and there aren't very many delays to ruin play, but if I
>had my choice, I'd buy a game that was a little easier on the disk drive...
>

I think the "problem" is caused by the programmers calling "Forbid()" to turn
of multi-tasking whilst the game runs. This probably takes effect before the
disk has an opportunity to "wind down" after loading and executing.
The drive head will not be active, so there is no cause for concern.
-- 
#  J.Gold                            |    mapjilg@uk.ac.bath.gdr               #
#  University of Bath , UK           |    jilg@uk.ac.bath.maths                #
#  "Take fate by the throat...shake your fist, shake your fist"-Mary My Hope   #