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From: dittman@skbat.csc.ti.com (Eric Dittman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: Seagate spin-up problem
Message-ID: <163.2711c3ef@skbat.csc.ti.com>
Date: 9 Oct 90 17:34:55 GMT
References: <2088@lpami.wimsey.bc.ca> <71@abode.UUCP> <162.2710d677@skbat.csc.ti.com> <34682@cup.portal.com>
Organization: Texas Instruments Component Test Facility
Lines: 44

In article <34682@cup.portal.com>, thad@cup.portal.com (Thad P Floryan) writes:
> dittman@skbat.csc.ti.com (Eric Dittman) in <162.2710d677@skbat.csc.ti.com>
> writes:
> 
> ``	By any chance are people experiencing stiction problems with Seagate
> 	drives operating the drive with the circuit board up?
> ''
> 
> Having researched the problem in great depth (talking directly with Seagate's
> QA Manager and design engineers at their Scotts Valley home base, and talking
> with numerous HD repair places), the answer to your question is:
> 
> 	DON'T EVEN TRY OPERATING A SEAGATE DRIVE UPSIDE DOWN
> 
> Among other things, I have most (if not all) of Seagate's OEM and product
> manuals, and the mounting instructions are quite clear (direct quote):
> 
> ``	MOUNTING REQUIREMENTS
> 
> 	The drive may be mounted horizontally with the spindle motor down, or
> 	on either side (edge).  Mounting vertically on either end is a
> 	prohibited orientation.  The drive should not be tilted (front to back)
> 	in any position by more than 5 degrees.
> 
> 	For optimum performance the drive should be formatted in the same
> 	orientation as it will be mounted in the host system.
> ''
> 
> Mounting "horizontally with the spindle motor down" means the printed circuit
> card is ALSO facing down (i.e. circuit board DOWN).

I knew of this restriction, having bought my ST277N-1 through a reseller,
but I was thinking that people having problems with stiction may have their
drives mounted upside down.  And since other drive manufacturers don't have
this restriction, what cheap short-cut did Seagate take that added this
restriction?

Eric Dittman
Texas Instruments - Component Test Facility
dittman@skitzo.csc.ti.com
dittman@skbat.csc.ti.com

Disclaimer:  I don't speak for Texas Instruments or the Component Test
             Facility.  I don't even speak for myself.