Xref: utzoo comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:2809 comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc:3268 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!newstop!texsun!csccat!egsner!mic!cms2!tomf From: tomf@cms2.UUCP (Tom Fortner) Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware,comp.sys.ibm.pc.misc Subject: Re: HD will not spin up (sometimes), banging it helps; Suggestions? Message-ID: <355@cms2.UUCP> Date: 2 Nov 90 23:57:40 GMT References: <4668@trantor.harris-atd.com# <1990Oct26.201641.25090@cs.odu.edu> Organization: Christian Medical & Dental Society Lines: 60 In article As for RLL drives in general - these seem to be the most unstable type drives #>around (at least for the 32M variety or lower). I think I have heard that the #>RLL format works better in larger varieties. But - I don't know. And if it #>were me buying a large disk I would probably go for an ESDI type. # #I've gone through three Seagate RLL drives, and the only one that's given #me any serious trouble was the ST4144R (their largest RLL, I believe, at #122.7 Mb). It started out fine. Within two weeks, the seeks were basso #profundo. Within four weeks, it would actually do a random seek on its own #sometimes! The very next day after that, it started doing full seeks #(badump badump badump) and then died completely. It makes the same full #seek noise when turned on, but doesn't respond to the computer at all. #Yes, I know that sounds like a controller problem, but the controller can #run two other Seagate RLL drives with no problems. The hard drive has been #returned. # #Why didn't I go with an ESDI? I wanted to be able to keep my old RLL #drives around, using the 65Mb with the 122Mb, and keeping the age-weary #32Mb model around for emergencies such as this. # #>It's hard to understand that a company with such a large share of the market #>like Seagate can get away with making such junk. #>Of course, I guess some of their stuff is ok, tho. # #I don't know why I continue to like Seagate - several models are almost #completely junk. I guess I just haven't had any experience with other #brands. Toshiba is highly recommended... right? # No, we had a Toshiba MK series (90 MB) that failed after only 8 months in operation. It began doing full seeks on its own and then stopped doing anything. Then rebooting, I found Dos telling me that there was no drive C:. All data was lost. So, we called the area Toshiba repair center to be told that Toshiba has closed all their US repair centers, and that the warrenty was not honored. Needless to say, I bought a Micropolis 1335 to replace it, since a clean room here in town can service it. I have a Seagate drive in my machine at home(ST-277R). It replaced a Seagate drive that I outgrew in 3 years time (ST-238R). I have installed Seagate ST-225s and ST-238s in many machines. I have yet to have one fail in 3 years time. But the 3.5" drives are mostly thin-film drives (not just Seagate's, every manufacturer's) and thin-film is not yet reliable enough for me to try one. The stiction problem is usually related to thin-film lubricant binding the head to the platter, or the magnetic field binding the head to the platter. Whatever the cause, I'm sticking with the old media until thin-film problems are solved. Thin-film is not just a Seagate technology, and the rest of the industry has the same problem as Seagate. Tom -- Tom Fortner ** The greatest gift a man can offer Christian Medical & Dental Society ** his Maker is a repentant committed UUCP: cms2!tomf ** life and a disciplined, diligent INTERNET: tomf@cms2.lonestar.org ** mind.