Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watdragon!watsol.waterloo.edu!scfsiu
From: scfsiu@watsol.uwaterloo.ca (Steven C. F. Siu)
Subject: Problem with harddisk not spinning at power up
Message-ID: <1991Jun19.005824.7510@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Originator: scfsiu@watsol.waterloo.edu
Sender: news@watdragon.waterloo.edu (News Owner)
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1991 00:58:24 GMT
Lines: 26

I purchased a new 386SX clone system about a month ago.  It has a 40meg IDE
hard drive (Western Digital, I think.)  Twice, when I powered it up (after a
few days while it was off), the hard disk wouldn't spin.  (i.e.  DOS tried to
boot from floppy drive A:, failed, and then nothing happened.  The hard disk
activity LED didn't ever light up, and I didn't hear the sound of the hard
disk spinning.)  In both case, a warm boot woke the drive up and solved the
problem.

I transport the system with me in/out of town (150km each way) every week.  I
always put it in its original packaging, but with no other special precautions
(for shock absorption etc.).

Questions:

- Does the problem have to do with the frequent transit?  If so, what special
  precautions do I need to take when transporting it?

- Will the problem get worse if I do nothing?  (i.e. Should I bring in the
  system for service before warranty expires?)  I can live with the situation
  if the problem will not get worse.

- And (of course) how to fix the problem?


Thanks,
Steven