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From: davidsen@steinmetz.UUCP (Davidsen)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: Re: Hard disk shutoff
Message-ID: <954@kbsvax.steinmetz.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 20-Oct-86 11:35:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: kbsvax.954
Posted: Mon Oct 20 11:35:24 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Oct-86 22:25:46 EDT
References: <12068@watnot.UUCP>
Reply-To: davidsen@kbsvax.UUCP (Davidsen)
Distribution: net
Organization: General Electric CRD, Schenectady, NY
Lines: 30

In article <12068@watnot.UUCP> rdgreenall@watnot.UUCP (Richard Greenall) writes:
>      I  was wondering if any one out there has had any experience in running
>a bulletin board system off of a 20 meg hard disk.  I am wondering
>if the constant running  of the hard disk is damaging to it. (Ex.  running
>approximately 20 hours. per day.) 

Actually the power up sequence is the most likely to damage you disk.
When the disk is up to speed, the heads fly just off the platter and
there is no wear. Most hard disks, particularly the less expensive
models, have a "landing zone", which is where the heads land on the
surface of the platter when powered down. Needless to say this is
always a good time to have backups.

We have a number of XTs where I work which have been powered up for
about four years now. At one time one of the repair technicians
determined that the failure rate for PCs and terminals was lower in
terms of failures per calendar year with the machine left powered up
all the time.

Disclamer: this represents personal opinion and experience only.
-- 
	-bill davidsen

	seismo!rochester!steinmetz!--\
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"Stupidity, like virtue, is its own reward"