Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!spl1!iitmax!demoedf
From: demoedf@iitmax.IIT.EDU (ed federmeyer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Leaving the hard disk on continuously
Keywords: hard disk park - DON'T DO IT DAILY!!!! POWER OFF AT NIGHT!!!!
Message-ID: <1310@iitmax.IIT.EDU>
Date: 20 Jul 88 05:58:53 GMT
References: <12184@agate.BERKELEY.EDU> <7837@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Reply-To: demoedf@iitmax.UUCP (ed federmeyer)
Distribution: na
Organization: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago
Lines: 29


I thought this might be of interest to you...

I have a friend who has a hard drive in his PC, and he has it set up so that
if you don't access the hard drive for a certain ammount of time (a few seconds
for example), the read/write head is sent out to the last cylinder.  That way,
even if you ARE using your computer and you get some power glitch you will
be okay.  Offhand I don't remember the name of the software, but if there is
enough interest, I will find out and post the name to the net.

I find it hard to believe that turning a PC on and off every day can be
harmfull... Even in the long run.  I had a (what many of you would call a
"wimpy, toy")  Commodore 64 for maybe 5 years or so until I "upgraded" to
a PC clone.  I used to turn that sucker on and off HUNDREDS of times a week!
(Most C-64 software, once started, will only be stopped by shutting the
machine off).  Well, I never did have any trouble with it, and when I bought
my PC clone, I sold the '64 to a friend who is still happily using it.

My Atari 2600 (I can't even remember how old it is... but it is one of the
real old ones) still works!  I even have, and use the ORIGINAL joysticks
that came with it.  (If you are not up an video game machines, let me tell
you that many companies made some bucks selling replacement joysticks for
that machine!)

The moral of all this is that if you take care of your "stuff" (Electronic,
or otherwise) it will last along, long time.  (Assuming it works when you
first get it!  :-)

Take Care,
  Ed Federmeyer