[NTLUG:Discuss] Sticky HD?

[Pete. Koren]

Brian Koontz wrote:

> [Non-controversy hat on]
>
> I had to reluctantly shut down one of my Linux boxen after about a month
> of continuous up-time.  About 24 hours later, not having touched
> anything other than the power switch, one of two IDE drives refused to
> stand up and be recognized (a Seagate Medallist).  Listening to the
> drive during the boot sequence, it sounded like it would ramp up for a
> second or two, then abruptly wind down and then repeat the sequence.
> Figuring I had nothing to lose, I banged on the HD a few times with the
> rubber handle of my screwdriver.  Lo and behold, the drive promptly came
> to life!
>
> Can I expect future problems from this drive, and if so, any unsavory
> things that can be done to keep it running (besides not turning it
> off)?  It's not a critical drive, but I'd like to keep it around even if
> it means having to slap it around to get going.
>
>   --Brian

I had the same problem on an old 2 G Maxtor. I had to whack the computer on
the side to get it to spin up. After about 2 years of use, I retired the
old 486 system that it inhabited.

BTW, years ago IBM had a drive that did the same thing, and they actually
had a document which told users to lift the front of the computer a precise
distance and then let it drop.

Regards,

Pete Koren

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