HARD DRIVE power management question???

iLLWiLL · 06-09-2002, 09:02 PM

hey folks...

in the last 18 months, i've had 3 hard drives die on me (all on different comps). The last drive died (after only a year) while entering its power-saving mode, it seemed -- while the drive tried to power-down, i could hear the thing clicking and clicking, before eventually dying.

...so i'm thinking...maybe the tedious action of having to power-down then startup, then back down again etc every few hours between usage, finally began to wear out the drive.

so my question is, do u guys recommend letting the computer and hard drive run constantly when i use the computer sporadically (every few hours)??? Or, use the power-saving features? Which way will prolong the drive's life the best?

or, does it even make a difference? maybe i'm just a victim of bad drives from bad manufactures (last drive was from Quantum, who was bought-out by Maxtor, and before that i had a drive from JTS, who is no longer in business either)...

bachviet · 06-10-2002, 09:03 AM

I never use the HD power down feature!

PoloM1 · 06-10-2002, 09:20 AM

Yeah, I never use the HD power down feature

Jeffbx · 06-10-2002, 10:16 AM

Let it spin! While that probably won't cause a failure, it can contribute to a shortened life of the drive, especially if your're constantly powering up and down.

Ladogaboy · 06-10-2002, 11:00 AM

Yeah, after I install Windows, the first thing I change is the power settings. Also, remember that just because the hard drive is active--as opposed to being powered down--that doesn't mean that the heads and disks are actively moving.

Also, what kind of hard drives are these? Who makes them? What brand are they?

i6s1 · 06-10-2002, 11:11 AM

I've always let the drives spin down, and I've never had a drive fail. In fact, my 256 MB drive from many moons ago is still alive and in active service. Maybe lucky.

Ladogaboy · 06-10-2002, 01:42 PM

Yeah, I've never had a drive die on me either...

iLLWiLL · 06-10-2002, 05:26 PM

Thanks alot guys, i appreciate the help... Let It Spin, it is

Lado...my current drive is from Maxtor, which was the company that replaced my dead Quantum drive. My first drive to die was from JTS, a company that was no longer around by the time that HD died. (cant remember the manufacturer of the third drive to die, so it was probly cheap.)

am i safe with Maxtor??? Once again, thanks in advance for the input

sbp · 06-13-2002, 04:06 PM

JTS made crappy hard drives.

yeah you are safe with Maxtor.

LPMiller · 06-13-2002, 05:55 PM

still...odd you are killing so many drives. Is the system the same for all 3 drives? Hows the heat?

06-09-2002, 09:02 PM	#1
iLLWiLL Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: northern Cali Posts: 191	HARD DRIVE power management question??? hey folks... in the last 18 months, i've had 3 hard drives die on me (all on different comps). The last drive died (after only a year) while entering its power-saving mode, it seemed -- while the drive tried to power-down, i could hear the thing clicking and clicking, before eventually dying. ...so i'm thinking...maybe the tedious action of having to power-down then startup, then back down again etc every few hours between usage, finally began to wear out the drive. so my question is, do u guys recommend letting the computer and hard drive run constantly when i use the computer sporadically (every few hours)??? Or, use the power-saving features? Which way will prolong the drive's life the best? or, does it even make a difference? maybe i'm just a victim of bad drives from bad manufactures (last drive was from Quantum, who was bought-out by Maxtor, and before that i had a drive from JTS, who is no longer in business either)... Last edited by iLLWiLL : 06-09-2002 at 10:41 PM.

06-10-2002, 09:03 AM	#2
bachviet What's Da Pho*? Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SoCal (714) Posts: 13,296	Re: HARD DRIVE power management question??? I never use the HD power down feature! __________________ Dell Dimension 9200 \| Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz) \| 4x1GB DDR2 \| 256MB nVidia GeForce 8800GT Dell Studio 17 \| Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6GHz) \| 2x2GB DDR3 1066MHz \| 1GHz ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 Intel P4-C 3.0GHz \| ECS 865PE-A \| 3x512MB PC3200 \| 128MB PNY GeForce 6600GT

06-10-2002, 11:00 AM	#5
Ladogaboy Admiral Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Hiding amongst the minnows Posts: 6,843	Yeah, after I install Windows, the first thing I change is the power settings. Also, remember that just because the hard drive is active--as opposed to being powered down--that doesn't mean that the heads and disks are actively moving. Also, what kind of hard drives are these? Who makes them? What brand are they? __________________ It is not enough to merely touch the face of god; you also must open your eyes so that you may see your palm.

06-10-2002, 11:11 AM	#6
i6s1 Lieutenant Commander Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Vancouver Posts: 905	I've always let the drives spin down, and I've never had a drive fail. In fact, my 256 MB drive from many moons ago is still alive and in active service. Maybe lucky. __________________ YVAN EHT NIOJ

06-13-2002, 05:55 PM	#10
LPMiller Chief News Editor & Master of His Domain Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Minnesota Posts: 8,161	still...odd you are killing so many drives. Is the system the same for all 3 drives? Hows the heat? __________________ lpmiller Chief News Editor Nobel Prize Nominee Reverend in the Universal Life Church Once Shot A Man For Snoring Too Loud Way Too Lazy To Change His Signature "The strength to change what I can, the inability to accept what I can't, and the incapacity to tell the difference." - Calvin and Hobbes

06-10-2002, 09:20 AM	#3
PoloM1 Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: With your mom Posts: 125	Yeah, I never use the HD power down feature

06-10-2002, 10:16 AM	#4
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	Let it spin! While that probably won't cause a failure, it can contribute to a shortened life of the drive, especially if your're constantly powering up and down.

06-10-2002, 01:42 PM	#7
Ladogaboy Admiral Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Hiding amongst the minnows Posts: 6,843	Yeah, I've never had a drive die on me either...

06-10-2002, 05:26 PM	#8
iLLWiLL Lieutenant Junior Grade Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: northern Cali Posts: 191	Thanks alot guys, i appreciate the help... Let It Spin, it is Lado...my current drive is from Maxtor, which was the company that replaced my dead Quantum drive. My first drive to die was from JTS, a company that was no longer around by the time that HD died. (cant remember the manufacturer of the third drive to die, so it was probly cheap.) am i safe with Maxtor??? Once again, thanks in advance for the input

06-13-2002, 04:06 PM	#9
sbp Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 11,037	JTS made crappy hard drives. yeah you are safe with Maxtor.

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