CompuServe Messages

Dave, The HD manufacturers, as recently as a year ago (the last time I checked), specifically say that you should NOT change the orientation of the HD between formatting and use. Unless the user has a drive where that is no longer true, which means a very new drive that has changed manufacturer's recommendations, your advice may cause loss of data. Shock resistance is not directly related to the issues that cause this problem. When a drive is dropped, and when it is rated for G's, it is assumed to be parked. When it is reading, writing, formatting, the head is (a) floating over the platter (b) VERY free to move, and (c) much more subject to gravitational pull. When a drive is placed on it's side after being formatted and possibly used vertically, or vice-versa, the head assembly (not just the head) is subjected to a bias applied courtesy of gravity. The ability of the particular drive to compensate exactly for the pull in addition to whatever logic it has to stay "on-track" is what will determine the dirve's ability to perform well in a "turned" situation. Remember that drives can, and often do, work in marginal sitations, but MAY fail at any time that way – one drive that might not have been so hot in the first place may fail immediately, while another which has great servos may not fail at all. The best thing to do is do what the manufacturer TELLS you to do, which is, "Format in the orientation that the drive is to be used in". –Ben …via AutoPilot