CompuServe Thread

#Hard Drive Error

3 messages in this thread
#11672From: Don Curtis/SYSOPJul 1, 1991 1:07 AM
Lee, Well..if the disk is spun down…it's kind of hard to read it..thus you get a read/write error. Of course, the next time you try it…the disk has spun back up (or gone "active") and it works. In other words…it's a combination problem. The disk drive going inactive and the host adapter software not being able to handle the "not ready" reply to the first request. Don
#11689From: Lee DeWittJul 1, 1991 5:46 PM
Well, I hope that's all there is to it. I'm not sure I know what you mean by 'spun down'. Do you mean that the disk will be in a state of rest, ie. stationary? If so then I don't think that can be it owing to the fact that I could still hear the drive whirring. Thanks for your reply. Lee
#11705From: Don Curtis/SYSOPJul 2, 1991 1:34 AM
Lee, It can mean that…or it can simply mean some other low power mode. For example, the MiniScribe 8425 has a jumper for "low power option #1" that when open removes current from the stepper motor (not the spindle motor) after 30 seconds of inactivity. Next is a jumper for "low power option #2" which will cause a seek to the ship zone (safe parking area) before power is removed from the stepper motor. For this particular drive, what that means is that the drive won't be ready immediately if a read/write request is sent to it. Other drives might implement some other form or variation of a low power mode after X amount of inactivity. In any event, I'm not saying that for sure…this is what is happening, just that it's a possibility depending on the drive, it's configuration and the driver software. Don