CompuServe Thread

HELP! noisy hard drive

10 messages in this thread
#29535From: Trevor LaibJul 21, 1991 3:02 AM
anybody: Any cure for a Seagate 82M 5.25" hard disk with an nearly constant high-pitched whine? If the sound was constant, I'd get used to it. Instead, the whine comes and goes all the time, sometimes staying for 3 seconds, sometimes for 3 minutes. Then there is about 5 to twenty seconds of peace and quiet before it starts again. ARRRGH! The drive is about 1.5 years old and has been doing this for about the last 100 hours of operating time. I would welcome ideas, suggestions, or even just commiseration. Thanx. ————————————————————TL———-
#29625From: David ArtJul 22, 1991 12:22 AM
Trevor, I know a service tech that has a little number he does on Seagate drives that cures that problem. I don't know it well enough to relate it to you, but a person who works on drives should be able to take care of it rather easily. David – via Whap!
#29633From: Don Curtis/SYSOPJul 22, 1991 1:49 AM
Trevor, On the bottom of the drive, you'll find a metal tab with a small block on the end pressed against the bottom of the spindle. Or at least, most SeaGate drives have this block clearly visible. On a few drives, it's under the on-drive controller board. In any event, this block is designed to drain off static from the spindle so it shouldn't be removed…although I know tech's that simply remove them to stop the whine. What I do, is simply put a *small* drop of plain old motor oil on the block between end of the spindle and the block itself. That's cured many drives for me. Your mileage may vary…do the above at your own risk. Don
#29729From: Trevor LaibJul 22, 1991 11:54 PM
Don- THANK YOU! I'll try it out this weekend! ————————————————————TL———-
#29862From: Don Curtis/SYSOPJul 24, 1991 12:51 AM
Trevor, BTW…also put a tiny amount of oil on the point where the static block attaches to the metal strip. Just enough to wet it, nothing more. Don
#29719From: SyndesisJul 22, 1991 10:32 PM
I've sometimes had luck lifting the metal tab a bit, giving it a twist, and then trying to set it down into another spot. It's worn a dent in one spot of the graphite button, and if you make a new one, it won't squeal for a least a couple months. 🙂
#29730From: Trevor LaibJul 22, 1991 11:58 PM
John- THANX MUCH! You and John may well have saved my sanity (assuming this works. If it doesn't, I'll end up a babbling fool in the nuthouse and it will be ALL YOUR FAULT. I will, however, take responsibility for any damage due to this possibly foolish venture myself.) 🙂 (: ————————————————————TL———-
#29838From: Christopher LapriseJul 23, 1991 9:55 PM
I have an old ST-251N (42MB 5.25" 1/2-height) that used to have the same problem. Really, really irritating. The drive stopped 'whining' after it was once accidentally dropped onto a solid surface from a height of about 1/2" .
#30220From: Trevor LaibJul 27, 1991 2:41 AM
>I have an old ST-251N (42MB 5.25" 1/2-height) that used to have the same >problem. Really, really irritating. The drive stopped 'whining' after it >was once accidentally dropped onto a solid surface from a height of >about 1/2" . A solid blow to the top of mine would generally cure the problem for five minutes, but I'd always feel so _guilty_ about it afterward… ————————————————————TL———-
#30243From: Christopher LapriseJul 27, 1991 11:03 AM
I guess I'm lucky.. That blow permanently stopped the whining.