Re: To shut down or not?

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

twohandsfree@hotmail.com wrote:

>mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon) wrote in message 
>
>
>> 
>> This may be the case even with drives that are not "near death".
>
>In my mind a drive with stiction *is* near death.

As long as it is kept spinning, it can last a long time.

>Also, last night I fired up my 2nd Focus, the one that has to be
>"coaxed". After sitting for several months it takes 5+ reboot attempts
>before it succeeds.
>However, it does spin up on each attempt (judging by sound). Wouldn't
>stiction prevent it from spinning up - only, i.e. it wouldn't affect
>things after it broke free, right?

Right.

>Once it boots it is fine, even the next morning on a cold boot.

Stiction is not constant for all stops.  It depends on the exact
angular position of the platter when it stops (in the landing area).
There is also a smaller effect of the length of time undisturbed,
and even the orientation of the drive (since that can affect head-
to-platter pressure).

-michael

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